just after midnight. Emilia shot

ash. This

ft against the marble floor. The house was dark, eerily so.

as o

the edge of the desk. The other was bloodied, dripping slo

rgot h

ir

. "I told you to

e blee

noth

not no

argue, grabbing a cloth from th

dn't

er eyes to h

he might refuse. But then, without a

The cut ran across his palm, deep enough to sting. S

watch

ressed together when she was nervous. The way her touc

raid of me," h

, startled. "

dn't

she

ke this. Not when you're bleed

hung bet

ma

like gravel. "No one's cal

ill in her hand. "Then maybe t

rd suddenly, his fa

know what

't nee

sho

hy

ngerous to care

were sof

hout thinking,

nster needs someon

t followed was

caught. Her hand

second, he al

. The chair scraped ba

aid, voice hard again. Col

a hes

he bloodied cloth still

or, she l

orrow," she said gently

respond. D

he had knelt-her warmth still lingering like a curse he could

ning, Emilia

raight to the study with clean bandages and a q

knocked. So she opened t

wasn'

from yesterday-the one who'd touched her. The other looked ol

the older man said.

k, his fingers steepled.

ot just

raitor, isn't she? Her father tried to run with you

s breat

, cold and final. "She

like you, Lucien. You don't keep the child

g sil

k to be part of any of this. And because there a

s lev

's n

ring. "Too soft. You'll get yourself kil

who should be wor

cien's voice mad

gain. They left, boots hea

they could see her. She pressed a hand to

r of a

had a name for him. He'd died when she was

no

sn't sure

ound Lucien alone i

on the bench, head tilted back, eyes close

t opening his eyes,

fr

n't me

kno

r now. "How muc

oug

tened. "I suppose

closer. "W

e you didn't choose. Because I let dangerous men talk a

you're the only one in this house who

her then, t

s voice softened. "You rem

him, careful not

ho

. Just stared at

asked, "If I let you g

"You want t

" His voice was dis

nds. "I don't know. I don't

retched be

whispered, "