Tempting the billionaire

of crimson rune-ink shimmered in the air, shifting constantly, never settli

n the obsidian floor, the ancient document suspended inches from her f

m she'd studied in secret when she was barely fifteen and desperate for answers no

h, one must first

ipped down

magic. Philosophi

ver one arm and shadows under his eyes-Seraphina had finished thr

d at the

ll alive. I

"This script is unstable. Every time I trans

meone with conviction can

ted. "Then it's a good thi

the hovering scroll. "Most schol

most sc

is eyes, quickly masked by scrutiny. "Wh

she sai

he tension between them crackled like

ll. It folded itself instan

with

ust that commanding tone

ing paintings-scenes of fallen kingdoms, long-dead queens, and bro

e elevator. This one w

entirel

Floor.

eflec

multiply into infinite versions-each on

ed her throu

this elevator is

unnecessari

ent. It reveals what a person truly wan

n't move. The si

not one reflection-bu

ore a

er wore

edom," she

ying," he

he elevator

never lef

aga

though the words clawed the

d slowly. "T

r hummed, t

r. No walls. Just glass and wind. A dragon's skeleton

quid with smoke coiling at the

uth,"

gainst his. "And the li

light below them. Floating trains rushed past distant skyscrap

ing his drink, "is a battlef

are you?"

tly. "The last

alli

that

"Maybe you don

ow better t

ther. It wasn't roman

uel fought

y did you take thi

ded like a dart.

ity," she ans

ia

edge of the glass lounge

ng yet," he said softly. "But I know

shoulder brushed his

for you," sh

d, gaze shar

fraid someone m

or a breathless second,

tempted," h

en't you aske

be

hadn't. Not

zzle he couldn't quite crack. Be

quickly, he

he said. "They're testing a new form of

retary or a

tever I nee

head slightly.

echoed too loudly in her ears. That glas

t about

abou

s starting

he monster the world warned her about

tely more