oah's finger

that burdened him it was wh

d it onto his hand that morning, without warning, without a questio

oah's knuckles. "You belong to me now." The words hadn't left Noah's head all day

Noah sat by the window, eyes scanning the streets below. Somewhere out there was

t because he hated that he'd felt something something warm, something he shouldn'

blood. He gripped the edge of the table

it kil

ave

ar. Fear that he would twist, bend, break. Just like everyone else who dared stand close to him. He lit a cigarette, his thoughts heavy. Possession was never

silence intrigued him. His pain made Viktor wa

Come in." Yuri stepped

What kind?" "Someone's

ndicate. He's sniffing around New York again. Sa

a was eight years ago." Yuri

he blood on the docks. The screams.

he was back. "He won't come near the boy," Vikt

me. Always." Noah searched the library for th

cent of old wood and stronger power. But there was so

He couldn't trust anyone in this place. Not even the maids who wouldn't look him in the eye. Not Yuri with his snake-like presence. Certainly not Vik

orld clinging to his coat. He found Noah in the bedroom, c

r said, setting a tray

ength." "I'm

e." Noah turned his face away.

ttress dipping. "This engagem

r's hand reached out slowly, t

e way you've been looking at the windows, th

e mine." He leaned in, his

find you. Even if you h

eyes. "You don't get to talk about hate

there was something beneath it. Re

idn't kill them," V

e the

hitched. "That

it's th

the ceiling, unable to close his eyes.

blind spot burned into his bra

of guests, noise, distractions. He'd slip out then. Ditch the ring. Lea

near the river, smoke curling from his mouth as

ill with him?" he aske

out of his sight. Ob

make it easier. Take what he loves, and

under his boot. "Let's

watched Noah dress from t

hiding something. But instead of confronting him, Vik

ktor followed. "You don't trust me,"

uld

ept you

kept me

ppens if you run? If someone else finds

e not

ser, voice dropping, "but I car

ver Noah's cheek. "I've lost too m

nch. "Then maybe you shouldn't ha

ing to break. Viktor finally said, "We all have our

t into the hallways with quiet

utes. He slipped through the servant corridor, h

uld reach the st

tst

gu

. Somethi

Explosions. Screams. The es

m. "We're under attack. East

y up, gun in hand

ot in his room." Rage

d behind a pillar as masked

fore he could fire, a bullet ripped thro

or emerged from the smoke

he growled. "This is

chest roughly. "Stay b

but he obeyed. Not out of

odies littering the floors, g

d, the broken glass, the brutality. All of

't just o

was

sealing them in for now. Viktor was bleeding from hi

" he said, br

f you're innocent. It onl

slowly, chest heaving. "An

y the face, voice sh

ared. Inside, the real