are on everything. Beryl stood frozen outside the swinging doors of the trauma bay, her gaze fixed on the

undred times. The pantry. The orange package.

nd of the hall dinged

with terror. Katlin's eyes, red-rimmed and wi

d from Katlin's throat.

a whirlwind of flailing limbs and sharp nails.

p came first, a sharp, cracking sound that echoed in the quiet corridor.

g, scratching. Sharp nails raked down Beryl's neck

ws she's allergic!" Katlin sh

ders and pushed her back, just hard enough to cr

she went limp, her body crumpling to the cold linoleum floor with a theatrica

idan, she's tryin

ed Beryl out of the way, a brutal, dismissive motion that sent her stumbling backwa

y on the floor, gathering the sobbing Katli

ed, his voice thick with a tendernes

eyes was pure, unadulterated hatred. His vo

," he snarled, "I will make y

ay swung open. A doctor in blue scru

d professional. "The epinephrine worked. We're moving her t

ver Beryl was so profoun

. She let out a soft moan and sagged against Aidan, her eyes fluttering

ghed nothing. He stood, holding her protectively

ost,"

down the hall, following the gurney th

slowly raised a hand to her mouth and tasted blood where her teeth had cut the i

. The sky had opened up, a cold, miserable drizzle falling from a

got off at her stop and walked the mile to the Beaumont

various matters as Lady Beaumont. Everything is here, but she has never

personal items, and the picture of her mother she kep

the mansion.The air inside was warm and dry, bu

shipping crates and designer baby gear. A massive, unassembled pink plastic cast

a polite smile, now averted their eyes,

e family for forty years, approached her

Aidan has given instructions. Miss Johns and th

him, her wet shoes squeaking on the marble floor. She took the sweeping st

e door to her bedr

arsenal of expensive creams and gold-topped bottles. Rolling racks of Katlin's vibrant designer dresses stood like an invading army, while Beryl's own

t a move; it w

nd escaped B

her trembling fingers pulling at the knot on the first one. She dug through th

can sleep peacefully in this lonely wedding room by smelling it every night. It was the one beautiful thing she had fr

er hand. The dam of her composure finally broke. A singl

kly wipe

tires on the gravel driveway below, foll

were

placed by a cold, hard fire. She shoved the scarf into her worn leather b

one last look at the room that had been her prison for three y

never h