"Marie Antoinette. And I'm King Louis XVI."
She gave him a pensive look. "They were both executed."
Spade leaned down, brushing his mouth near her ear. "I have no intention of letting history repeat itself with us, darling."
And he didn't. Denise would not suffer the same fate Giselda had by an untimely death. He'd keep her safe. This time, he wouldn't fail.
Denise took a step back, putting more distance between them, her smile a little forced as she focused on Alten.
"And who are you supposed to be?"
Alten grinned, bowing deeply to Denise. "Casanova, of course."
Denise tried to remember names by matching them with their masks, but she quickly realized that with so many people, she'd never get them all straight. For an impromptu ball, Spade had sure managed to fill a room. Or several rooms, to be more accurate.
The only person aside from Spade and Alten that Denise knew she wouldn't forget was Web. He'd almost glided into the house, a tall man with a jet and crystal mask covering tawny hair and a face that was handsome, from what Denise could see of it. His costume was also black, with crystals tastefully accent ing the edges of his sleeves, shoulders, coat, and pants. After Spade made introductions and she'd accepted his compliment on her dress, she asked him about his costume.
"A cosmic black hole," Web explained, his mouth lifting in a smile that was polite and challenging at the same time.
Something deadly and unstoppable; of course Web had chosen that to meet his potential new vampire neighbor. She supposed coming as the largest c**k of the keep would have been too obvious a statement.
"How fascinating," Denise said. She even sounded sincere.
The woman with Web, whom Denise pegged as a vampire simply because no one could breathe in a dress that tight, didn't look pleased when Web announced that he hoped Denise saved him a dance. Spade had laughed and said he'd try to let her away from him long enough, but underneath the smoothness of his voice, he didn't sound pleased about it, either.
As the evening wore on, Denise kept reminding herself not to focus on Web and who was with him, and not to keep searching for Nathanial's face under every partial mask of every male in the room. What was the point? She'd made her decision to quit looking for Nathanial. And then tomorrow she was leaving, never to see Spade again unless he happened to drop in on Cat and Bones while she was also around. That thought actually bothered her more than being branded for the rest of her life. Despite knowing better, she'd let herself fall for him. It took the eve of her departure for her to truly realize how much he'd come to mean to her. How could she fake being a happy couple when her already-battered heart felt like it was breaking again?
Tonight couldn't end soon enough.
At least the food was delicious. Plus there was so much of it, even Denise was stuffed after her second helping. The party was spread out over the entire ground floor and the second floor, where the ballroom was. After seeing several vampires stop by one of the parlor rooms upstairs, then come out with notably pinker complexions, Denise realized Spade offered a different sort of buffet up there. She wondered if he had special humans lined up as snacks, or if there was just a plasma version of the champagne fountain that flowed downstairs. She decided not to find out.
Alten sat next to Denise, since for the past hour, Spade had been sweeping around the room exchanging pleasantries with Monaco's undead elite. She knew it was useless torture, but she kept looking for him among the crowd, his dark head so easy to spot since he was taller than almost everyone in the room. Spade looked stunning in his vintage formal wear, a complicated knot like a silk waterfall at his neck, resplendent embroidered navy coat, matching pants, waist sword, and knee-high boots.
Wow had been her first thought on seeing him dressed that way, followed immediately by Don't drool. Even now, watching him, Denise couldn't help but lick her lips.
"Denise."
She blinked, returning her attention to Alten. "Sorry, what?"
His mouth quirked when he followed her gaze to Spade. "I asked if you were enjoying your filet mignon."
"Oh yes. Delicious," she replied automatically, and took another bite.
"Good. Enjoy it while you still can."
That turned Denise's attention fully to him. Had Spade told Alten that she was leaving tomorrow? "Why do you say that?"
He shrugged. "Food doesn't taste the same after you turn into a vampire."
Denise almost choked on her steak. Alten instantly began clapping her on the back, but she waved him off, swallowing her bite and then taking a hefty sip of champagne.
"Why would you think I'd do that?" she managed, voice still a little hoarse from the steak nearly lodging in her throat.
Even with the white mask covering half of Alten's face, she could see his expression was dumbfounded.
"Because you're with Spade," he replied, his tone signifying that this should have been obvious to her.
"So?" Denise said, and then remembered that no, she wasn't really with Spade, which made the whole topic moot.
Before Alten could reply, Spade swept up to their table, his mouth set in a tight line.
"Have better care next time," Spade said sharply to Alten before bending down to encircle her from behind. "All right, darling?" he murmured, kissing the back of her neck.
It's only an act, Denise reminded herself. "I'm fine - and it's not his fault I didn't chew my food before swallowing."
Spade exchanged a glance with Alten that she couldn't read. Then he rose, holding out his hand.
"Come, dance with me."
With her fragile emotional state over him, Denise didn't want to, but considering their charade, it would look odd if she refused. She nodded, letting him draw her to her feet.
Chapter Twenty-two
When they arrived at the ballroom, Spade took Denise's gloved hand in his, the other placed at her waist.
"Do you know how to waltz?" he asked, bending low more for the enjoyment of feeling her skin so close to his lips than out of concern for anyone overhearing his question.
"Yes. I - we - took lessons before my wedding," she replied.
A flicker of grief passed over Denise's face before it was gone, replaced by a veiled anticipation that had nothing to do with memories of her slain husband when Spade pulled her closer.
"I was taught when I was a boy. Every nobleman's son was expected to know how to waltz, to ride, to shoot, and to tend to their estate." Spade led her along to the sedate music as he spoke, giving her time to find the rhythm and relax into the steps.