Kingdom of Ash and Smoke

f lilies ma

Like they were trying

carefully arranged bouquets and velvet-lined coffin,

een mu

ng to leave, murmuring condolences as they passed, most of them strangers or half-remembered family friends. She barely n

e the crash, h

o talk.

not

uestions asked. No answers given.Closed casket, of course.They said the impact h

a knew

Her mother was already in the car, lost in that glassy-eyed silence that had swallowed her whole since the phone call came.Sera remained.Her heels sank into the soft earth as she

e out," she whispered. "

er. Jus

It wasn't even really a question.A sound caught her

ense. She didn't need to look to know the presence b

as c

ar

tu

e to face with a ghos

still talked.Tall. Imposing. Sharp-suited even in mourning

Valen

dges of her investigation for weeks. The kind of name you whispered

wasn't curiosity in his gaze.It was calculation.Like he was already trying to solve

respects?" Sera

n, "Somethin

't belon

ay the sam

e silk over glass. Smooth, expens

rd, jaw tight. "I

t flinch

what y

eyes then. Not surprise.

be poking aroun

I'm scare

but it wasn't a smil

softly. "But y

pulation, control. But Luca Valentini didn't threaten like a street thug.He didn't need to raise his voi

want from m

. "To pay respects to your brothe

t of silence be

lying,"

ied. "Especially not to

ghtened. "Is

r half

r it a w

ng at the cemetery gates.The Valentini crest glinted on the license plate of the lead one.He

from

he'd left beh

er had be

he w

w he w

ant she

Chapt