Stranger's Promise

TER

nd through overgrown trees and ended in front of a grand, stone mansion that looked like it belonged in an old mone

huttered windows

d

k hoodie this time, watching her approach l

killer energy," she muttered

, unreadable. "You

ly a glowi

hired fo

d a brow.

r and gestured fo

t-covered furniture lined the grand hallway. Light streamed through stain

wide. "It's like the Addams F

ice echoing. "No leaks. No intruders. Electricity's s

tch bag by the stai

west wing. Not many peop

unt the pl

ghost of a smile at the corne

e tension between them wasn't heavy exactly. It was charged-lik

finally asked, "Do you

ced at her

you more mysterious or

"Is that what I am to y

en closed it. Damn him f

id finally. "But you stare

a

cheeks before she c

low and so soft, sh

u don't fli

, neither of

p. Anika jumped despite herself. The ligh

ly?" she

door. "Generator's in

ated. "Is

. "Safer with m

e made her feel so

ght beams dancing over cobwebs and stone walls. Anika

in. His hands moved with practiced ease. His sleeves rolled up, revealing mus

litary, weren't you

k up. "Someth

ial f

dn't

e contr

l no

ath. "You know, not ev

every answer becomes one if yo

he understood somethi

sn't just a ma

still livin