th's

bout this house felt like a whisper, rich, qui

in front of a door and s

was...

ft white sheets. There was a chandelier above, glittering faintly. The curtains sw

had back home. I could live

a moment-just a tiny, cruel moment-I imagined what it could feel like to actu

wasn't

"If you need anything, anything at all, just tell me. There's hot wa

for dinner. I'm fine. Really. I

ight. Rest well then." And with that, she left,

sing my fingers into the edge of the mattress as I

s, Lilith. No matter what,

lothes hung neatly inside, none of them mine, but clearly bought for me. Probably cho

to bring up my actual bags,

dress, desperate to shed the heavy weight

the gown sliding open, and just as I be

ned. No knoc

he was.

alfway undressed, the back of my gown halfway d

wned everything, because

hing it tightly to my chest and twis

!" I snapped. My voice was shaky b

ely. He just stood there, his j

voice of his, he said, "It's my

him. My dress still

ember? You might not like it, but that's the truth. And we a

't even been twenty-four hours and you're a

caping me. "You barge into my room uninvi

answer t

gers show as I adjusted my dress. "Since you're not stay

id, stepping further inside li

ttle. "What are you doing here, Killian? I am tired. I've ha

me, and there was something bitter in h

aying you don't want trouble afte

knew very well wha

rried, stay away from me. Stay out of my path. Don't question me. Don't

anger rising in m

use," I said. "Of course we'

"Pretend li

e, but something

enge, "minding my business, staying off your path...

ze on the doorknob, and

, heartless smirk, it sprea

men every day. Your sister... she was the composed one. The graceful one. And you-" his eyes r

rising to my cheeks, not

nd of insult," I snap

er, one foot after the other. "Oh no, Lilit

a ste

cklessness," he hissed, "

ard it hurt to breathe. I wanted

barely above a whisper. "You think I don't remember? You think I don

neck. You see that? And this-" I pointed to my eyes "this is what I live with

without saying anythi

ockingly. "Don't pretend. You always wanted this. To g

mach t

trembling now not just from anger, but from disbelief

orward. Clos

rce to shock me. His fingers brushed under my jaw,

d as the night air. "I don't care what you do. Go ahead.

nough for his breat

. From me..

t go and w