Engaged to the Devil, Loved by His Shadow

ina's

oed through the marbl

n't f

ollapsed forward, blood blooming across the polished floor. His body twitched onc

never did. The men moved immediately, dragging the corpse away as if it were tr

les, I stood beside him, hands folded neatly in front of

His dark eyes skimmed over my white dress, my bare arms, the diamond

he said. I forced my l

few men chuckled. Luca didn't. He liked o

," he

isten lives longer." My sto

, Lu

gaze but someone else's. I didn't

o De

n, his shado

rest, hands clasped behind his back, face carved fr

ssessively but as if he were memorizi

eyes

, the world narrowed to th

oked away. My

a ordered suddenly. "I h

mind did. I turned, wait

forward. "I'll escort he

g, like a predator deciding whether

ng happens to what belongs to me." The w

e." He didn't touch me as we walked

nst the floor. My skin burned with awareness of the blood downstairs

o spoke for the first time. "You

wly, I turned

r of what happens to

"You don't belong i

nd brittle. "I belong exa

d. "That doesn't

id. I took a step too close. I could smel

ched, barely,

between us, al

ke that," I whispered

," he r

why sa

my ring, then lift

someone

hing unfamiliar stirred in my chest. Hope. And just as quic

o De Santis?That

pressed heavily against my c

d walking, slower now, every step measured, as if I were afrai

alls breathing, cameras blinkin

me distance, respectful,

his room was lavish silk curtains, gold accents, a bed large enough to swallow me who

softly. "If Luca comes

," Matteo

y in his ton

at him. "You s

"He'll be in the study for at

is gaze flickered, sharp and un

ecause of what they promised bu

e door. The room greeted

light. On the vanity sat the jewelry Luca had gif

nd Matteo remained at the threshold.He never cross

ank you," I

r w

ied. "For escorting m

, I

fully n

posed. Matteo hesitated. In all the months I

his house eats people alive.

I pressed, h

d, jaw ti

't belon

my lips. "That's not

hand."I know," he said. The ache in his

"Why do you stay, Matteo?" The air

om," he answered quietly. "Sometime

lowly. It sounded like som

med. Voices rose faintl

y cue," M

nto the shadows. Before he disappeare

lway

our windows. And don't drink any

pine. "Is somethin

rotective. "In this house," he sai

he wa

thing hard. My reflection stared back at me from the mirror, perfect h

nnounced, a crack had formed in that fate. And th

landed with a soft clink, far too quiet for something that had

und carried through the vents, smooth and indulgent

't already d

ated suddenly

e directly. Ever. With shak

wn Nu

sage glowed

have stood s

ed throug

react, another

live, you'll rememb

een wen

hallway out

footst