The silver star lay between us on the white linen tablecloth, catching the sharp mountain sun.
Axel didn't say a word. He slowly uncoiled his fingers from beneath the table, leaving the fractured crystal water glass resting on the cloth, its base webbed with a dozen tiny fractures. He didn't look back toward the doorway where Dominic had disappeared. His focus remained focused entirely on me, a heavy, silent storm brewing in his dark features.
"Richard wants the bridal party in the west conservatory for the morning portrait rehearsals," Axel said. His voice was completely calm, smooth, and stripped of any emotion, but the skin around his knuckles was white. "We should move."
I picked up my clutch, my fingers carefully brushing against the silver star. I left it sitting there on the ta
