From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Chapter 23
Besides the Duke and the Dark One, he was the last person I wanted to see
standing behind me. Like Vikter, his red tunic was sleeveless, and behind
his mask, his pitch-black eyyes seemed to glimmer. I managed to keep myy
voice level as I said, “Myy Lord.”
A sardonic, tight-lipped grin twisted his mouth as his gaze flickered
over me, lingering in a wayy that reallyy made me wish that I were covered
head to toe in a sack. Finallyy, he tore his gaze awayy and nodded at Tawnyy
and Vikter. Then his attention settled back on me. “I hear that a certain
Priestess is veryy unhappyy with yyou.”
The tension returned, sinking its rigid claws into myy neck as I stared
up at him.
The Lord stepped in close—too close for anyy level of proprietyy. “I do
believe yyou’re in for another lesson, myy dear.”
I inhaled sharplyy, almost overcome byy some kind of thick, muskyy
cologne. Myy gaze flew to his as his scent triggered a memoryy. He hadn’t
smelled of cologne the night he’d trapped me in an alcove—the night
Malessa had been murdered.
He’d smelled of something else then—something sweet and muskyy.
Jasmine.
He’d smelled of jasmine.
Myy mind immediatelyy went to the petal I’d found under the chair in
the room Malessa had been found in. There hadn’t been jasmine in that
room, unless it had been replaced byy the lilies, but hadn’t Tawnyy—?
“Excuse me,” Vikter stepped in, placing a hand on myy arm. “We need
to be—”
“No need to run off.” Mazeen’s gaze remained fixed on mine. “I’ll be
on myy wayy now. Enjoyy the Rite.” And with that, he slipped around us and
headed down the steps onto the main floor of the Great Hall.
“What was that about?” Vikter asked, his voice low.