I kept on my black funeral dress as I wandered the hall toward the library. Even from inside the thick stone walls, I could hear the party in full swing outside; laughter and chatter swelled as if there weren’t two more bodies in the ground.
I pushed the door open, already knowing he was there even before I saw him standing by the fire. An eclipse against the brightness in his dark but beautiful attire.
“Simone,” he said in his rumbling voice without even looking back. His voice sounded raw and deep and yearning.
I slowly walked toward him after locking the door, hopefully quietly behind me. I couldn’t have any surprise distractions, and I was not myself, not on my guard with him around.
I edged up beside him and stood as close as I could without touching him.
I could feel the electr
