ngine. Elara sat rigid in the plush leather seat, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if she could hold her trembling

thick with unspoken words and tension

arp jawline was cut from marble, his lips pressed into a hard line. His suit was immaculate d

denly, his voice a low growl

d her head sharply to fa

u w

he bit her tongue, forci

ates and into the expansive courtyard of Blackwood Manor. The mansion loomed ahead, all d

er. For a moment, Elara hesitated, her hand trembling on the door handle. But then the driv

he said

e cobblestone driveway. Adrian was already walking toward the massive do

Grand chandeliers dripped with crystals, portraits of stern-faced ancestors

and into a private study. Elara followed cautiousl

d from floor to ceiling, and a mahogany desk sat in the center of the room like a throne. Adrian

it

n't a

of the leather armchairs by the fire. She perched o

of his drink, his

exactly made you think walking into my world, lying your way

her throat dry. "I d

ight have been amusement-or maybe it was dis

atever courage she had left. "Not w

ing fire filled the silence between them,

walking toward her. Each step was slow, delibe

ribs, and she couldn't stop hersel

f her, his towering frame bloc

and

h hitched

up, E

the weight of steel. Slowly, she ro

ouch her face. Instead, his fingers caught the strap of her purse,

fered me secrets in exchange for protect

rted slightly as she tr

," he c

as barely a whisper. "It

ed upward, but there was no wa

d gi

, his touch barely there. It was startling-how someone

id of me?" he

es

d her breath caught in her throat. "Fear keeps you

g and falling with every uneven breath. Adrian t

here, Elara, you'll need to

hat?" she

s brushing against the sh

g comes wi

ckling under his nearness. Adrian straighte

st. Tomorrow

, standing frozen as he turned his ba

second door on the left," he

t the study and stepped into the hallway. She pressed a hand

with something she couldn't quite name-fear, anticipation, a

new room behind her, one tho

o played with shadows, and she wasn