perso

urse she didn't sleep in Damien's. Sharing a

tairs. By the time she reached the kitchen, the air was alrea

was giving her usual morning

season his food himself. The eggs soft,

, arms crossed, eyes glinting. Br

an amused smile tugging at her lips. "My, my. You

es turned slowly, eyes wid

" Evelyn announced, stepping forwa

es. Mrs. Davies cleared her throa

nd a sugar-coated smile. "Is there a problem

athe. Evelyn clapped her

the marble. The kitchen door shut behind them, leaving Evelyn i

es. "Let's make this br

arrowed. She reached for the salt shaker and twisted, emptying more than a "pinch" over the eggs. Then another heavy shak

remained untouched

. The breakfast looked like a magazine cover. No one w

way upstairs. She left the kitchen hummin

-

like he was already reading motives in bold print. A f

at, but the edge was there. Neutra

miling just enough to sting. "Thou

ot pleasure. Not a

me to eat

folded neatly,

as if he had a choice. That tiny surren

ff bowed and vanished. Evelyn slid into her seat opposite

late in front of him. "I hope you en

and steady. Then he asked,

rying to p

dropped li

ghed, soft and sharp. "N

y n

want you to die slowly. I want everything you've built to rot piece by piece.

he weather. Calm. Detached. Dangerous. Then he

g for the cough, the grimace,

th

is face a mask of composure. Only the faintest flicker in his eyes at the

the napkin. "Thank you for b

been a slap. She fel

ords came out sharper than sh

isoned me. You said no. You said you wanted slow undoing.

t was the cold of small failure. Petty revenge hadn't even sh

is jacket, and left

d walk away untouched, then she'd need to carve deeper. Break him from the inside. Like if Damien cou

e thought. If you're immune to poison, I'll make you

d. "Fine. Let'

Salt was too simple. Let's see how you handle a diet of pure, unfilte

herself walking upstairs. "You just graduat