Marked by His Shadows

ouldn'

the most luxurious mattress she'd ever touched-or beca

use br

e way normal ones did. The air shifted like it had moods. The paintings in t

r, with windows that looked out into a stone courtya

vet blanket, staring at the ceiling

rned h

un to pulse again. Soft, rhyt

padded barefoot across th

. Or at least a way to shut t

ll was

that lined the walls-old masks, ancient daggers, books written in a language she

tside a heavy

i

e-there wasn't one nearby-but from something e

talk herself out

th

again, softe

eaked open

urse

whispered, p

ack silk sheets. A massive mirror that didn't reflect her at all. And in

no A

The window was open, letting

he sigil on her chest

ngers reached out to brush the spine of the nearest boo

supposed to

ju

arefoot, shirtless, eyes sha

ook like they came from any human blade. Old ones. Rituali

she said quickly. "Y

ad. "It doesn't

s comf

ow with a soft click, then leaned a

ouldn't

ebook," she shot back. "Also, did you k

dn't

ms. "So. What is

er for a long time

ore this city even had a name. It's prote

ra

s that don

t him. "You m

h. "Things wors

hat makes me feel

ave, but he ste

ai

stif

safe, Lila. That mark on your chest d

d. "And I'm still w

dn't

o close. His fingers brushed

ched hers, the sigil li

gas

ss. Her skin buzzed like it knew him.

gaze sh

e said quietly. "

art racing. "Okay, no

t try to

he felt something follow he

se

this house had f

-

night, Li

f

the center of it, wrap

dn't see

e kne

the voice

re he

ping for breath, the mark

-