Chapter 9

• Elena’s breath came shallow as she stood frozen in the dimly lit hallway. Alexander had left abruptly after the cryptic warning from his guard, his posture tense, his control slipping—if only for a second. That was rare for him. Whatever had happened, it was serious. But the uncertainty of what it meant for her sent a shiver down her spine.
• She turned, pressing her back against the cool wall, her mind racing. Was this her chance? Was there a crack in his perfect control that she could exploit?
• Before she could dwell on it, the heavy sound of approaching footsteps sent her pulse into overdrive. The guard from before—Victor, she recalled—stood before her. Unlike the others, his stare wasn’t detached. He was studying her, assessing.