Back at the hospital, Silas tapped on the glass. The hour was up.
"I have to go, Mom," Seraphina whispered, kissing her mother’s forehead. "But I’m not letting you go. Not ever."
As she walked back to the SUV, she looked at the ring on her finger. It felt heavier than before. She was a secret kept by a man who was currently standing in a room full of people who hated her—and he was the only thing standing between her and their shadows.
Back at the gala event
The atmosphere in the grand ballroom shifted from celebratory to predatory. As the orchestra played a hauntingly beautiful waltz, the air between the Mordrakes and the Rossis grew thick with unspoken threats and corporate maneuvering.
Czar stood at the edge of the mezzanine, his silhouette sharp against the glowing chandeliers. H
