se's

dward felt less like a honeymoon and more like takin

lept in the room next to mine, separated by

head buried in intel files on extortion

my eyes and surrounded me with a secur

s just the calm

ce. He had been stripped of his r

n was the

e of the Woodward estate. The thorns were

ose shears w

s standing in the doorwa

e. This estate was b

I asked, tightening

ctically translucent. She wore a white sund

she said softly, taking a step closer. "I

s," I snapped back. "Leave

opping in an instant. "Alphonse. You know I was worki

a psychiatrist,

n, she

it me, but to grab the shears. We wrestled for a brief moment. For a g

yelled, shov

d fell backward

she sc

g shriek, as if she w

d, you hit me! You

solute absurdity of the situation,

n was

y deranged. He didn't even look at me; his eye

g a trembling finger at me. "She knows about m

tep back. "Holden, look

He turned to me with a lo

nster!"

voice steady despite the trembling in my hands. "You

me. "He stole my life, he stole my position. And no

ldiers. Traitors who had chosen loyalty to t

," Holden

he shears.

ing the makeshift weapon in my hand

my mouth. I dropped to my knees, th

bing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back. "You w

ed, I screamed, but the sedative needle one

anding up, brushing herself off, a