ella

He wrapped his arms around Marco and me, his usually imm

he meaning

halfway down the steps, his sharp, calculating eyes widening in absolute

eeks, tracing my features frantically as if terrified her fingers would pass through a ghost. Her thumb br

She collapsed against me, pull

d, my voice cracking with confusi

in my hair. "It's a miracle, Bella. God gave

I sat in his oversized leather armchair, scrubbed clean and dressed in a

ked gently, though his eyes were d

murmured, rubbing my aching temples. "

today, a fisherman found you by the Adler Planetarium steps. A stile

Planet

d image flashed behind my eyelids: the lake, burning like liquid fire under a setting

lla

ead. "The sunset... some

ask slipping to reveal the terrified father beneath. "Go

enz

d shut behind my sister, the frag

said, his voice dropping to a lethal register. "First, absolute Omertà. If anyone in t

s massive fists.

has gone mad since her 'death'. If the Wraith finds out she is breathing, he won't return her to

, my mind already calculating the

informants. Marco, rally your best Soldiers.

nd my father and I would have to walk into the social club and play the grieving family on the anniv

ella

. Exhaustion dragged me under the moment my

ffocating, lined with freezing silk. A co

toxicating scent of whiskey, expensive cologne

y forehead, my eyelids, my cheeks. The kisses were agonizingl

ear, his voice a broken, obses

ma(my soul)... my

anded itself into my very core, leaving me shi