Chapter 4

The ballroom erupted behind me—gasps, scraping chairs, shattering crystal. Dante stood by the double doors, every drop of color gone from his face. His hand came up as if to catch my arm. Then he saw the stain across my chest, and his fingers stalled in the air between us. I didn't slow down. Not for him. Not for anyone. I left the bouquet on an empty chair and walked past my brother as if he were…