BLOOD AND PETALS

lf she wouldn't

ce, low and

ing hers with the

carved into her skin lik

es. All the things that should have been her joy. But everything was tain

g off the glasses, everything bright and ordinary. Elena forced her smile, forced her laugh

thought no one was looking. His v

heard it-fa

ph

e felt the ground sli

le

Daniel's. It was

ood we

his posture relaxed, his gaze fixed entirely on her. He had no right

doing here?" she whispered when he drift

"Dinner. Watching. Saving you from wasting another smile on a li

ed. "You shou

his eyes glinting. "Because wherever he goes, he

ile reappeared instantly, bright and perfect. He

ir eyes. Daniel's warm and famil

thunder. "We were just talking," he said smoo

ion flickering in his gaze

lips curving faintly. "

grip on Elena's shoulder tightened imperceptibly. Ad

aid softly. "It would be

na's chest tightened unt

the night as easily as he had appeared,

awake as he slept beside her. His arm heavy arou

eart betr

or the man ly

had appeared uninvite

ri

e realized the most te

ger afraid of

afraid o

chest all night until she

ed his shirt, Elena sat on the edg

said softly. "

othed into practiced calm. He turned, offering her t

She's a colleague. She handles s

bedsheet. "I heard you say her

t hers with polished sincerity. "You're imagining things, Elena. Stress.

her forehead, his voice low and soothing. "I would never lie to you.

adly to believe him. To let the

y," she w

ned, flawless and reassuring. "We'll be married so

hop, Adrian's words clawed at he

n her mind. His smile, his cer

pause. That fraction of a seco

nearly snapped in her grip. She refused to let Adrian crawl int

future. Her saf

nothing but a shadow tr

nt, she couldn't stop the th

all she had left when