dge of Elena's vanity

petals, sharp and open like a wound. The note was folded benea

protect yo

those seven words, calm as a

't told Al

he first time since their wedding, she felt a fli

- would've run to him in a panic. But the Elena she wa

e st

r. Every unfamiliar footstep in the hall. E

her restlessness by

breakfast, dear," the housek

ng. "Have there been... any vis

ned. "Not that

wond

yes narrowed. She sense

ll when a storm's about to hit. Whatever's tr

ed a smile.

lt the storm creep

-

hroom, warm water lapping at her collarbone. The lights

s. Tried to breath

r in her mind

protect yo

en - a

o

oot

loshed slightly as she sat

The faint cre

the towel just a

exander's voice.

rush - but her ha

stepped inside, loosenin

kly, sinking deeper into

lust, but in quiet scrutiny. Lik

, voice low. "So

hesi

abbed the folded note from her r

ook it with

ened. Eyes narrowed. Lips

ou get this

days

uld've t

," she said. "I di

ack, shoul

s," he growled, "

-

s, the mansion's quie

talled. Alexander's chief of security, a thick-jawed man nam

idn't fade. It

in the hallway, pressing a phone t

said. "Find it. I don

her. Ende

t sleeping

er are

re, shadows in

ever happened to me," she said softly. "Now I'm n

nch. "That ma

thing that caugh

hed her

Light. Al

he walk

-

al came on

an fo

information to someone outside. Details about Elena's sch

fronted the m

she heard the shouting. The crash. The

rning. The police never cam

of her chan

or, but hers - was now a pl

t the girl who had scrubbed dishes in Red Willow.

had steel i

rm behind

-

s pa

er and Alexander thin

meals. Spoke more

to make coffee the "poor girl way" - w

lau

ked th

hreats di

rived. More n

mpered with the

id found a camera

darker. More protective. M

" she snapped after

keep you aliv

t me fig

s flash

y n

e already lo

first time

anipulated by a business rival - lured into a trap, us

pered. "Because I underestimated

eached

d h

im sh

-

first time, he did

yed in

e love. They di

eyes open, one ar

e whispered, "Maybe

ead. "Maybe that's

-

e is nev

tepped out into the

to a rose bush,

wolf. Now you'l

nds tr

r, a came

- but no on

the

-

the garden, the note

scanned the hedges, the path behind her, the rooftops. A trickle of f

her legs, breath ragged. She didn't care that she was being watched

o his office w

p from his desk, s

ce shaking. "In the garden. Ano

st his chair n

unit. "Lock the grounds. Shut eve

urned bac

ouse from now on," he said, vo

stepping back. "

h me on this. Th

licate thing you can

you are my wife. And I won't bury another woman

hit her li

e a

on shift and looked

n't me

he asked, voi

dn't

ence was an

-

shadows stretch across the grounds like long, black claws. She had been strong

the camera.

onfession Alexande

ring meant danger - not just

hear him en

aid gently, "

m. "Do you think

tion stu

happen," he said

not what

esit

know this - they've never faced someo

-

t followed, eve

no longer

gan to

r basics - self-defense, ev

, watching from a distance as Elena kicked, blocked,

looks," the bodyguard

er didn

ready

-

rning point cam

ed the source of

dr

a disused part of the estate th

meone with intimate knowledge of the

ne in

iewed the access logs,

a rogue garde

someone

one

-

he balcony with Elena, the city

itor in the ho

eath c

u know

esit

company. One of the board members. They want my shares.

n let them see what hap

surprised by the

time, he saw not just th

a pa

-

only to find her already asleep, curled under the s

ind stone and steel - ached

brushed a strand of

l burn this world bef

her of them knew - was that the

than either of t