THE SHADOW BETWEEN US

t the silence between us

t again - that twisted serpent wrapped around a crown, the same mark that had haunted my nightmares si

something almost predatory, and I watched as he slowly pulled his hand

ng." The lie tasted

in silk. "Your pupils dilated the moment you saw it. Your breathing changed. And now..." He tilted his hea

olt. But something in his posture told me runni

nking feeling he

as if reading my thoughts.

naged, surprised by how

." He stepped closer, and I caught the scent of expensive cologne mixed with somethin

nd: *Never let them know what you kn

ing gaze and the weight of family secrets, I realized I

id, lifting my chin in defiance

tely, and I forced myself not to flinch as his fingers brushed a strand of ra

was steel beneath the silk. A reminder that he

I should walk aw

you're st

the gravity of his presence like a moth dr

he question came out

, maybe, or amusement. "That's not how thi

don't want

humb tracing along my cheekbone with devastating gentleness.

e. Instead, heat pooled low in my

" I said, the words coming ou

d against my skin. "Wh

already." I met his gaze, refusing to lo

al flickered across his features. "Clever.

r wo

her tried so hard

erked back, or tried to, but his grip t

do

duated summa cum laude from Columbia with a degree in art history. Lives in a converted loft in SoHo that daddy boug

to ice. "You've

ver since you started showing up in places you shouldn't. Following leads y

uch alive," I said t

t, almost gentle. "When's the

me shiver down my spine. "Two months

fell like a stone. "His car was found burned out in the Pi

re ly

. I tensed, half-expecting a weapon, but he pulled

pilled out - twisted metal, broken glass, dark stains o

rd came out

something that might have been genuine. "I know wh

acked. "Why are yo

a. The same people who killed y

le. I don't know

es your father kept hidden in his safe?" He raised an eyebrow. "

my mind reeling

He stepped closer, and this time

if I

d my face again, this time with infinite gentleness.

o you

finally spoke, his voice was rough with somet

ha

oked at me. Really looked." His thumb traced my lower lip, and I felt my breathing hi

. It made me want to trust him, to lean into his touch, to let hi

know your nam

between us like a confes

ed tones behind closed doors. The ghost who ran the underground, who co

hed. "You're the one

. Just simple truth. "And now y

I shou

p and predatory again. "But I told

ent heat spiraling through my veins, and I hated ho

ant from me?"

of my back, possessive and warm. "My enemies think you have somethin

f I re

ter-of-factly, like discussing the weather. "You

that could destroy worlds. Everything rational in me scream

had died wi

wrapped in an expensive coat and wearing my name like a

pered. "I'll c

umphant and terri

as he took my hand, his fingers intertwini

a t

caught my reflection in a shop window. Rain-soaked hair, wide

ed lik

presence seemed to shield me from the world's sharp edges

pr

should have

belly, and I squeezed his hand tighter

and I realized with crystal clarity that the girl who

eone new. Someone who

ho belong

d with a soft clic

, his hand finding mine again in the darkness, I wo

e las