brightness that seemed to mock the darkness brewing inside him. His reflection in the glass was a stranger to him now-no longer the

o turn around to know who it was. The subtle, almost predatory scent of her perfume

th, like velvet hiding a blade beneath. She took a few steps toward him, her heels clicking

it hadn't been before. Alyssa had always been the one he couldn't shake, the one who held the power to bring hi

with a rare bitterness. "This isn't about running. This is about cont

She paused, her eyes glinting with amusement. "The thing about power, Darian, is that it can be easily lost. T

fists clenched, but he kept his composure. The last

one was sharp, his patience running th

re dropping her bombshell. "I want the key," she said simply,

The one thing he had kept hidden for centuries, buried deep within the confines of his private estate-

to face her. "You're not getting yo

he said, her voice colder now. "You're not in control of this game. You've been a pawn in a much larger scheme,

ou think you can manipulat

erwhelming. "I'm not asking for it, Darian. I'm telling you. And if you don't co

his heart skip a beat. He had been avoiding her, distancing himself, knowing that every moment spent near her pulled him deeper i

rian growled, the warning clear in his

culating look returned. "You're so predictable, Darian," she murmured, a

th nothing but the weight of her words pressing on his mind. He could feel the th

the amber liquid swirling in the crystal tumbler. But no amount of alcohol c

ould really control the darkness within him-or if, just lik