stop in front of the massive st

at the top of the wide marble steps

out first. He turned around and held his

in her throat. Without a second of hesitation,

ntle pull, guiding her out of the car. The cool

le doors into the brightly lit foyer. The butler

tooth and nail to escape this place. Now, the sight of the crystal c

d to break down the cold wall Alo

ase that led to the second floor, the physica

Her vision swam with dark spots. Her legs, completely drained of strength from the blood loss and sheer exhaustion, simply

a step behind her. His

nipulative tricks. The corner of his eye twitched in irritation. But his body moved faster than his brai

grabbed the lapels of his suit jacket with bot

her eyes, making them look as inno

pered, her voice soft and sweet. "

letely expressionless. He subtly waved his hand, sile

. A cold, mocking light

ant and selfish. She would never lower herself to a

ught, his jaw clenching. She thinks t

want to play this game, let's s

scooped her up into his arms, carrying her

e corner of her mouth curled up into a small, r

" she whispered. "I promise I'll be r

or a fraction of a second. H

econd-floor hallway and kicked

e soft mattress. The second her back hit the sheets, he s

said coldly. "St

d walked out

beneath the door, desperately forcing her lungs to take in air. He's coming back, she repeated frantically in her head. He's just getting medicine. He's coming back. But with every passing second of dead

his back against the wall. He reached into

urling smoke, his eyes turned pitch blac