reezing tiles of the hallway. Her ch

cracked open. A cold night breeze bl

She needed to get outside. She needed to cl

by her door. She wrapped it tightly around herself and walk

r lamps illuminated the wet cobblestones. Th

r face in her hands, pressing her palms against he

she he

nd of expensive leather shoes

tared toward the dark archway

hadows. He was wearing a perfec

dense metal hitting his rings was sharp in the quiet night. He suddenly paused, shifting his weight to pull a slim flashlight from his coat pocket. He clicked it on, a

lt like a sledgehammer slamm

unted the edges of her nightmares. It was the

entire body went comple

ard her. His eyes, sharp and predatory, pierc

ouette. His dark eyebrows pul

e realized the courtyard light was

he collar of her cardi

e bench. She scrambled away, keeping her head

re, watching her with a heavy, oppressi

him, giving hi

shifted. A sharp, icy scent of cedarwo

ackling hearth, the scratch of his fountain pen on parchment, and the feeling of falling asleep against his shoulder while he worked late into the night. That buri

lew up the three flights of stairs, and slammed

he floor. She covered her face with her hands

k. She sat on the floo

, rapid knocking

e hallway. "The bus leaves

d up. She walked to the bathroom and spl

ver her scar. She hoisted her heavy

lowed Lena out to the charte