went on lockdo

it first throu

aling, guards repositioning, footsteps measured and purposeful. Even the staf

shadow. The hedges that had looked ornamental the night before now seemed

Lucien had

ore like

soft knock

in," s

o his forearms. He looked different tonight-less polished, more a

be by the win

ve. "Someone

es

ou mi

ed. "This isn't

. "Neither is u

at p

ed," he sa

not b

or behind him. "You'

's on

g. "There are people who've wanted access to t

it," she said fla

riage," he corre

eep saying that like it's su

shou

does

careful distance away. "I didn't

ew danger w

es

. "So you cho

least destruc

ng more than

eral damage,"

immediately. "Y

sharp and humorles

didn'

s pocket and placed somethi

ph

he

Direct line to me. If anything f

evice. "You expect me t

r n

eluctantly. "And h

r gaze. "Unti

not an

only hon

between them aga

r voice low. "Who was

on hardened. "You

es

recognize

es

seemed to

e?" she

n hes

her more than any e

reat," she said slo

looke

s confi

closer. "I deserve to know

ed. "You deser

ance makes

mitted. "Co

his eyes

nt, the ma

a fra

. "You think I wanted my life tied to some

est ti

mpire," she said. "I did

kno

eating me lik

-really studied he

break easil

o you," sh

g-approval, perhaps-p

can," he said at las

y n

ou know, you ca

his gaze.

pond, a sharp knock

po

ge

ned instan

e fractured for the first ti

she said. "It came throug

ent rigid. "That g

d. "Which is why sec

ll creep up her sp

a added, looking

re under h

s it?" h

he st

he ordered. "No s

ded and le

Lucien. "You sai

eady moving. "Which is

th every step. The study was dimly lit, one

at on t

al

ai

ordi

, stopping Ariella be

ot a c

y respons

s deba

ning look, then r

tic

wir

ed it c

s a singl

otog

went

closer before he

d partially o

eath c

was

weeks ago. Looking ove

en in neat black i

w who

lt suddenly

ching me," Ari

es

the ma

es

d. "So this isn'

't answer i

. "They were already close. You used the m

met h

ed the timel

hook. "By t

ieldin

r gave me

. "If I had, you

ed. "And I would

shed down b

ella str

he said

rowned.

re sec

't get t

she cut in. "And I c

pointing at the ph

gaze for a long,

he

as C

her like a

ued. "He doesn't bluff. And he d

ed hard. "Inter

s eyes

yo

zzed suddenl

crypte

reath

down at t

WN CA

n shifted instantl

ne buzz

e appeared be

Mrs. Bl

inally being int

fingers

ached for

answered

," he

la

oice said smoothly. "Or do

ood ra

et this number

tly. "You married in

yes burned

ll Lucien this-marriage doesn't end

ne wen

at the phone,

sed his ey

at her, his e

etly, "is where it

ear and resolve col

uth," she said. "And start treating

studi

somethin

ell," h

ce steady despite the terror insi