sia

, leaving them standing in the center of the ballroom, t

less, heartbreaking puzzle. It was irreparable. But I couldn't bring myself to throw it away. I wrapped the

e at the door. I

a smug, victorious look on her fac

n't a

n you're in pain. Your tears are like a drug to them. It proves you're theirs. That no one

cold and steady. "A temporary one. He'll ge

ound. "Maybe. But before he does,

as tired, broken, but a spark of defiance fl

dominance. But I was off-balance, and I stumbled back. In a

expecting it. She gasped, flailing her arms, and her high

falling, but launching herself with the practiced grace of a st

rpiece of manu

study. They arrived just in time to see her land in

ide, their faces mas

led, clutching her ankle. "Ale

nger. I saw a flicker of dark, chilling satisfaction. He had wanted this. He had orc

ced by a mask of cold fury. "Get the car," he barked a

ked back at me, his eyes promising retribution. He pointed a single, co

said, his voice flat an

Dante, no! I didn't

ous, terrible glee. "Mamma was jealous. She hurt Seraphina. She

t hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird.

lterated rage. "You will regret this! I swear t

ed. I looked down and saw Dante standing at the bottom, watching, waiting. Seraphina

again. Unmistakable this time. A f

tlessness, a silent scream trapped in my throat, and then an explosion of pain as my body crashed agains

e I blacked out was Dante

ed with a disturbing wonder. "Now she's

ng thing, a fire consuming my entire body. A nurse

so worried. He's been here all night, pac

he performance never ended. Dante Rossi, the

see him," I said,

was immense, but in the quiet, a plan began to for

isited. He was a quiet, unassuming man with e

in, Alessia?"

certain of anything in

me in the lobby, a picture of a concerned family. Seraphina wa

d beside me, a bri

them. The air was thick

eaf of papers from Mr. Harrison's b

ed, his brow furrowin

reconcilable differences. But it was more than that. It was a declaration of w

hird option. I was