te with evening lights, towers like glass beacons, streets pulsing with life. Adrian had once ruled this city from b

om Isabella, from everyone but Damian. And still, she felt exposed. Every

clung to her skin, though the room was warm. Marta had drawn the

setting down a tray of so

small nod. Tha

aze lingering with quiet worry.

e soup, appetite gone. Her mind drifted back to Vic

glass shatter

followed wood splintering, somewhere below. Her breath hitche

st the wall. The intruder wasn't subtle.

s true, Marta's life could be collateral. Elena grabbed the nearest object, a

ugh the hall outside her room. She tightened her grip on

handle tu

sharp, comma

nees buckled. She opened the door just as Damian

, he ordered.

ne left no spa

ftly, his body low, every step precise. Elena followed, clutchi

gure, forcing open the study doors. Tall, broad-should

s voice rang

met across the hall. Elena caught only a glint of somethin

lintered wood, missing by inches

weapon. He turned to Elena, his expre

hough her body trembl

, holstering the gun. He wasn't he

ashed over her. The note wasn't em

oftening for a moment. You nee

you expect me to t

sband's enemies didn't vanish with him. They shifted their sights to you

e masked figure silenced her. He had been real. His

ed hard. Fi

expecting no less. Good. Beca

inked. A

study doors. If they wanted you

ed her more tha

refused her. She sat by the fire in the library, a b

attack, his presence steady and unyielding. The weight of his wat

are you really here, Damian? Detec

dable in the flickering light. May

Or maybe you like the

a smile touched hi

he first time since Adrian's death, Elena felt somethin

tighter, reminding herself of

man who had alrea