s Vi

re burns an

po

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raised. Jaw tight. Raven Moretti. Or should I say... the girl who made Kael Nox sweat, mad

t

ly s

I'd been

n't wait

s the most dangerous wing of all-no

use I us

well, word

behind her, she crossed h

e smells l

bacco, leather, and unspoken s

. I love a woman who resists commands. T

sweetheart

t we've got seven days. Sev

pointed. On my favorite velvet ch

spread ben

was going

tion or Aemrys' gym-from-h

d kill you softly with their truths. My quarters were designed to confuse

dn't f

ed me. Me

urse. From a vineyard I b

idn't

l slip some

afraid yo

l. You're speaking

rted

me

nged her to chess. Not ju

answer one question truthfull

ily. Which told me

eckl

a blade. Sharp,

the firs

the most in this

, lips brus

sel

ched in her th

round

hing you dream

straight at

s killer through bro

ck tw

intoxi

rd night,

ith k

tru

ed. Inside: a black e

read: Loo

e

I wanted her

ecret door. One that doesn't exist. One tha

med into

e hell i

. "Your reflection

aying with

d around her.

ling it,"

th day, I p

d her the tea was laced with violet root-hallucino

d does what

lking the halls, whisperin

in the library, staring at

besi

you see?"

red witho

lone. And a cag

til

t her hall

was

u know tha

wear it in your smile. Every time you

ssed

ad

h tasted

ssed m

eath, I forg

he didn't s

d her read my files. Decode the Latin scrawled on my walls.

nd the

ri

I couldn

just left it on my pillow. O

a cigarette and

d a name I hadn

But if you die too, I

she chall

to c

tru

gainst the bookshelf. She he

," she said. "I

d at th

want to

N

sed i

"Do you car

sita

ed me th

n't u

her cheek. Pressed

said. "

ht, she knock

ck. Silk. N

you here?

she said. "And to

ha

r one night, that t

allo

her again. S

dn't

bro

eth

was a sin. Every scar I found on

ed my name, I almost

one more night, I'd

ornin

he wa

ained was th

ckm

lay on i