nah

behind me, sealing the two of

nd pulled out a high-backed leather chair. "You have excep

with effortless grace. No stumble. No reaching for

"When you lose one sense on the battlefield, the others adapt.

resting on the table. "Our alliance was arranged throug

htly, city lights catch

d. I see this marriage as a strategic merger. House Morgan provides Blackthorn capital and

erference in each other's private affairs. A

om wen

ile on his lips vanished, replaced

the table, his frame cast

n my chest. "You think I pledged ten crates of federal g

slightly, like a man reading the surface. It brushed the edge of my document sleeve, then

ive him the satisfaction. "That

d, slow. "In daylight, you can have all the commercial freedom you want. But never mistake me for a business

d warmth. The air conditioning m

ed his hand back and settled into his chair, expression smoothing into neutrality. "Silver Peak and t

s fingers had closed over mine still prickled across

force is clumsy. I already have a financial noose around t

e. "Bryce Nichols mortgaged his ancestral land yesterday. My holding company

embossed seal on the paper. A slow, dark s

"Then we have an understanding. Mutual lo

over me. "I'll walk

, then saw the quiet authori

then slipped my gloved hand into the crook of hi

ivate elevator and

x P

elevator descended. Beneath my calm,

the pavilion. Five years. Five years since I pulled her from the wreckage of the

apart. Pull her into my lap. Sink my

rced my breathing steady. Com

mured close to her ear, voice lo

t pull aw

y. "Once a blood-oath is sworn before the

she was assessing me. The elevator doors slid open b

smell

aced with lily perfume and the swe

Fangs itching. Finally,

steady strides, as if I knew nothing. The way a blind man

hought the terms were set. She thought I was

. And no

d in the middle of the

to the harmless blind pose, and ti

g a hint of a smile only she could he

ad to look at me

her. "But starting