ence so heavy it felt like a physical weight. As the gold-plated elevator doors hissed op

The only place in this house where the cameras aren't watching. But don't

the room was dominated by a king-sized bed draped in black silk. The far wall was made e

I sleep?" Elara ask

s movements slow and deliberate. "I told you. My grandmother's spies are everywhere. The maid comes in

ned, revealing the hard, tanned planes of his

rantic somersault. "B

closer, his shadow towering over her. "There is one rule in this room, Elara. The Midnight Rule: No matter what

ing in the center of the room, trembling. She looked at the blac

ver a cold, marble vanity until they hit something out of place. Tucked behind a he

ned it. The handwriting i

y one, but I'm a prisoner. If anyone finds this, tell th

he page had b

re you

nding by the closet, now wearing only black silk pajama pants. His torso was a master

g the journal off the floor. His eyes were no

mered, backing away. "Killian, who

swer. Instead, he shoved the journal into a locked drawer. When he looked

t to survive this year, you'll learn that some

of the silk-covered bed. She fell back onto the soft mattress, and before she could scra

eat-enveloped her. The moonlight caught the silver in

is voice a low, vibrating rumble that she felt deep i

r vanished, replaced by a vulnerability so sharp it made Elara's soul ache. He looke

r hand rising instinctively t

his eyes closing for a brief, flickering second. "Don't," he groaned. "Don't

y oak door to the

ought the evening tea M

e head ho

with Elara, pulling the silk duvet over both of them. He wrapped a powerful arm arou

he door, his voice sounding perfectly breathless-as if t

eat of his heart, every breath he took. The housekeeper set the tray down and lingered for a mo

door lock felt li

room, he buried his face in the crook of her

body shivering from the sheer pro

. "Just five more minutes," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep and something that so

er enemy, one thought kept her awake: The note in

ed from somewhere deep beneath the floorboards-

hidden staircase behind the closet, leading down to a basement room she was never supposed to find. There,