The Assassin's Bride

with dew and blood. The night swallowed the evidence of what had just ha

forced them still. The silence between them was oppressive. He hadn't spoken again since

's wife runn

She didn't answer yet. Not until she underst

s flicking to him. For the first time

a strong jaw roughened with a day's growth of stubble. His mouth was firm, made for command, not softness, though something about the curve of it whispered temptation a

utting green- like polished emerald under glass, sharp enough to flay her where she sat.

teady on the wheel, veins roping lightly beneath the skin. His black shirt stretched across lean, coiled mus

er gaze away, fu

watched him execute sev

still jumped when h

said at last. His voice was quiet, but it carr

survive, weaving her words like silk, careful and precise. But Kael di

es rushing by. "Because being Dante's wife," sh

, sharp as a blade. "That's not

ne. He was going to kill my family- every last one of them- and then me. Slowly. Brutally. I heard him give the order myself.

ger, then tilted her ch

an. The real question is-" she leaned in, her voice daring him to flinch, "why did you save me? You had every c

ot much- just a flicker across his face, l

light, and exhaled smoke into the cabin, letting it coil lazily betwe

n't like ta

assin," Seraph

ressed to her skin. "Careful, sweetheart. Push too ha

leaned against the seat, lips curving faintly. "Then admit it. You spare

e. Smoke ghosted past his mouth be

don't mistake my choice for charity. I sav

sting the word. "So that

men will come again. And again. The fact you're still

rt and bitter. "S

unreadable. "Not just bait. You said you had information. If you'

st on her thigh. There it

. "Then let's make a deal. You keep me alive. I give you everything I know

air in the car change-charged, electric. His sile

ovements precise. His green eyes locked

, verdict falling lik

h the space between the

look away. Couldn't l

curving in a shadow of defian

ven c