Chapter 83

• "I don't have any siblings?" Dahlia asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she delicately traced her fingers across the spines of the books lining the shelves.
• "No, unless you're interested in having some," he replied with a playful tone, a hint of humor lacing his words.
• She shook her head gently. "No, I'm perfectly fine being the only one..." Turning around, she drew in a deep breath before releasing it slowly. "Why didn't you ever marry or start a family?" The thought had lingered at the back of her mind since her arrival; she had wondered if he had ever taken that step, but it seemed he had not.