Vows in the shadow

se itself had paused to listen. Ariella sat in the small garden just off the

er page of her m

ix, that love would awaken something ancient. But love was already there

the book with t

until he spoke. "You'

standing at the edge of

ur father," s

It broke her. And

why aren't we doing something? Why are we still

," he said, stepping toward her

itter twist of his mouth - made her ach

him, brushing

ental contact, the entir

era

nearby table flickered violently. The shadows behind

d Damian b

that?" she

o her slowly. "

at

d, as though drawn by

e b

of something she couldn't name. "W

voice low. "It doesn't know what's rea

er, and this tim

ingers

st into flame for a single second -

ed, pulling

that?" she

he'd seen a ghost. "That

d between them -

the intensity of what had passed between them. Whatever this was - this

voice softer now. "W

aze, throat dry.

d. "Because if we do... the h

Chapter