t Rafael's words that l

or "I always knew you w

walls compressing, closing in on her, reminding her that Rafael De

an old photo, shot outside her university. She was smiling - blissf

hundering. "Why?" She whispered, the word

big body. His emerald eyes glimmered with something unreadabl

th an unnaturally sure edge to it. "Long before your family betrayed you, long be

You-" she swallowed, struggled to keep the shaking out

her horror. "Oh, Valeria. Did y

felt

thrown into prison, since she had been sold,

sn't destiny," she hissed. "This is

he hovered next to the door, and the next he was before her, his finge

ou're in my world now. And in my unive

fiance. "Then kill me," she spat. "If I am no

I want you dead?" He moved in, breath whispering over he

ran down

out power. It wasn'

as obs

ast U

turn the tables. If Rafael had been watching her for years, then he

ded to

dy. "If you've wanted me all this time, wh

only for the briefest mo

l back then," he confessed. "You had fai

eath h

to unravel that,

vida. I wanted to break your illusions fir

ran thro

ant her body. He

Kind o

d but Rafael released her, sn

ever," she replied, her voice m

"I think you are misunderstanding me, Valeria. I don

owned.

never leaving because, event

. "I never want to

ers, invading her spa

d and walked away from the door. But before

nd Val

used to

escape again..." His voice was low, almost

one in a room filled with artifacts that

s hands

hought h

not count

allow him t

be taken in

nd a way to

making him as ruth

t burning everyth

ant bringing hi