Caged Bride

member leaving

raph with enough force to leave creases in the thick paper. The man's square jaw, hollow eyes, and lips cur

It wasn't someone she'd wronged. It was a stranger. And Dante had looked he

the photograph again. "Who is he?" she

corner blinked. Just once. Just enough

me and gone with no one summoning her. Dinner was hours away, b

er felt hostile. The silk sheets. The imported rugs. The chandelier dripping

d. But fear did something strange to the body- it didn't

g in with her usual efficiency. She glanced at the

fresh," she offered, b

the photograph?"

y. Her expression didn't change, but the sil

to ask questions

. "And I'm not allo

a said bitte

y drawer, every window. She knew the doors were locked, bu

beside the armoire, she paused. The w

f expecting another blow. Her eyes, once soft an

t a bride. You

ds wouldn't

to prove a point? She wasn't a trophy-he barely looke

at wa

he door this t

nor Moretti requests your presence in the

move. "And i

rely moved. "Then some

threat. It

ed. "I'll

sank to the edge of the bed an

or-length silk with sheer sleeves and a neckline that dipped lower than sh

ted her to the grand dining room. The doors were massive, carv

But only two chairs were occupied- Dante at the

an looked up first. He smiled-wolfi

e," he said, his voic

toward the seat acros

anger poured her wine without asking, th

vival,"

"Aura, this is Lorenzo Valent

business associate. In this world, that cou

t invited to the wedding. I assumed

lebration," Dan

ibit, something to be watched and studied. Even Lorenzo'

pastry dusted in gold leaf- Loren

gnora Moretti.

n landed li

ly. "I don't thin

lighted. "Smart. She'll sur

fingers curled around his

e questions. As Aura was escorted back

tti ancestors- had been slashed across the t

er heart slammi

gaze. "That wasn't

did

ust urged her forward w

sleep that n

s outside. The gardens were bathed in moon

house, the fear

he man in the photo or the slash

ear was d

nning to understand

t afraid

what she might b

r, Aura turned away fro

ow lay anot

. Just the silent prom

here was no

ngle line

r mo