My heart exploded in my chest, and I blurted, “What are you doing here?”
“Working. Seeing you is an added bonus.” Hal smirked.
“What do you meanworking? You shouldn’t be here,” I exclaimed.
“Just pushing the boundaries, testing how complacent the Illum are in their clouds,” Hal told me, leaning against the wall. His eyes raked over me—a hunger there.
“Collin could come back at any minute.”
“He won’t. Turns out they aren’t that complacent here. The Illum are having a rough night.”
“What did you do?” I asked breathlessly.
“Sent the Illum on a chase. How’s your night been?” Hal asked, crossing his arms like we were in my office rather than at a ball with hundreds of Elite on the other side of the door.
“Someone could see you or track you,” I said as fear ripped through me.
“Once you put on gray, no one really sees you. Plus, I don’t exist, remember?” Hal held up his wrist to flash his jagged scar.
“Someone could still see you. Gray won’t protect you.”
“You didn’t notice me when you danced with your Mate,” Hal informed me. “You dance incredibly well.”
“Thank you, but—”
“Your Mate seemed to enjoy it,” Hal said too quietly.
My breath quickened at his tone. “Are you jealous?”
“Of an Illum? Never.”
His head whipped toward the door as the soft clicking of heels headed our way. He extended his hand toward me.
“I heard you’re looking for a savior.”
I looked toward the doors as the heels stopped and the clink of the handles sounded.
I wanted to be far away—from my obligations, the judgment, my thoughts. The way Vincent’s words pierced my soul. My mother’s presence but lack of words. The way my mind and body waged a war over Collin.
Maybe it was seeing what Nora and Gregory shared, the envy it filled me with.
Maybe I didn’t care about my life.
Or maybe I wanted the simplicity of that dream and the way Hal was looking at me like he saw me. Maybe it was never an Elite who was meant to save me. Maybe it was someone in blue. Someone more dangerous.
“What’s it going to be, Moonlight?”
I placed my hand in his.
Hal smiled as the doors began to open. He pushed against the hidden door he had entered from, and I swore I heard my name. But we darted down a quiet hall and into a small closet.
As the door snapped closed, we were plunged into darkness.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
IBUMPED INTO HAL, INSTANTLY TOO AWARE OF HOW THINthe fabric of my dress was. It sparkled in the low light from my sleeve-covered golden wrist. “Sorry.”
“Shhh, they’re coming closer,” Hal whispered, his warm breath caressing my cheek, and my heart galloped.
