into focus. The man by the bed was weari

sculpture, but his eyes were a

oice was a dry rasp, and a d

he man's voice wa

ht flooded back-the betrayal, the pain. Her fa

pain in her ribs made her gasp

ress was gone. In its place, she was wearing a large, silk

demanded, her voice sharp with

ched Dominic's lips. "

c added, his tone as calm as if he were discussi

but urgent knock came

" It was Branden's voice, strained and ca

He had been called here

cern. "Uncle, please open the door. Your people called us,

cl

was Branden's uncle? The powerful, ruthless head of

desperate, and brilliant

ve

ack the covers. Wincing in pain, she swung her le

rther down her shoulder, revealing

pressing her body against his. She lea

," she w

rrowed, studying the girl who had just thro

ful smile spread a

l panel on the bedside table. The be

den pushed it open cautiousl

y f

in a man's pajama top, was sitting on Dominic Knight

ed, but the anger in his eyes quickly faltered under Dominic's cold star

just discarded was now in the arms of t

r mouth. But behind the shock, a fire

lted her head back to look up at Dominic, her voice

ned one. It settled back on Chloe's, which was a mixture of defiance a

n her waist, pulling he

ed, barely above a whisper. "Wha

at Branden with a lazy, cruel smile. "Oh, you must be mi

hang in the air, before delive

going to be

ike a physical blow. They stood the

cle, who sat there as immovable as a mountai

f his heart. She knew she was playing with fire, but seeing the looks of

enly revealed her claws. A flicker of something th