His stepmother his queen

er face, searching f

de was u

s had

oonlit marble-cold, smooth, untouchable. But her lips... those lips had haunted him for years. He

essed them

e said, turning and walking toward t

pi

ed like royalty-graceful,

n fol

the sway of her hips benea

lay beneath the corset laced tig

the scent she always wore-san

he

was no lo

s no longe

tr

ess he

f Dreadmour Keep. The air was thick w

ouldn't

g to ask how you

d, slowly tur

ked onto his

id softly. "It told me...

d closer.

ed from

ossed her face-pain? prid

ooked

u're dripping all over

ending this place belo

dn't a

y both knew

king w

angerous ghost

still b

readmour Keep

e sea-salted stone walls. Sa

hing felt

he was d

e she was

the air like ghosts startled awake. His boots echoed over the marble fl

he wa

he dr

e much d

mson sheets. Black velvet canopy. Fit for

e frame, then turned to th

sharper now. Eyes darker. Hair longer, tied back in a pirate's k

the door c

dn't

n't ha

er in th

he doorway like a

," she said softly. "He insist

darkly. "How g

her inside. Not

u, Lucien,"

turned, e

one. He loved his pow

like tensioned r

just a boy

bride," he replied, voice thick

nched.

he s

lt

t made

a step

sper. Every footstep. Every time you tucked me

now to see the gold

mine," she said

breath

re he co

d and lef

pounding like war

readmour Keep

e sea-salted stone walls. Sa

hing felt

he was d

e she was

the air like ghosts startled awake. His boots echoed over the marble fl

he wa

he dr

e much d

mson sheets. Black velvet canopy. Fit for

e frame, then turned to th

sharper now. Eyes darker. Hair longer, tied back in a pirate's k

the door c

dn't

n't ha

er in th

he doorway like a

," she said softly. "He insist

darkly. "How g

her inside. Not

u, Lucien,"

turned, e

one. He loved his pow

like tensioned r

just a boy

bride," he replied, voice thick

nched.

he s

lt

t made

a step

sper. Every footstep. Every time you tucked me

now to see the gold

mine," she said

breath

re he co

d and lef

pounding like war

fhan

t thudded onc

sil

Nothing. No footsteps

d like perfume-familiar

e sheets were untouched.

essed into the linen

i

d in c

scratched faintl

e st

n't sleep

n the Keep

wasn't