ga

lungs, a shocking

snappe

med through the tall window

t in the familiar

st my ribs, a frantic d

, or so it felt,

ony, Seraphina' s face contorted i

a chilling refrain from

hosen me, Ethan. You

dark

, t

s I looked at them.

m the fall, no crushi

t

ahogany desk caught

e

ride. The day I pick

my miser

s re

evoid of humor,

ond c

had a sick se

n't be weak. This time

tood by the fireplace, his silver ha

re waiting. It's time

ame, authoritative,

ment with a naive, fluttering heart, alrea

r debutantes, a vision in pale blue, her

" I had chased, only to find

all, embossed cards, each bearing the name of a potential

ours, Ethan. Though I trust

raphina Ashworth's card, a su

er name, Seraphina, fel

of our estate manager, leaving me a hollow shell

n't have ch

enomous whispe

back onto the tra

n eyebrow. "Is

my voice rougher, hard

ds. Names I barely regi

ht my eye. Chl

J

ady with a sarcastic remark or a playful punch. We f

Outspoken, fiercely independent, utte

smissed her as unsuitabl

ght a strange, almost forgot

this part of the tradition, a few wild car

, tapping CJ

Ethan? She's... spirited." That was his polite

ain, Gran

een his brows. "This is highly unconvent

a new assertiveness in my tone. "And

in my voice m

aze sharp. "You seem

clear, I'll be bidding on the Starfire Diamond Ti

mes used to signify a major family commitment. Bidding on it publicly for a ch

slightly. "That will ce

act

he library d

ever, held a familiar flicker of calculation. Leo Vance, charming and dec

yet. She still believed s

voice like honeyed poison. "Your grandf

hen on my face. She must have seen something

ce, Seraphina," I

ered, just for

t's no