as crumpled in my hands, and the words "Don't trust him" echoed in my head. I tried to ignore the feeling t

arely audible. I hoped it didn't com

at, exactly?" I took a step back, needing more space, but there was no place to go. "Because someone has broken

nce with a few quick strides. The air between us slides with tension, and my

voice velvety, but it didn't reassure me. "An

my throat dry. "Wh

ody and the magnetic pull he seemed to have on everything around him. His eyes clo

out me, too," he said, his voice low and almost remorseful. "Th

, but I was already at the edge of the bed. "The

to the crumpled note in my

could I, given the cryptic warnings, attacks, a

stiffening in an instant. His manner transformed, and the tenderness th

marked abruptly, turning

could flee. "You can't keep brushing me off. I

arm, then back at me, his eyes sparkling with somet

in my fingertips, I re

on unreadable, and turned to

ving me alone in the cold

aited, the more concerned I grew. Every creak in the mansion, every whisper of w

iden mean when he stated it wasn't just about me? Was he hiding anything more th

at if it wasn't simply a warning to Aiden's ene

s were completely dark, with just the faint glimmer of the house's lights v

ong the property's boundary and slipping t

I stumbled away from the window, my pulse racing in my chest. I had to go locate

ect? What if Aiden canno

ughts. My breath stuck in my throat, and I

quickened as I carefully approached the door, my hand was shaking. My fi

t slightly. But, when I turned back to face the room,

me jagged scrawl as before. My ha

on me, the weight of the note sinking into my skin. Wha

ker than my thoughts. I needed to find Aiden to ask him all this, but every tur

grow longer, darker,

oor at the end of the hal

or open just enough to see Aiden. He was standing in front of a desk, ba

said, his tone low and very seriou

has stopp

led by darkness. "She is already suspicious. "A

air, his displeasure apparent. "Sh

beating. What is it that h

lled with fear. I wanted to leave the house and

ow and harsh, broke throu

standing in the doorway now, his look fixed on mine, and for

rustration, but

hispered gently, moving clos

ded; I did

was soothing, but it had a deadly edge tha

en?" I whispered, my voice shakin

her step closer, his face looked with su

ere softly, and the qu

through the corridor, followed by the distinct sound of shatt

k. And this time,