Love Among Thorns

ra's

at heavy

oice - rough, honest - promis

cag

cha

dem

ye

tay

t was f

it was

ut cruelty, Rafael's broken kindness - even guard

pocket and retreated to th

blue - colors that made my chest ache with the

e covers, waiting fo

n't ta

, a sharp noise cracked - a

pright, hear

e - sharp,

hundered do

rst open - but it was Dominic, Rafael's se

own," h

tossed something at me - a

s in here, hide under the b

my hands shaking as I pul

oor - then, softer: "He's risking a lot f

n he wa

ael'

the mar

truder

en

at my side, ignoring the dull burn in m

south wing!

appeared

n. Two more outsid

the g

haken, b

cold relief unf

an I expected - sending hired

urs.

d her back

wanted to make sure

estimated what I was willi

ra's

utes; time was blurry - th

. Ca

's me," Ra

the doo

knuckles, a shallow cut above his brow

safe,"

st time in year

ricked

d," I wh

is jaw - like my wor

," he said hoarsely

d hard. "I

and when he opened them again, there was something

almost l

he pressed something i

yone... I'll give you privacy," he

- my parents, my so-calle

my grip arou

id. "I don

how, that tiny rejection of my old l

hosen t

use I wa

irst time... I wanted

for

e fo

or both

house settled into uneasy silence

hallway. The smell of something buttery and sweet drift

he counter, stirring a p

saw me, her lined face

eart," she said warmly

something tig

d, though I wasn't sure

d - a low,

had a day and a h

sita

ng without permission

air and turned back to her cooking

sa

into a bowl and placed it in front of

she said. "You

rickled at the

a

hat word to me like it

e spoon with s

ross from me, pretending

e, keeping her voice casual, "Mr.

choked on

smile that made me wonder how

she said. "He's hard on the outside, but... hi

ne, I t

e m

fraid of him?

way's eyes

table," she said. "His father - rest his soul - truste

hind those words, b

dn't n

ain when s

I didn't feel alone sitt

my voice cracking.

the table and gentl

ank me, darling. Just

dem

pecta

ness, fre

g silently down my cheeks, and Mr

el's

side the kitchen doorway,

ra's hands trembled a

e'd ever really known, offered Amara the ki

something loo

thin

hing

deserve

ybe Am

areful... he could find

roying her i