ion was

iet that carried weight, like th

arlene, the head housekeeper, through a long hallway lined with

rington's

epeated for the third time. "No cleaning. No

and," Elen

sleeping qua

indow that faced nothing but thick forest. It wasn't much, but Elena smiled gratefully. Anyt

normal. Just do your job, stay out of trouble, an

swal

e tha

r a look that sent c

d?

rs

that

er hair into a neat bun. Her schedule sai

marble. Every shadow felt alive, every corner seemed too silent. She had

tudy, her hand hover

act with Mr

im at a

not like

breath and pushe

St

bookshelves, glass walls overlooking the moonlit fo

ly, grabbed her cleaning clot

she f

was alre

in the

ng at

Harri

part of the darkness itself. Only his eye

breath

o idea he

low, deep, a

you get

I-I was assigned to clean

idn't

so so

idatingly broad his shoulders were. "I don't tolerate noise. I don't tolerate mis

oat tig

, sir. I'm just tr

m, her trembling hands, the cl

s your

le

y, but the softness didn't r

s,

back hit the bookshelf. The scent of cedar and cold wind clung

will not enter any room unless you are told. And yo

d quickly.

oment longer, as i

e turn

can

he room, her heart racin

pty hallway, she let

met him for

understood why ev

she could still feel his gaze-cold

shake the feeling

man insi

t were going to