the mansion swall

den light casting shadows that flickered like ghosts. The air smelled

teady step forward. Everything about this place s

hed her since they'd stepped inside, but his presence was an

nto fists. She needed to t

xing him with a glare.

t the corner, slow and

refused to let fear win. "Some

closer, towering

rd sent ice th

W

barely noticed when she was home. And her closest friend? She doubte

it in her expression be

coming for

roat ti

d, her voice hoarse. "W

ed out, his fingers brushing a loose strand of hair from

" he m

ran down

sane," she

erous flickering in the depths of

s hand shot out, gripping

la," he murmured, his voice low and

k echoed thro

d, her breath

longer before he pulled away. He didn'

same lethal energy as Rafael. But where Rafael's power was refined,

, his voice rough. "E

nodded

wed hard. "Wha

his expression unread

her chest. "I'm n

ed his head.

she took a step back

sharpened.

m crackled, thick wi

she could reac

as

o f

is large hand wrapping around the back of

but it was unshakable-a si

, do you?" he murmured, hi

eaths came f

s ghosting over her ear. "

ulse s

e you want

eat pooling low in her belly desp

N

let him get in

ay, breathing ha

smirked.

into fists. "I will f

e welcomed the challenge.

omach c

toying w

playing wi

wouldn'

ouldn'

r chin. "You'l

chuckled. "

lingering glance, he

nding in the middle