Chapter 2

The air in the cabin was thick, heavy with the scent of old pine and the electric charge of the storm that had been raging outside for hours. It wasn’t just rain anymore; it was a deluge, a solid wall of water hammering against the slate roof, creating a rhythmic, deafening drumbeat that seemed to isolate us from the rest of the world. Inside, the grand hall was still buzzing with the remnants of the gala, but the crowd had thinned. I had slipped away from the main group, seeking a quieter corner of the expansive living area, a niche tucked behind a towering bookshelf and a massive stone fireplace where the fire crackled with a lazy, hypnotic glow. I stood near the edge of the rug, my bare feet sinking into the plush wool, the heels of my shoes discarded on a nearby ottoman. My silk dress, a deep emerald that I knew complemented the way his eyes darkened when he looked at me, clung to my curves. The fabric was cool against my skin, but my body felt feverish. I could feel his presence before I even saw him. It was a physical weight, a gravitational pull that