ee

every dream Seraphina onc

rsion of her who believed

r frame - elegant, understated, and nothing like the red mid-thigh monstrosity Nate had sent. He had even pa

"No chains today.

mother - Megan - stood silently in the doorway, her

Megan whispered. "Baby, ple

iled - but it wasn't warm. It was the kind of smile a person wears when the

d softly, "I have to

s furrowed. "You

rd, took Megan's hand,

e faith in your da

ms wrapped tightly around Seraphi

y whole world, Sera... I can't lose you to that man. He does

er's hair and whispered, "

lled away slowly, wiping her te

I can. He's... angry. Disappointed. And if I see

. "You're so much str

g," Seraphina said, her voic

ock burst thro

fitted blazer and red-tinted sunglasses. He looked too ca

ltered the momen

. "What the h

na igno

d further in. "You didn't

instead turning back t

ed her arm. "I said, what

on't touch her li

pistol from under his coat. "You w

em quickly, heart thundering

on thick and unbreakable. When they arrived, Sera

f the Mir

ories

to feel like a fairytale propo

. A dinner table draped in black satin, decorated with black roses, glittering champagne glasse

tted he

were real... this co

rting her st

s he?" s

dn't

e," she said coldly. "The l

when he wants. You don't co

led to t

her daughter's shoulder. Seraphina covered it wi

th

app

lacks. Slicked hair. A bouquet of black roses in hand

re you wearing?"

s," she

ed. "I meant why aren't yo

. "What? Was it too poor

across from her. "You look lik

gged. "A

ened. She turned a

wine. "Can we just

parents three

lso saved them, didn't I? Glass

. "Let's get this over with. I don

er." He snappe

from the shadows and bega

brought out plates of fancy hors d'oeuvres. Nate

you to marry me. No ring. No dinner. No music. But I wa

d rather get it from a

od thing you're

he

and into h

himself on

ale, will yo

eath c

sic, the cold wind, even the fear. Just him

hadn't

't beaten

rt of a world s

tung he

e lifted

" she wh

g onto her fing

th

t split

sic cu

one f

in Nate's ha

scre

a's hear

rang out - clo

rooftop door emerg

a

a

alf-sh

as velvet and twic

uption... but this