id, closing the door to the guest s

tie, tossing it

turning away to hide the shaking i

edators. Don't c

grabbing her nightgown. She needed to

the bathroom, then slipped out

quet floor. She needed to get a sense of the house's layout, to find where t

ristopher kept his private study. The heavy oak door was clos

her ear to t

s eyes, Christopher

e. Alida

"She's a pawn. Once Gerhardt produces an heir, w

left h

. Just like we

in an accident. They k

e wanted to burst in there and scream. But she had no pr

ked awa

racing. She was sleeping in the den

running. She turned it off

on the edge of the

stop

ck was

s crisscrossed his skin. Burn marks. Lash marks. So

d," she w

nd pulled it on in one fluid, angry motio

u could look?

. who did t

up and advancing on her. "

pupils were blown wide. H

k down. She st

king," she

here was no conviction in it. He l

and placed her h

there again

ed. He slumped forward, resting his forehead on her shoulder. His

muttered into her hair.

of the man who might have murdere

gainst hers, syncing with her own rhy

And for tonight, they were the onl