The Assassin's Bride

r didn

alarms outside blurred into a hollow hum, muted through the tinted glass. Her breath

t when the weight of his presence filled

Vey

pe

like a curse for weeks, terrified of the faceless killer Dante had spoken of wit

gers knotting in the thin fabric of her slip. The cool air of the inte

ze shifted from

ed her

aight into my car. That's either desperation..." He let the silence stretch

embled. "I

no sudden movement. Just the slow turn of h

't l

ed against her

"I only wanted out. That's all. I di

Not amusement-something a littll

t her heart was beating. "I

resting loose on the gearshift. His posture was almost lazy, but the air aro

d the word like a taste on

shivered in

y heard

A knife, black-handled, sleek, appeared in his han

hina

ssing, not yet touching-but close enough t

at in her mouth. But she m

on't help y

, studying her face with clinical detachment. "Pr

ick with sweat. Her body wanted to shake, to scream, to

er voice cracked. "If you're g

es nar

raw, reckless truth. No

riosity sharpening his gaze. "You'd r

landed l

answer. S

he was

osted the air between them, steady, unnervingly calm. Her own breath came in jagged

ed into what

arning, the bla

n, the weapon disappearing back into

air. The relief was sharp and a lttle dizzying, but

h

't he ki

nce. "Tell me, Seraphina

snapped

led out before she e

't lie to

id through her

d immediately hated herself

in, before she could ask him w

ot

ou

gi

gravel, cutting through the tinted glass in brief, blinding flares. Vo

e's

d, listening. Cal

h curved into

're h

ght, her pulse ricoche

hrough the night, converging, until shadow

ed-rifles b

ed but unmistakable. "S

minute, the ca

coiling in terror. Trapped between the man

s glinting in the strobe of floodlights, as calm as i

ost amused, before the n

gets int