Chapter 1

The heavy velvet curtain of the Grand Canal pulled back just enough to slip us into the cool, damp air of the private alcove behind the main hall. My heart was still hammering against my ribs, a frantic, bird-like rhythm that I knew he could hear if he pressed his ear close enough. The scent of old wax, crushed orchids, and the sharp, metallic tang of expensive champagne hung thick in the air, mingling with the musky, intoxicating aroma of his cologne. It was a heady mix that instantly transported me back to childhood summers, to the quiet moments before the world rushed in, when it was just me and him, safe in our own little universe. I looked down at my costume, a delicate, lace-trimmed bodice that left my shoulders bare, the fabric clinging to my curves in the humid Venetian heat. But my eyes were locked on him. He stood there, tall and imposing in his black domino mask and a suit that fit his broad shoulders with military precision. The gold embroidery on his jacket caught the flickering light of the crystal chandeliers above, sending prisms of color dancing across the marble floor. He didn’t move when