everything and everybody in butte had a history that had significance to somebody . she forced a deep breath through her nose and out her mouth , desperate to get her act together before him . thin enough to easily slide over her arms , but thick enough to hide the black swirls branding her as princess . floor-to-ceiling glass windows lined the back wall of the ballroom , along with doors that led outside . this was her home and he was the intruder . and thank you for not using expressions like `` ice , baby . '' 