ison. Isla pulled the thick blanket tighter around her as she sat by the frost-kissed window, her breath fog

t of his words, the way his dark eyes had burned with somethin

if she was terri

be

spread of eggs, toast, and black coffee. Luca was already there, standin

g the play of light and s

?" she as

ad. "No new visit

ettled be

tolen secrets, about Dominic's enemies-but

eled herself for

leaning against the doorway like a

ing me," he s

aze evenly. "I

t it didn't r

l isn't

closing the distance until

nderstand," he whispered. "And

elentless teacher-pulling Isla deeper

idden allies and enemies, and unveiled a

n with the magn

thing more personal-Dominic's rare glimpses of v

he windows, Isla found herself a

rs hovering above the keys,

re a tangle of

her own life w

nic's voice br

la

hesi

y fo

, tentative at first, the

the room, a fragile bri

faded, Dominic was

" he said softly. "It

looke

ill you

icker of something

blur of tension a

idden door in the library-a narrow s

d fear warre

old air wrapping aro

chamber-walls lined with p

ne to

otograph of Violet-with a cryp

t no

world s

was deeper and darker

er, and betrayal was

shadows, her sister

aph of Violet. Her sister's eyes, once warm and familiar, now

t no

d like a brand

gain, searching for any clu

th

htened in

re? Was it a message

echoed on

heart

ared at the entrance of the chamber, his dark

ttle secret," he said, vo

wallow

s this

eside her, eyes s

es, Isla. Or at least the pa

ed on the pho

here," he admitted. "And

e was barel

n't you

eapons, and you're still l

t and gently took

ession softened - a ra

lliant," he said qui

back at

trying to undo the

mind

she disappeared? And why was Isla

between them

c's voice b

just my leve

r, intensity fla

e my c

breath

ouder than the sto

know if they were a

y awake, the weight of

minic's confession and the sec

ween enemy an

ng in the shadows se

brought a summo

hall, dressed sharply as alw

ng her a small, black

ned it c

lace, a pendant shaped like a bro

" she

low, "even broken things can be

rs brushed t

up, eyes

f I re

led, dark a

ou'll b

ce, she felt its weight-not just of

she was

aybe, there was a