The mission was simple: eliminate a corrupt official during a masked ball in Athaléa.

What Lily May didn't expect was that her dance partner that night—the decoy she was supposed to use to get closer to her target—had a different heartbeat. A gait that made her hesitate. A look that didn't feel like a target.

As they twirled to a slow melody, they whispered, "How much of you remains beneath the mask, assassin?"

Her blade stopped just before it touched skin.

"More than I'd like to admit..."