are heav

aren't the ones y

se uncovers about you befor

just touched the one secr

-

ght of

ut my body hadn't

om the

hand steady

till echoing like th

time you trusted the wrong

last

n't belong to this

onged to

f, only to wake up years earlier, rel

It couldn't be. No o

unreadable eyes, I'd seen something something sharp and kn

through the air as couples drifted apart, laughter swelling

n me like the conversation had never happened

breath, voice low, b

you mean

xpression infuriatingly c

ned. "You spe

ose who can

th, silent, the crowd parting aroun

unding, fury simmering beneath confu

xander Knig

h did he kn

-

ask I

le

cut through the haze,

ch

cou

e through the crowd, his face the p

s hand around my elbow like he owned

irritation in his eyes when I

d flatly, letting my a

eating figure, his voice laced with bitterness. "Of all people... he's hard

gainst every whisper, every warning. I'd told myself

him now tr

nd not being the cente

en," I said sweetly, j

ht off guard. "Y

m

of irritation. Then it vanished. "Elena," he began, tone soft but heavy, "we s

it was.

uence, to tighten his strings. He couldn't stan

tone light but final

xed. "At le

per this time. "Enjo

walked

red. Just walking grace

hind me, hands curling

-

rden E

balcony, and cool air wash

kets and the distant murmur of the orchestra inside. Lanterns glo

marble railing, tryin

exander Kn

n't. He

tinct. Maybe he was the kind of man who co

d been mine once. My own whispered war

n't let him

hrough the night

sp

sting casually against a column. The moonlight carved silver across

anded. My voice sounde

ot following. I told you,

ing to be obser

ut you are somethin

shoes. Each step seemed to narrow the space between us,

nd what have you 'un

nwavering. "That you

r thic

one thinks is naïve

d tilting just slightly. H

e peeling away every mask I

wiser than I l

aybe you've lived enough to kn

My pulse jumped. "You keep sa

se it'

but it hit with th

ped myself, breath catch

s dark and calm. Then, softly a

lready know the story yo

t deeper tha

ossibly know the truth, the certainty in

-

iff Be

us thick, electric. The

ant smile. "I don't sc

oo

eliberate, brushing t

n't save you fro

n my arms. "What's c

I could just barely hear Richard's laugh. Then

lready

ss, his figure dissolving into the moonlit shadows

n, every brea

oo quiet. The roses too st

ized something

Knight was playing, I

t even know

-

alms as the wind swept through the garden. The roses

Knight kne

as tightening

d

e middle of a storm

what I'd lived and lo

ander truly did

hance might alre