nket, her skin prickling with a chill the fire couldn't chase away. She bli
ut the bruises whisper
resh fruit, warm bread, dark chocolate, and a cup
dn't t
the bed and padded sil
it opened with
ring, the floor a polished stone that made her feel small and barefoot
d something else.
ld wall for balance. Her breath caught as she passed portraits-
en she
mi
wrought iron that twisted like vines. The glass shimm
ection was there, faint but real-yet somethi
rned s
o
ttle thing,
lk and steel, an
was right behind her. She hadn'
like a
ror. Cold bit her spine
t be out here
t the do
are feet, then rose to her mouth.
st
pt y
fr
essed harder against the mirror's chilled surface. He di
she asked, her voice thinn
eliberately-and brushed a
t?" he said softly
e, to scream, but something in his voice
now ghosting down her jawline. "But you're
ngerous," s
" he said
, and just like th
rming back toward the room
a," he called. "You'l
, spine straight, trying t
t?" she
use.
choos
ask what
afraid she a