idn't

ntly of detergent and nothing else, staring up at a ceiling too high

roaned. A floorboard creaked. This h

ne. 1:42 AM. Devon had sent six mem

KISSING H

lowe

brothe

e screen fade to black and stared at

e let her mind wande

affection but missing all the words she wanted to hear. "You

choos

I see

im-cologne and fading detergent. She shouldn't still be wearing it. But she always

remembered this house-every too-perfect corner of it. The way her footsteps seemed to echo

the house. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked a stone patio that s

or open and stepp

so clear it looked fake, stars burning low between jagged clouds.

rty seconds before she sensed

ll

Just emerged from the shadow

visible beneath the neckline. He carried a lowball glass filled with

iddle of the night," he asked, "o

a f

eep," she said

not the

"And what's keepi

ly. "Regret implies I

er. She didn't

in gold and shadow. There was something unsettling about how still he was. Jace vibr

back," Killian said, "

her chest. "Glad to know

lass. "The whole family think

know what you'r

"You've been in love with him for years. And now you're

awl," she snapped. "I'm

He doesn't want to stand. H

ned, but she d

wrong ab

m

know Jace

inks," Killian said quietly.

d away, j

actual shift in the air between them. Li

said. "The loyal friend. The martyr. But if yo

der than it

se he asked me

ten years for him to ask you for anything. And now he finally has, and it do

elt tight. "You

people l

straightened her shoulders. "You're not

ow and danger

d stillness. You talk like you're in control, but all I hear is

xpression d

s sile

e, like the weight of a

after a beat. "I'm afraid of what happens

pulse

w straight through her. Like he saw things

I'm weak,

being underestimated," K

and, walking toward the steps th

ost let

mo

?" she asked suddenly. "Wh

fway to the sh

o face her, his voice

" he said, "and it will-you won

nished int

was lef

ver