ld was

er with smooth leather cuffs, the kind meant not to bruise, but to restrain all the same. She was guided into a vehi

spoke

s ached slightly against the cuffs, her shoulders stiff from sitting upright for so long, but she didn't dare move. She didn't know if the man from the auction-Luciano Moretti-was in

me. It could've been hours. It could've been half a day. T

of the highway. A gate, maybe? She thought she heard the groan of metal as it opened. The

or o

n off by the blindfold. The ground beneath her was smooth stone now. Cool. Even. She could hear birds in the distance, the r

ce came, quie

the bl

light-natural sunlight, blinding after so long in darkness. Her vi

in front o

n es

ay. The architecture was unmistakably Italian: wide arches, terracotta roof tiles, wrought iron balconies with flower boxes overflowing in muted colors. There were

ht have called it paradise. But she hadn't. She'd been

d, but she didn't run

in another custom suit-midnight black

falt

he hadn't really seen him at the auction-only the outline, the silhoue

strong, the stubble across it deliberate, not careless. Dark, close-cropped hair framed his face, and his eyes-cold, calculating-were the color of molten obsidia

he carried himself. Power didn't cling to him; it obeyed him. He didn't ha

at a part of

like a shadow that sucked all warmth from the sun. He was

nally, his voice like stone-calm,

ned and wal

like

ntroduction. No prom

woman approached her instead-older, silver hair in a tight bun, posture r

English wrapped in a thi

tated. Ter

loors were polished to a mirror shine, the ceilings high and arched with intricate plasterwork. The hallways stretched

asked, her voice hoarse. Sh

r over her shoulder.

of t

o-ceiling shelves, a dining room big enough for twenty. There were no other peop

topped at the fo

ted to walk the house during the day, ex

ased. "What's in

. "Off limits means lo

away, her thr

way upstairs was just as luxurious-muted tones, tall windows draped in sheer l

cking it with a small key. "You're on the

at her. "So I

lied, opening the door. "As

d a velvet coverlet. A fireplace sat at one end, unlit but clean. There were fresh flo

a hotel sui

me with locks on the

shut be

rying to understand. Was this better than a cell? Maybe. But at least in the cell, she hadn't been

isguised

, the garden stretched like a labyrinth. And beyond that, guards. She spotted them-two

f the bed and buried

ock made

esa again. She ente

or dinner. Closet is stocked

" Alina said, he

wil

eft a

the plainest one-a black slip dress that hit just above the knee. The bathroom was marble, gold-trimmed, with fragrant oil

rged, the ha

ntil she reached the dining room

sat at t

ead to toe. She didn't know what he was thinking. His face w

e

ore. Pasta with truffle, freshly baked bread, a bottle of red wine a

finall

the plain

ked for any of them

crossed his face. "You'

ists in her lap. "

dn't

pressed. "Because you wanted to pro

l no

stay here," he repeated softly, just as he had earlier. "

aid of dying

ly looked. And what she saw

t makes you

nded in

he hadn't noticed before. It was darker, quieter, and something drew her t

ced at t

men. Fa

her heart

eath h

middle of the hall-wa

mo

same locket that had been le

he same face she had seen in photos g

other's portra

d Lucian

m began

teppe

allway lights