phin

way from the locket. My heart was pounding wi

managed to say, my vo

handed it to me. "It belonged to an old friend of mine. I th

rling around the wood. It felt li

ing the warm atmosphere Victoria had tried to create. His eyes were chip

r favorite," he said, his v

mouth."A woman is allowed to have a weakne

f it. If I took everything, my intense focus on this

the other boxes with a sweep of my hand. "How c

ised an eyebrow. Even he seemed surprised

. "Of course, my dear! They are all yours. A Lu

t on the seat between us, a tangible symbol of the lie I was building. Back i

th the price of your

you, Alpha. I'm just learning to bill for it accordingly." The words were bi

around me like a dragon's hoard. I ignored the diamonds and emeralds. My hands went

A piece of her, of my true family, was back in my hands. This small victory

e key-a touch from a true Beaumont. I pricked my finger with a pin from my dress and let a single drop of blood fall onto the i

the city lights painting patterns on the floor. Damien was there, standing by the floor-to-ceiling w

wrist and forearm, almost shimmering in the dim li

eyes were haunted, filled with a p

" he asked, h

ting my new treas

tared at me, his gaze intense. "Come

hed. He gestured

he air was charged. He closed his eyes, and I realized with a j