Angel Of Solace by Selene Edwards Read Free Book Online Page A

contact with their other agents and offered them each a fractional nod before stopping and faking a sip of wine.
    “It’s time.”
    It was an order for her, and Shyrah took a deep breath and turned—and nearly smacked right into the chest of a young man who had managed to creep up on her.
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, taking the opportunity to put a hand on her shoulder and smile widely. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
    “You didn’t,” she told him. She searched her memory…Olaf Johnson, the son of a wealthy businessman. He had been one of the few she hadn’t managed to chat with earlier. “I just need to find the restroom.”
    “Ah.” He gestured with his head, a predator’s smile on his lips. “It’s just that way…I could escort you, if you like.”
    He was the type of man who wouldn’t understand why that was insulting because he simply didn’t care. He was used to being obeyed, if for no other reason than the voca he could drop on the table. In character, she should have been one to go along with it. Five years ago in a different lifetime, she probably would have. But not today.
    “I can find my way,” she said, and tried to push past him.
    He didn’t move. “No need to rush,” he chuckled. “You’ve had enough to drink—those stairs might be difficult.”
    His hand was on her arm now. Clearly he was expecting her to recognize him and lose herself in his reputation. It was tempting to jab him in the neck or sweep his legs out from under him, but of course that would end their mission right here. No, as annoyed as she was with the entire situation, she wasn’t going to risk the opportunity to deal with a wad of human garbage like Beren.
    “You might be right,” she said, smiling and letting her face warm with recognition. “So you’ve been watching me?”
    “Me and every other man in this room,” he replied easily. “I was actually hoping I could get your name…and then maybe a dance or two.”
    “Dance first—after you escort me to the restroom.”
    She offered him her arm, and he chuckled and took it. A moment later they were heading down the stairs towards their destination.
    “Well, if you’re not going to tell me your name, at least let me guess.”
    “I’m not stopping you—it might be amusing.”
    “Indeed.” He paused briefly as they walked, and something in his face changed. “I actually don’t think you’re even on the guest list.”
    She raised an eyebrow and fought to keep the surprise off her face. “That’s not very flattering.”
    “I don’t mind; in fact, I think it shows some ambition,” he said. “Your makeup is good, but from this close it’s hard not to notice the unfortunate burn scar on your left cheek.”
    If she weren’t desperately trying to get to the restrooms in the corridor, she would have stopped right there. Instead she just pulled her arm away and kept creeping forward. “Now you’re just being rude.”
    “I also noticed the way you walk,” he went on as if she hadn’t said anything, coming to a stop a few meters before the hallway. “Most of the women in this room have never had to lift a finger in their lives. You, on the other hand, clearly hate walking in those heels, and no debutante has this kind of muscle tone in her forearms.”
    Now she froze. Was he about to call for security? Perhaps he already had, and they were on the way…
    “But like I said, I don’t mind. I actually prefer a woman with character.” The predator’s smile returned to his lips. “You found a way in here hoping to schmooze with the social elite and get some for yourself. That’s just ambition, and I can hardly blame you for it. I just figured I could save you the trouble.”
    Shyrah almost laughed in his face. He wasn’t some over-perceptive tattle-tale going to turn her in to security—he was just a chauvinist who thought he could get her on her back for a few voca and save her the trouble of grifting someone else. The irony was