I had just settled onto the silk‑draped bed of my suite, the firelight flickering against the vaulted ceiling like a chorus of restless spirits, when the first rap on the oak door echoed through the room. I didn't bother to turn my head, the faint, sweet musk of Mia drifted through the crack beneath the door, a scent that always managed to make the air feel heavier, like iron before a storm.
I tried to ignore it, letting the cool night wind whisper through the narrow windows, to push her disgusting scent away, but the knocking persisted, steady, impatient and getting louder.
I rolled my eyes, scoffed, and lifted a single hand. The ancient lock clicked, the door swinging open on its hinges with a sigh that seemed almost apologetic.
''What do you want?'' I snapped, my voice sharp as a bl
