The Crown's Game (The Crown's Game, #1)

by Evelyn Skye

and across the room, he dropped the count. “You’re dancing beautifully.” Renata blushed. They rose and fell with the music, whirling up and down and all around, and when the song ended, Renata asked, “Can we do that again?” Nikolai shook his head. “Not immediately. It would be terrible etiquette if I monopolized your attention.” “Besides,” a boy’s voice said behind him, “I would like a turn with the beautiful peacock.” Ah, there he was. Nikolai knew it was Pasha without even looking. For all of Pasha’s claims that he wasn’t any good at planning ahead, he was masterful at it when it involved sneaking out, or, in this case, sneaking in. “I knew you would come early,” Nikolai said. “I had to, before you stole the hearts of all the pretty girls.” Renata blushed again. Pasha stepped up from behind Nikolai to join them. He was an angel—white dress coat, white waistcoat, white shirt, white cravat, white trousers, white shoes, white gloves, white mask. The only things not white were his silver wings and the gold halo nestled in his hair. “Renata, may I introduce—” “Dmitri,” Pasha said. He winked at Nikolai. “Dmitri Petrov.” Nikolai tilted his head in a question. But then again, why not? It was a masquerade, after all, and tonight was the one night Pasha could truly get away with being someone else. Just like Renata could be more than a servant girl. Dmitri the Angel bowed, offered her his arm, and whisked her back to the dance floor. Nikolai watched them go. Then he retreated back...