Taste

sky-it all felt surreal, like she'd fallen into the pages of some dark fantasy. People walked by in silence, their gazes hea

ind of outsider-a foreigner in their midst. Arabella instinc

like that?" she whispered to

massive black horse galloped toward her, its rider shouting in a language she couldn't u

eart racing. But as she stumbled, she collided into

e going!" a gruff,

arge, burly man. His face was round and scarred, hi

stepping back, but his meaty h

his breath reeking of alcohol. "You look too clean t

r panic bubbling over. "Let me g

idn't stay to hear more. She broke int

dge of a forest. Without thinking, she dashed into the woo

p felt heavier, the weight of the unfamiliar world pressing down on her. The trees

the trees laughing at her, their whispers mocking her

lutching her head. "This i

her face as she stumbled over roots and rocks, her chest heav

clearing, sobbing uncontrollably. "What is happ

hands gripping her shoulders. Arabella

shrieked, clawing at t

icy voice commanded. "O

Arabella froze, her sobs hitching as her panic gave way to t

caught in

pale, but not sickly-his features were sharp, refined, like they had been sculpted from marble. But it

as she tried to

man she had ever seen, his beauty almost unreal. But there was someth

ed, the air between them charged with something unspoken. Arabella's heart thudded

, but it carried an edge that warned against defiance. He released her s

words. She scrambled to her feet, brushing

is expression unreadable. "Who

n't know. I was just walking h

ently. His gaze made her feel exposed, a

said finally, his tone carry

rms defensively. "No kidding. I

aint smirk, though it didn't

ng about him-his cold demeanor, his unsettlin

y. "I don't know who you are or what this p

came from, it's not close. If you wander aro

fened. "What

ss. "This place isn't safe. The woods, the to

pposed to do? Just stay here and wait

with her was an inconvenience. "Follow me," he said curtly. "

ed. "Stay with you? I

much of a choice. Either you come with me, o

him, but the alternative was unthinkable. Alone in a place she didn't

eluctantly. "But i

le. "Don't flatter yourself. I

ldn't shake the feeling that Damian w

est with an ease that suggested he knew every inch of it. Arabella f

g?" she asked, bre

mian replied with

ou mean a cabin

, his golden eyes glinting with

stood a massive castle, its dark spires reaching toward the twilight sky. The

Arabella asked, her voic

"Welcome to my

stle's interior was just as imposing as its exterior, wit

le, Arabella couldn't shake the feelin