h of the Lord Aurel of Blac

ded to nobility. The church was draped in black, and countless wax tapers glowed on the alt

feminine in their beauty-were a striking contrast to the dark mourning garb he wore. His eyes were

of the deceased. As tradition and religious custom forbade wom

n o'clock. Outsi

apery shift like ghostly shadows stirred by invisible hands. A few silent spectators stood in the background, the

tance, its wings brushing the stained-glass windo

ests' chant began-the f

h or affection, Theseus's heart was too noble to dwell on coldness. He looked a

but around the grave, let there be peace. For all our ambitions and rivalries, we share the same final destinati

ell over the mourners. The wind whispered against the vaul

foots

an, dazzling in garments fit for a celebration rather tha

llapsed to the ground

forward and lifted her in his ar

mond. When drawn aside, her auburn hair tumbled over alabaster shoulders. Her face-beaut

she lay in Francisco's arms, the flickering candlelight played across her features,

her breathtaking beauty. Yet no one approached. Respect fo

A shiver ran through her as the reality of her

nd turned to Theseus, her v

l me the Lord Aurel of B

head. "It is, my

She dropped to her knees and wrapp

le Andrea!

man stepped forward from the shado

ice! It

rushed to the woman's side. Gazing upon her te

The lost

ashed across her face. She tore herself away from the

ed to embrace her. "What is this i

stranger. "Enough. Both of you-this isn't th

I heard-just an hour ago-that Andrea had died. I had to see f

though with a hint of formali

erstand. You know what it means to lose h

low, firm. "You have not lost everything. Think, Thalia. You still hav

he knew-if he ever knew-he'd hate me! That kind old man with

hisper, choked by tears. "But

d he is here

beneath her, and she collapsed again-this time cau

" he said. "She

ly, "From what she's said-and how she clung to my father's coffin-it seems...

is tone cool. "Then I shall vi

the unconscious Thal

moment she was taken away-lasted no more than ten mi

d into the Blackmere vault. The priests co

ng Lord Theseus, his thoughts dark and