A love reborn

archment, sealed with blue wax and an e

on Co

d friend. M

e-quietly, respectful

Lake City's most exclusive

d've declined witho

, What would Alex say?

t asking th

e in years, I was

inston one

se came se

ething perfect

't exag

rived, tied with satin ribbo

t that curved high along one leg. It wa

e I want

irror, I barely r

lence, who dressed in muted tones and measured

od a woman cloak

r me. My lips, painted crimson, matched the sti

scade in waves d

t anyone's wife,

the

s dripped crystal light. Strings of sapphire-bl

ide with Wins

hat reached his eyes. His fingers brush

utiful," I

ou," he s

hispers followed

hat I

s glo

rrington's wife wa

them

yes didn't pierc

he doors op

swept t

Harri

cou

His hand was laced with hers-Zeya, radiant in

lack suit, his presence unde

t, everythi

eyes

d-taking in my dress, the man b

flickered

r. Not j

gr

away, refusing to let him

gently l

p outside fo

id. "I wan

en let's make

ed, the wo

ched. I di

st felt safe. Light. No

pre

felt his

t dance. H

ng us-his gaze a mix of disbelief and someth

ed-did h

who waited up every nig

it didn't ma

sic sw

I la

al l

eet an old friend, and I wand

rays. I picked up a glass-gold

here?" Zeya's voi

ned s

be an insult or anoth

guard. Before she could

Crashin

to see Zeya drop to

I feel

oaning, one hand pr

me, her voice w

the drink... I think

ing wen

eru

lifting her as if she might bre

! Call the

gaze land

Accu

did y

l, glass st

g. She's

ould s

e she's

ed at my side

ll night. She didn

sco

her because you'r

ding her because she's telling the tru

ve Alex

The crowd murmured around us,

ed to

t's

et this," Ale

't loo

is wasting ten years wa

car, the world blurr

e up," I sa

ded. "She's

e belie

wante

ked a

e you st

n't he

en here. I was just wait

ent, I sa

"Thank

. He didn't say

ove, stead

st time, I let