Twisted vows

Dinner wit

e tension of the night before, every muscle knotted from unease and the weight of choices she co

glass of orange juice too perfect to be real. She stared at it for a long time, half expecting it to explode or deliver a

't touch

at had been placed precisely at her bedside. The realization made her st

ft the

the walls adorned with old portraits. She walked, aimless at first, trying to map

ner and nearly s

ci

ming mug of coffee, he looked as if he hadn't slept. Dar

said smoothly, taking a

"I'm not playing ho

"You're free to explore. Just... don't open l

idn't want to give

ing what looked like a library. Floor-to-ceiling shelves. A massive

followe

rio

the spines of old books. Some were in Lat

, his gaze tracking her like

ns," he said. "Built during wars. Reinforced dur

talk ab

Because it hurts? Or because y

rply. "What did

ange. "I gave her everyt

that excuse

toward her, "you should stop asking qu

d away. J

iced.

n, Isla. Don't spend it sc

otsteps were soundless. A

she found hersel

n a deadly sort of way. There were statues, old and crumbling, of angels and beasts. Some wer

on bench near a fountai

ifferent here. So

it she'd picked up after her sister died. Drawing helped. Gave

long she was there unti

u d

leaned against a tree, watching her

time," she said

ay

her before she

er hands. Flipped through it.

"You captured

ghtened. "I drew

d the book.

your enem

her's life hostage. You dragged me here like

ou harm, you'd

maybe you shoul

her wrist. Not

fell away-the garden, the silence, the

ie until you know t

he walk

, dinner w

eats. Candelabras l

speak. Neit

celain. No music. No staff. Just two

ucien finally said, "Tomorr

froze mid-bi

t's exactly a

uld you keep

ine glass. "Because some

came like

d-something scrapin

nding. Slipped out of

th

ll was

ng moved in

ollow

past the portraits, through a nar

ed downward.

rned back. But som

lined with old wine racks. Chains hung from on

ain

vered in a

lled i

was

velvet chaise. Eye

d by L

corner. The date-two

backe

"She said it would

ci

hadowed. "I told her it wasn't fi

h caught. "Y

didn't

out, brushing her

w I hav

is hand away.

d. "But you

d at him.

but it didn't

hing that