I further learned that the Drakkar’s didn’t like light. At least not inside. The outside was lit like they were hoping to make it seen from space. Once I’d hit the gloomy inside, I figured this was because they wanted it seen, and feared.

But inside, although there were tons of people milling about, it still had only the minimum of lamps and candles lit to help guide your way.

And last, I learned that Apollo and Draven were right.

Quickly upon arrival, Apollo found Calder Drakkar and his wife Melba to give them his greetings and introduce them to me.

Incongruous to the surroundings which were her home, Melba was sweet with kind eyes, and when we met, she gave me a cheek touch. Calder was very handsome and only showed a moment of shock when he looked at me before he hid it and lifted my hand to touch his lips to my knuckles. We chatted with them briefly, it was warm and welcoming, then Apollo let them go so they could see to their other guests.

Shortly thereafter, he found Garik Drakkar who was also very handsome and who also only allowed a brief moment of his surprise to show before he hid it and lifted my hand to his lips.

He and Apollo spent much more time talking. Through this, I noted they might not have been best buds but they clearly had respect and regard for each other. Both men smoothly included me in the conversation in a way that I knew, if given time, I would have respect and regard for Garik too.

But after Garik moved away, Apollo wasted no time moving me through the crowd and pointing out the other Drakkars, noting the ones I should be most wary of.

He didn’t have to.

The minute I laid eyes on them, I knew it. I hadn’t lived with Pol for years not to be able to read evil.

“Kristian,” he’d muttered, having given me a glass of champagne he’d grabbed off a passing tray and drawn me toward a wall with a vantage point to most of the enormous ballroom.

He’d turned my attention to another somewhat good-looking man (though, not nearly as handsome as Calder and Garik).

Kristian Drakkar.

“Frey’s cousin, brother to Franka,” Apollo went on “He’s not near as clever as the rest, and thus is often a target for all. But even the most simpleminded of animals, if they have claws, will strike when they’ve been played with enough.”

Apollo turned me slightly and gave an almost imperceptible jerk of his head toward an older man who had Drakkar written all over him. A man I knew at a glance I would not like, mostly because my flesh started to crawl the instant I laid eyes on him.

“Eirik,” Apollo stated. “Frey’s father. He’s vain and vulgar. At his side is Valeria, Frey’s mother.”

I turned my attention to her. She was older but still very beautiful.

And she knew it. Yes, it was that obvious that I could read it across the room.

Apollo kept talking.

“She, too, is vain. She’s also greedy. And lastly, she’s conniving.” He moved closer to me and dipped his head so his lips were at my ear. “If they conspire, it will have been her idea.”

I nodded and he lifted his head but shifted me slightly.

“If you look about the room, you’ll see a woman in a dress not fitting society. Her eyes are on you,” he stated.

I scanned the room and found her.

Her eyes were, indeed, on me.

And I knew, of all of them, she was the one to watch out for.

I looked quickly away, hiding it by taking a sip of champagne.

“Franka,” Apollo said. “Vain. Debauched. Unscrupulous. Calculating. Heartless and tirelessly cruel. Avoid her at all costs, my dove.”

He didn’t have to tell me that. I knew it the instant I laid eyes on her.

“Right,” I murmured.

He moved to stand in front of me so I lifted my eyes to his.

“I must approach Eirik and Valeria but I do not want you at my side when I do.”

“I’ll be okay,” I told him.

He studied me for a moment and his voice was soft when he replied, “I believe you will. I still don’t want you at my side. Ravenscroft is here. He’s an acquaintance I trust. I will leave you with him. Before I do that, I’ll explain I need to have words with Frey’s parents and that I’m loath for them to meet you, but wish to remain close to you.” He dipped his head to mine. “Your appearance, poppy, he’ll understand and take care of you.”

He needed to do what he needed to do and not have me argue about it with him, even though I didn’t want him anywhere near those people without me. So I let it go and nodded.

He took me to Ravenscroft, a tall, slim, dashing older man with kindly eyes who we chatted with briefly before Apollo leaned in and spoke quietly in his ear.

Ravenscroft looked Eirik and Valeria’s way, then back to Apollo. He nodded and turned to me.

“My dear, why don’t we get you something to eat?” he asked.

I looked to the tables filled with food. They were between us and Eirik and Valeria, the perfect spot for us to be occupied doing something it would seem natural to do, but me not being out of eyesight of Apollo while doing it.

“I’d like that,” I said, taking the arm he was offering. “I’m famished.”

Apollo caught my eyes as we moved away and I smiled at him.

His lips curved up, his face got soft and then he looked to the Drakkars and the softness vanished.

I’d lied about being famished, of course. My stomach was in knots. But I did my best not to show it as Ravenscroft (his first name was Norfolk), guided me around the food tables, sharing with me his favorite nibbles, all of which I tried.

And when I did, I decided it sucked my stomach was in knots because if I wasn’t in a creepy castle with icky people all around, I knew I would find them all tasty.

I was thinking that when Norfolk put his hand to my elbow and squeezed.

“Come away,” he whispered urgently, his mouth suddenly at my ear.

I turned to look up at him in surprise, infinitely aware and cautious, as Apollo’s warnings and creepy castles made me be, and his sudden demand concerned me.

My eyes slid to Apollo, who was talking with Eirik (an Eirik who was staring beyond Apollo even though Apollo was speaking to him, and when I glanced, I saw it was at a woman’s décolletage) and Valeria, whose attention was pinpointed on Apollo, her expression giving me a chill.

I looked back at Norfolk, who was putting pressure on my arm.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to remain here,” I told him.

“Then remain close,” he told me, fairly yanking me to his side, his eyes not on me but over my shoulder.