windows and clung to the walls. Evelyn sat cross-legged on the couch, an untouched cup of coffee cooling on the table in front of her. Sh

ever, his gaze fixed on something

p at all?" sh

turn. "I wante

slowly, reluctantly. Traffic rolled by in wet waves, tires hissing against the slick streets. But

he'll come bac

ay. Maybe not tomorrow. But he will.

up her spine. "Th

torm. "Evelyn... if I told you the things Casian has done, the way he thinks, you'd understand.

er voice. "You think I don't lie awake imagining all the ways this c

ched out, brushing his fingers down her c

e whispered. "Afte

s frozen in the gray light of morning, wrap

lyn broke away.

an eyebrow

meone like you. Someone who doesn't want to bow to Casian. You said you weren

d. "There's a woman. Ilsa. She was part of the old coven. Left decades ago, after Casian

e is

I'm right... she'

ed. "New Orl

e. Less if we

ence stretche

t's go,"

ed at her

If you're going to find

understand

explai

t of us remember. The kind that can bend minds, twist memories. She

ll pay th

ning match in a dry forest-beautifu

aid at last. "We'

velyn didn't ask too many questions about. He drove like someone who wasn't entirely tethered to th

ngine and the rhythm of passing trees. When she woke, it was past midnigh

ere," Alek

ce. The air was thick with scent-jasmine, salt, something metallic beneath. The buildings leaned

she live?" E

wer at first. T

stone chapel and a shuttered café. Vines crept along its face, and w

w we're her

ould ask how, t

led wine. Her hair was silver and coiled, eyes sharp and inhuman-yellow like candlelight

e as smooth as honey gone

started, but Evely

me is

ed. "Brave," she s

Evelyn

Come in, then. Before t

lcoves, velvet drapes pooling on floors of cold stone. Bottles filled with da

t looked like it had once belonged in a cathedral. She

ction," she sai

We think he'll

"He's not the sort to let

," Alek said

ymore. But you were. That's en

r hands clasped tightly in

. "But I won't do

ou want?"

mall glass vial. She held it up. The liquid insid

od," she said, nod

d immedia

. "What would you do w

tand. I want to know what makes yo

r gaze. "And

from entering this place again. But on

around hers. "You do

already holding

ked Evelyn's skin with a silver needle. A single drop f

up to the light,

murmured. "Like

hat mean?" E

miled. "It mean

n black thread. "Keep this near the thres

," Alek sa

rl. He carries storms inside him. You think you've w

e. "Then I'll lea

d like a bell crack

The city was quiet again, bathed

her apartment, holding the c

e windowsill. The shadows in the room shi

urselves tim

w m

Maybe a

at him. "The

r w

tand each other. And to make sure that, no

goodbye. Not like hello. Just the ache of two pe

sleep. Not t

es, dreams she never said aloud. Alek told her things he'd never told anyone. His real name before he changed. The musi

between them, one

For now, the world was stil

Evelyn would no