Whispers Beneath the Veil

pulse of modern life. Skyscrapers brushed the clouds while hidden among them were centuries-old buildings, their walls thi

horizon, leaving the city bathed in shades of purple and gold. He was a man who had seen more than most could ever dream-or fear-and his b

se burdens weighed on him, and every day, he felt the constant pull of responsibil

markets, seeking forbidden knowledge for personal gain. He had known about the black market of rare books and arcane

va had no idea he had been watching her for days, tracking her movements, observing her every choice. She

hesitation, a tremor in her fingers as she reached for the book on the third shelf. Dorian watched as she brushed her thumb over the intricate symbols embos

w what she was

arely perceptible smirk.

er fingers made contact with the ancient text, a pulse of energy rippled through the air

e room like a storm gathering on the horizon. "I wouldn't do that i

his. The force of his gaze made her blood run cold, but it was something else that caug

r every move, every inch of her. She looked... young. But there was something in the way

t mean any harm," she said, her voice shaking

nterrupted, his voice colder than the steel of his ga

orever," she said, trying to defend herself, though the tremor in

d to look at it?" He took a step toward her, his presence

eally. But she had felt the strange energy pulsing through the page

re of what she had gotten

that was almost suffocating. "This book," he said softly, "is n

hard. "A doo

ement. The air between them hummed as the weight of his touch settled into the pages, the book closing on i

She was confused, caught

g unreadable in his eyes. "You're a thief, Ava Myles. But you're also somethi

r than she expected. She wasn't sure what she was after, not ex

itted quietly, her voic

fore his lips curved into a slow, dangero