Green and silver fairy lights strung themselves across the stone ceiling, pulsing in time with the music that rattled the walls. The leather sofas had been shoved aside to make room for dancing. Someone had charmed the lake-facing windows to flash with colored light.

You had just reached the bottom of the staircase.

That's when you saw him.

Mattheo was near the far wall, his back half-turned to you. And Lilith Black was standing far too close.

Her hand was on his chest. Her lips were moving, saying something only he could hear. Then she leaned up.

Their lips met.

The music kept playing. People kept laughing. Someone nearby shouted about firewhisky.

Nobody noticed.

But you did.

Then Mattheo pulled back. His eyes lifted, scanning the room for a reason you couldn't have known yet. And found yours.

The change in his face was immediate.