His Forbidden Obsessions

its golden glow felt dimmer now, as if t

e air like venomous snakes, wrapping around my throat, tightenin

es, by their cruelty. It wasn't just the Blackwo

carded me like an unwanted burden. But

was here to rem

dn't have

I heard something else. Tension. Concern? No. No

crafted mask. Alexander Sterling. The only person who had eve

tilting my head, my lips curlin

morizing that face, the way it once softened when he looked at me, the way it hardened

o

began, voice

, Alexander. I know e

d to reach for me. I saw it. Felt it. But

drop. "Stay out of my way. This tim

eady gone, slipping into the crowd like a shadow. The

ed, but tonight, I was ready

agging me back to those y

able. The bruises I had hidden beneath silk sleeves. And Alexander-Alexande

fists. They had all t

to take every

toria Lennox. Marcus Blackwood. The architects of my ruin, now basking in t

e on their board. I was th

stood before me in an emerald gown, the perfect ima

ed smoothly. "Still

d. "A ghost? A mistake? Or just anoth

only she could hear. "No, darling. I'm the author

r eyes. Fear? Amusement? It didn't matte

e air. They had spent years living comfortably in my absence

waiter, a shadow shifted in the far corner o

ely raised the glass to my lips, letting the bubbl

here. And they were

sn't the cautious curiosity of the guests-it

night air. The chill bit at my skin, but I welcomed

ht you w

as my mind raced. A figure emerged from the shadows-Nicholas Grav

, searching for cracks in

?" I asked, a

ckle. "No. But a lot

I'm not here t

hy you came back, Evelyn. Bu

etween us charged with unspok

exasperation. "They won't let you wal

unting

ent longer, then smirke

in just slightly. "I've change

the echo of my heels against the ma

only the

et them fear. Let t

e I wa

leaving wit