f the armored Maybach, his face illuminated only by the blue glow of his tablet as he scanned stock tickers. He

a stop, they weren't at a man

estate was a jagged tooth of steel and obsidian. There were no gardens,

Alexand

Elena followed, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. As she crossed the thresh

ss. Every wall was a mirror, every

a gray suit who stood waiting in the foyer. "This is Silas. He handles the logistics. He will give you the Rule

a spiral staircase, leaving h

He led her into a small, clinical-looking library and handed her a

VENANTS OF TH

ouch, or acknowledge the woman in the mirrors

ou will report to the East Wing infirmary. You will pro

Wing is off-limits. To en

e at 20:00 precisely. You will wear the garment

one. You have no internet. Your only con

you are to remain in your bedroom. The h

the white powder at the base of your

ust never leave your finger. It

u will obey the surgeons

look at the portrait in the Grand

ever to ask about the woman

will receive a memory-suppressant treatment. You w

"The salt? Memory suppressants? This isn't a

blinking. "Your room is on the third floor. Your d

he polished obsidian of the staircase railing, her reflection seemed to lag. When Elena

h silk sheets, a fireplace that burned with a strange, blue-

e color of a fresh bruise a deep, dark

to scrub the smell of smoke and fear away. She splash

fr

n wasn't wash

ctric violet. The woman leaned forward, her face pressing against the inside of the glass. She raised a finger

HE.

throat. She hit the salt line at the door,

here, already dressed in a sharp black tuxedo. H

er," he said, his voi

asped, pointing. "She..

as now perfectly clear, reflecting only his own cold, handsome face.

, pulling her flush against him. The heat of his body was a sharp contrast to the ice in his eyes. "The woman in th

a whispered, her heart t

pulse point on her neck. "I get to keep you f

"Put on the dress. I don't

ooked back at the mirror. The violet-eyed woman was go

le dress. She looked a

't the end of her life. It was the beginning of a ni

had 99 days left. She just ha