Vows in the shadow

ped back into the hallway, her breath quick and eyes scanning the dim corridor, but t

it: Find the vow, break the curse. Her heart thundered. This wasn

t sleep t

if the house rejected warmth. Ariella descended the staircase to find Damian seated at the lo

, he said, "You sc

her eyes. "Th

k at her - slowly, d

him. "We need to tal

oward her. Thick, aged

ut property. If either of us backs out before the ninety days are complete, the e

strange phrasing, even mentions of "ritual proximity"

who inquire. Affection must be displayed

. "What doe

s. I don't know how else to explain it

e punishes us if we act

in, his voice low. "Play the part, Ariella.

ame was scribbled in the margins, next to a line scra

eath the estat

way. Then: "There's a vault.

's in

n sorrow and fear. "Secrets. And maybe

aught. "And

ell enough to know she was

ence hung b

d extended a hand. "If we're go

hand into his. His fingers were ca

s footsteps echoed from

hy

e're no lo

Chapter