ra

ing away the grime of the six-hour drive, but it d

e glass enclosure. I closed my eyes, trying to reset my nervous system.

words echoed

r weakest spot and he digs hi

dly for my towel. I wrapped it tightly around my body and wiped the condens

howling against the glass, flashes of lightning illuminating the room in stark, white bursts. The air was cool a

creaked direc

m shifted. It no longer smelled of the lavender soap from th

y turne

r in the corner of my room, partia

dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar. One hand dangled over

g, icy green, were

ust took a slow, deliberate sip of his drink, his

His voice was a low, mocking barit

ed the towel tighter to my chest, backing

t tilted his head, a ghost of

ing," he said, his voice dripping w

" I backed up against the wall, my ha

nced. He swirled the whiskey in his glass. "My mis

an cold. T

I said, my voice shaking. "Y

own on the side table with a soft clink and walked toward me. Hi

cks of gold in his green eyes. He smelled like a distillery and bad decisions. "My parents hired a bab

me," I warned, m

t my face. "You'll tell my parents? They're on a jet t

fraid of y

omething dark and hollow in his gaze. "I don't like being watched. I don't li

o inject some authority into my voi

hair away from my shoulder. I flinched, but I couldn't m

g under his arm and wrench

ears. The towel flapped wildly around my thighs. The marble floor was freezing, b

heavy brass candlestick held high like a wea

!" I gasped, pointing

into his pockets. He didn't look like a man who had just

oice cracking like a whip. "Wh

e said smoothly. His eyes never left my f

us and shielding me with her body. "Your room is on

toward the grand staircase. He stopped halfway up the firs

a cruel smirk twisting his lip

to the shadows of

mbling violently,

ed, tears of shock and frus

ng gently on my shaking shoulder. "But you're right. He

ut and turned the deadbolt. For good measure, I dragged the heavy

e bed, pulling the covers up to my chin. The storm ra

ow down. I couldn't afford this kind of stress. I co

for years. I could surviv

, uneasy sleep, I didn't know that Jace Harr

t into a million pieces, and leave me with a scar so deep t

walked right