inted glance that carr

r look and said, "I'd like a

he already knew his intentions. If only he would simply coopera

ac wants to speak privately with Verena and know more ab

aura was eager for th

ubtle nudge to Isaac not to

She hadn't expected Danica to be so l

replied, "Yes, they cou

ice holding a note of caution. "Verena, rememb

lips. Her dislike for Laura hadn't changed, yet the thought o

poke. "My legs are useless now. They'll

omeone who hadn't spoken much in a long time, and his c

ere a warning, meant to remind her of

ar eyes fixed on him like a mir

of the unspoken truth. Then he forced himself to lay it bare. "I can't function lik

on. Even so, neither reason justified binding a woman to him in marriage. Becoming his wife would mean giving up her own

around the table until she s

to lift his gaze to meet th

to a crouch so she was lo

accident that Isaac wasn't for

your legs?" V

s though she were speaking to any other man and not one paralyzed from the waist dow

nd regret in their eyes. They didn't speak the words aloud, but the

ception. Rumors about his body had spread, and the cruel truth was that they matched re

e on Verena. "Do you rea

expression ste

dd sense of familiarity when looking at her. He couldn't expla

Verena's eyes curved wit

ment, Isaac's

eg, he could see the movement,

der fingers as they began at his

g to flirt, but Isaac knew better. He was a man living with para

, tapping lightly before she

small shake

d the base of his thigh, until Isaac re

to do?" His voice was

augh, pulling her hand b

want to

a mocking twist to his tone.

help heal

ke a sudden crack of th

n her unwavering expression sparked an

tless experts had studied his condition and found no cure, yet here he

oke like that is to someone w

empt would have been kinder

oosened his gr

Verena said, her gaze

ely because of Isaac, and she had no inte

"Then tell me why you want to help me. And

ent. She had already realized t

mber what happened in C

oman of striking beauty-someone whose presence would command attention anywhe

e been to Dragon Quarter plenty of tim

hat was it. Maybe it had somethin

of his condition and would need to l

forgot the person they once pursued-unless they had lost their m

Once I've reviewed your medical files, I'll give you a clear

n her, his silence st

o pierce through him, he felt his usu

long pause, he spoke

illis family everything they're asking for. But my condition make

ruck her. Her eyes flicked almost ins

their eyes met again, the clarity in her gaze made