phin

n my bones. For twenty-four hours, my bedroom in the west win

hands trembling so violently that the porcelain teacup on her silver tray rattled. She set i

arely a breath. "I shouldn't speak, but

acade from yesterday complet

were a monster. The embodiment of the Marino blood curse. She begged him not to bring a defectiv

ed in my chest. My performance had

t was terrifying. He just told her, *'I decide if

sed door, the chilling reality settling over me like a shroud. Julian's obsession was absolute. He didn't care

re in the hearth had died down to glowing e

caught the sharp, ruthless angles of his face. He moved with the arrogant grace of

ing edge. "I apologize for her dramatics today. But let me assure you, Seraphina, w

't offer him a hollow, unhinged smile. I simply loo

ing the breathless, manic lilt entirely. It was steady, cold, and lethal. "Y

d, revealing a flash of genuine shock, fo

to feel the ugliness she tries so hard to hide behind her pearls." I took a deliberate step toward him, my eyes locked onto his.

split second, that he hadn't broken me. The madness was a weapon

room turned violently oppressive. He closed the distance between us, stoppi

low, vibrating threat that scraped against my nerves. "

rushing a stray lock of hair f

. "Don Augusto Viti is hosting a gathering of The Commission. You will stand by my side in front of the

out, the door slamm

Old Man ringing in my ears like a death knell. Two days. In two days, I would be parad