stood something essential abo

designed

signed to

was already provided. That resistance was unneces

gments-moments where her mind drifted before snapping awake at the slightest sound. The house w

y, counting breaths, grounding herself. Outside the sealed window, guards changed positions with mechanical precisio

prepari

ck beneath her toes, luxurious, absurdly so. She hated how soft

d it. Dark trousers. A black blouse that fit well but not provocativel

lena was already sta

again," Mara obser

ll in cages," Ele

n't corr

n usual, her sharp eyes assessing posture, express

what you

aint, unreadable smile.

he same paintings-men and women immortalized in oil and gold, all of them powerful, all of them

were happy?" Ele

iness is not a measure men

Elena press

idn't

all glass door Elena had ne

er garden today," Mar

surprise quickly.

not given," Mara repl

, topped with iron latticework that caught the morning light. Flowers bloomed in

nhaled

elled earth instead of marble and gun oil. T

breath. The guards followed at a respectfu

trail me like that,

of them replie

dro," she sai

es

d turned slightly. "Do

ated. That alon

" he sai

owed her back

attern now-public visibility in the morning, isolation at night.

y touched

r beneath her feet, subtle but unmistaka

tremor f

ound reach

nf

tant. N

os

the unmistakable chaos of armed men moving quickly through the house. Elena's

instantly, as if su

e," she s

a asked, already knowing

ntrus

respond, Alessand

sleeves rolled, a weapon already in his hand. There was blood on

he said, his voice

were not a

id, though the admissi

r a sharp look. "N

omewhere nearby, clo

lena stepped closer t

ng himself slightly in front of her. Not

eld

hit her with s

anning corners. One of them spoke quickly. "False alarm.

slowly. "Sweep agai

ollowed was thick and intimate, charg

to do that," El

replied without he

" she

fear she hadn't let break her, at the way s

he said, his voice dropping, "everyt

. "You told me li

ey

d m

rief, but

ro said carefully

face. "You're

"Don't mistake rest

eplied softly. "I'

them moved. The house s

this every da

es

it exha

the luxury o

son for yourself to

d. "That is none

ed. "Because I'm trapp

ed harder than

ro didn'

ess. She replayed the moment he had stepped in front of her-not

as a prison

uca was just as bou

ght unse

didn't just ke

forced them da