ng since he left his grandfather's library. The room was cast in shadows, illuminated only by a single, dim lamp on the bedside table. He leaned a

the familiar sp

the window, a figure was curled u

ut through the haze. He strode across

as C

black dress from earlier, but the top button had come undone, revealing th

narl. He grabbed her arm, intending to h

, wide and disoriented. The first thing she saw was his face, t

ssed. "You p

ther walk through fire than touch th

behind him. He twisted the shower knob as far as it would go, and an icy torrent of water cascaded over his hea

tensified. And through the door, he could feel her pre

ut there, curled up in that chair, waiting for him, a sm

er onto the antique rug, a towel hastily wrapped around his waist. He lo

blanket around herself like a shield. She was awake now, her e

ed her wrist, his grip like iron. "Why," he demand

his wet clothes dripping onto her. She coul

he stammered, trying to

r against the wall, planting his hands on either side of her head, trapping her. His face was inch