The ride away from the gala was completely silent. Alexander sat beside me in the back of the Maybach, the tinted windows plunging the luxurious interior into deep shadow. He hadn't spoken since we left Julian gasping for air in the hallway, but the tension radiating off him was palpable.
His jaw was clenched so tightly I could see the muscle ticking beneath his skin. One hand rested on his knee, curled into a fist, while the other held onto mine, his thumb absently stroking the unbruised skin of my palm.
I didn't ask where we were going. I didn't care. As long as it was far away from the chaotic, toxic mess that was Julian, I was fine.
The car eventually pulled through a set of massive iron gates, rolling up a long, winding driveway lined with ancient oak trees. We came to a stop in fr
