"I have never been so flattered to be compared to a lethal weapon," Julian murmured, his gaze dropping to her lips before rising back to her eyes. "Are you experiencing any thermal anomalies right now?"
Elara's breath hitched. A faint, completely involuntary flush of pink dusted her cheeks.
"My internal temperature has elevated by one point two degrees," Elara admitted, her voice a quiet, breathless whisper.
Julian's smile widened into something devastatingly tender. He leaned down, pressing his cheek against her dark hair as they swayed to the music, holding the most terrifying woman in the world as if she were made of spun glass.### The Northern Gift
The music faded, and the court offered a unified, terrified round of applause. Elara and Julian returned to the dais, but before they could resume their seats, the heavy brass doors of the Great Hall swung open.
A sudden hush fell over the banquet.
