That evening, the three of them sat at Dante's table for what might have been the most uncomfortable dinner Laura had ever experienced. Servants brought out roasted meat and fresh bread, but Laura could barely eat.

"Your territory is truly... rustic," Nikolai commented, taking a sip of wine. "I can see the appeal for someone of Laura's spirited nature."

"And what would you know of Laura's nature?" Dante asked, his knife cutting into his meat with unnecessary force.

Nikolai smiled. "I'm a good observer. For instance, I've noticed how she touches that moonstone pendant whenever she's thinking of Zephyr."

Laura's hand froze where it had indeed been fingering the necklace...