Tainted Desires; Darkness. Demons. Damnation

wal

ref

ng streets-her feet bleeding from glass shards a

er blouse was ripped at the shoulder, stained with something darker than mud. Her skirt hung lopsided, exposing bruises the streetligh

rabbit to her chest like

coat. No sho

st

t si

uld've stopped

here. Not in the Deadzone-the place between districts, where c

ill, sh

e was nothing

m. Not for herself. Not

rly an hour to r

the cables like it was singing for

lone. The Beltforte skyline, usually romantic with its aristocratic design and domed rooftops, blurr

uckles white. She didn't want to die-not ex

t followed. The demeaning laugh. The indifferent silence. The empty apa

osed he

ce. Calm. Deep. Po

on'

eart f

in-whispered wealth and danger. Eyes like obsidian locked on hers with terri

dn't panic. He just sto

t do

racked. "Please d

you jump, you'll regret it. Not because you'll die. Becaus

Who the hell

voice shaking. "I don'

one step forward. "You j

wav

's you

stel

m Ka

eltforte's underworld whispered

he ghost wrapped in Armani, expensive scent

are you here

," Kane said, voice low.

w whether to laugh o

ust forgot. You're shatter

out a glo

he wind howled. H

she re

d her back-pu

From the grave she'd begu

-

Kane didn't touch her. He simply handed her his coat. Didn't question her.

lone?" he as

nod

u wo

ten teacher." Her

t explains the gentl

n't even

en, his gaze le

id. "And I know a fig

looke

iet authority in his presence made her feel

ed how much

-

know why she gave

her door-his body a shadow beside hers, his h

le, Castelle," he s

why s

eyes d

I couldn't

he was

st time in years

ar. Not from

had looked into her w

-

ilence of her apartment pressed in like a second skin, thick with dread. She curled tighter, clutching the coat Kane

ame the

aps. Measured

Her body froze. Every

h, tiptoed to the door, and

o

man who'd done this. Her husband. He must've followe

ingers trembled around it, but her grip was firm. R

locked

g it

d s

ne was

lamp mid-air,

lled her in, his other arm wrapping around

e said, voice

That same commanding prese

, heart slowing as

an

ng of t

e D

t still heaving, eyes wide wi

her like she weighed nothing

hissed, pushing at his chest, legs kicking. "Let

't flinch.

e insults she hurled at him. Her fists beat at his shoulders, her

ls Royce like a porcelain doll having a tantrum. B

drov

gainst the window, worn from fighting sha

land, the way the towering trees whispered secrets, the

at his estat

crets-black stone, sharp lines, lit windo

o drained to marvel.

ciously leaning into Kane's s

pped ou

in, and gathered her i

't fight

have the

vaulted ceilings and into the shadows of The Abyss, she won

this one cam

war

rangely