Nox rubbed his neck. “I don’t understand a word of what you just said. Why don’t you have a choice? I know things are bad with your father, but surely he won’t—” She silenced him with a pointed stare. “And you’re not a jewel thief, are you?” She shook her head. Nox glanced again at Zagreb. “Zagreb knows, too. That’s why he always tries to rile you—to get you to show who you truly are.”She nodded. What difference did it make if he knew? She had more important things to worry about now. Like how she’d survive until the duels. Or stop Zagreb.“But who are you?” Nox said. She bit her lip. “You said your father moved you to New York, that much is true. The prince went there to retrieve you— there’s evidence of that journey.” Even as he said it, his eyes slid toward her back. She could practically see the revelations as they bloomed in his mind. “And—you weren’t in the town of New York. You were in New York. The Salt Mines. That explains why you were so painfully thin when I first saw you.

The city was still and frozen around Vincent , and snow collapsed from the trees in large clumps as he passed by. His eyes darted among the branches and bushes. He’d needed to come out for a hunt today, if only to let the freezing air rush through him.He saw her face each time he closed his eyes. She haunted his thoughts, made him wish to do grand and wonderful things in her name, made him want to be a man who deserved to wear a crown.But Jane—he didn’t know how she felt. She kissed him—greedily, at that —but the women he’d loved in the past had always been eager. They’d gazed at him adoringly, while she just looked at him like a cat watching a mouse. Vincent straightened, detecting nearby movement. A stag stood ten yards away, feeding on bark. He stopped his horse and drew an arrow from its quiver. But he slackened the bow.She was to duel tomorrow.If harm came to her . . . No, she could hold her own; she was strong and smart and quick. He’d gone too far; he should never have kis

The meeting day fast approached, and both Vincent and Jane got ready earlier than the meeting time. The previous day, Vincent had mentioned that they would need to discuss a couple of things as touching their faux relationship. Jane gave herself one last look over before leaving for Vincent 's room. She took one long breath before knocking on his door which opened effortlessly. Vincent 's back was turned to her when she walked in, his fingers fastening his wristwatch. Maryanne's gaze lingered on the broad expanse of Vincent 's back, moving lower to his legs, cladded in blue suit pants. He twirled, catching sight of an ogling Jane who flushed hard and turned away the moment he caught her staring at him. Her heart clattered in her chest, and she blinked more than necessary. "I've been waiting for you." His face twisted in a smile and he grabbed his tie from the sofa, striding to her, his charming smile still lining his face. "My tie." Without a word, she grabbed it from him with tremb

Jane stalked down the halls of the glass castle of Rifthold. The heavy sack clenched in her hand swung with each step, banging every so often into her knees. Despite the hooded black cloak that concealed much of her face, the guards didn’t stop her as she strode toward the King of Skull Gang’s council chamber. They knew very well who she was—and what she did for the king. As the King’s Champion, she outranked them. Actually, there were few in the castle she didn’t outrank now. And fewer still who didn’t fear her.She approached the open glass doors, her cloak sweeping behind her. The guards posted on either side straightened as she gave them a nod before entering the council chamber. Her black boots were nearly silent against the red marble floor.On the glass throne in the center of the room sat the King of Skull Gang, his dark gaze locked on the sack dangling from her fingers. Just as she had the last three times, Jane dropped to one knee before his throne and bowed her head.Vincen

There was nothing interesting about the elegant, green-roofed townhouse, and she hadn’t learned anything about who lived there, other than the client’s name —some Lady Balanchine. She had used the same trick she’d employed at the other two houses to gain that bit of information: she pretended to be a courier with a package for Lord So-and-So. And when the butler or housekeeper said that this was not Lord So-and-So’s house, she’d feigned embarrassment, asked whose house it was, chatted up the servant a bit, and then went on her way.Jane adjusted the position of her legs and rolled her neck. The sun had nearly set, the temperature dropping with each passing minute. Unless she could get into the houses themselves, she wasn’t going to learn much else. And given the likelihood that Vincent might actually be doing what he was paid to do, she was in no rush to go inside. Better to learn where he went, who he saw, and then take the next step.It had been so long since she’d done something l