BLOOD AND PETALS

ried to drown herself in preparations, convincing herself that doubt was only nerves. Daniel

's words clung to

p smelled of roses and lavender, t

art dr

d composed, as if he belonged to the

in her throat. "You c

r, his gaze sweeping the bouquets befo

"Happy. Busy. Prepa

mile ghosting his lips. "A weddin

to fists. "Why do y

as low, steady, unyielding. "I d

rose. "You don'

I walk into places blind? I don't buy flowers without knowing who ties the ribb

faltered.

ous in its calm. "Your Daniel a

deny, to laugh at the absurdity of it-but her

loomed, his words fell like a whisper. "I

pounding too fast. She forced herself to

ched, broken only by the ti

he counter, its petals darker than blood.

e, leaving her trem

se, her chest rising a

e her eyes-because she didn't know if the l

et, the lamps spilling pale circles of light across the cobblestones.

eaned agai

art st

ri

for hours and time meant nothing to him. A cigarette glow

said, voice low, carrying too easily

he clutched her keys. "

smoke. "The one who doesn'

can't keep doing this-sho

m in two measured steps. "I can. And I will." His ga

d, as though saying it coul

e just metal. Promises-cheap words." He reached for her hand suddenly, cur

pull away, but his grip was iron-

fy me," sh

ad, studying her like she was both a puzzle and a prize. "But don't mistake me for a mons

ng and yet... pulling at something

ing hers. "Dream of your Daniel. Pretend he's the man you think he is." His smile widened sl

ding it beneath his shoe, and

est rising too fast, her hand still b

just fea

nowledge that a part of

the faint sc

as a dream. But when she sat u

llow. The petals glistened with dew that

lted. The windows shut. And yet the flow

note written in sharp

autiful whe

r, fear and anger twisting in her chest. H

A message. No name-just a n

u drea

phone as though

the shadows in every corner seemed thicker, waiting. The bell

was

ho had every right to be there. He wore black again, the k

me," Elena accused, v

at dry, dangerous smile. "You make it

voice cracked.

ssession. "You don't understand, Elena. I needed to see you when t

ed in her throat.

eepened. "Obsess

glass. "Your fiancé doesn't see you. Not the way I do. He sees what you give him. I se

sing against the counte

th steel. "Can't?" He stepped closer, the flower still in his

fingers across hers as he did. The

as limits." His eyes gleamed with something

, the bell chiming

er, clutching the note from that

like a curse, or a promise: You