Page 33 of Stars in Halo

‘Maybe.’

‘The problem is, who said I wanted to get to know you?’ she breathed, a gleam in her eye.

His eyes gleamed with devilish desire. ‘I do. I want to know you, Katya. All of you.’ And also why you stole from The Sable Group.

His words lit a blaze in her. He tagged how her eyes dilated, and her soft lips parted. Her halo of gems glowed brighter, and he tweaked.

She was feeling this shit as much as he was, the same desire that was thrumming through him.

He had to bite his bottom lip to stop himself from crashing his mouth on her. Instead, he leaned and brushed them over her ear. ‘Don’t you want to know all of me? Perhaps we can go somewhere together tonight -’

She tensed up. ‘I can’t,’ she murmured and tugged out of his clasp.

Her eyes swept the heaving dance floor, and he sensed a rising desperation in her eyes.

Undaunted, he pulled her close. ‘Looking for anyone in particular?’ he grunted.

She hesitated for a moment prior to lifting her face to his, her expression caught between rebellion and vulnerability. ‘It’s none of your business,’ she retorted.

He tagged a finger under her chin and studied her, tagging a flicker of fear passing through them before she masked it with defiance. ‘What or who is causing your eyes to cloud over, Katya?’

Her features fell into turmoil as if she’d a secret worry she was trying so hard to conceal.

Yet the glint in her eyes also flamed with a fierce obstinacy.

He tilted his head, realising there was more to her than met the eye. More than just a cat burglar and femme fatale who thrived in the glitz and glamour of high society events.

The realisation sent a shiver down his spine.

‘I don’t like to see anyone in distress, Katya. May I be of assistance?’ he murmured, his eyes searching hers.

Katya’s defences faltered for a beat before she shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. ‘You? Help me? You’re part of the same world that’s suffocating me.’

Xion felt a rare emotion at her words. Something about this woman stirred a long-buried ache in him, a desire to protect her from whatever demons haunted her.

He stroked her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. ‘Looks like you need assistance to free yourself from it,’ he rasped.

Katya’s eyes searched his, uncertainty flickering in her beguiling depths.

Before she could respond, an announcement sounded over the ballroom speakers.

‘The auction for the Serpent’s Iris, the most exclusive red ruby to have ever been found in the mines of the Skatitta Fields in Falasia, will be going up soon. In half an hour, we’ll ask you to clear the dance floor for its unveiling. It will be on show for an hour preceding the public sale and bidding.’

Katya jolted in his arms. ‘I have to leave,’ she murmured.

She tore herself from his encircled embrace and powered away, her figure melting into the throng, leaving Xion alone in the corner of the ballroom.

He let her go and huffed. Mirage, I think this is it. The pre-auction is less than half an hour, and Katya’s done a runner. I’m going after her. I think the heist is about to go down.

Copy. I’ll be on standby for whatever you need.

Xion pushed through the crowd, determined to find the elusive woman before she slipped away.

He navigated his way through clusters of socialites and power players, his meta-vision scanning every corner of the room in search of her distinctive figure.

Finally, he caught a glimpse of crimson as Katya sidled through a side service door, her eyes narrowed with urgency.

With an inhale, he moved after her.

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