ella

reds of deep red Black Baccara roses bloomed under the afternoon sun, their hea

strade. Damien was there. I had planted the seed of fear in his mind this morning, a soft, trembling whisper about Mona's erratic behavior and my fear

own the path, her face pale, her eyes wide and frantic. Her

voice shrill. "Did you w

smile. "There is no letter,

u're ruining my life! Julian nee

king a deliberate step closer. "Not a bastard born in the shadows

pulled her hand from her pocket. The sunlight caught the glint of a small, silver

was m

y clearly to the balcony above. "Julian sent you to d

on trembling in her gr

er wrist with my right hand. Mona gasped, trying to pull back, but I held firm. With a calculated, ruth

ush of heat. Blood welled up immediately, a brilliant, shocking cri

er knife clattered onto the wh

eathless, perfectly pitched sob. "Why, Mona

zed by the horror of a crime she hadn't committed. Above us, I could almost feel the w

of reason when it came

nearby, turned and let

garden like a god of death. He bypassed me entirely, his large hand shooting out to wra

ona flew through the air like a broken doll, crashing sickeningly against th

ping from my fingertips. Without a word, he gripped the hem of his expensive silk shirt and tore a long strip from it, wrapp

the path as several Soldie

acial rasp that sent shivers down my spine. "Take her to the

ping, half-conscious Mona

s easily as if I weighed nothing. His jaw was clenched so tight

violent, rapid thud of his heart. Slowly, I reached up a

d softly, leaning my head again