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Wife.
That’s what he had called her and, staring at herself in the mirror, she could see why.
She was the doubleganger of the woman that stood looking down at the room from some long ago past.
“No,”
Talia stood. Her hand dropping away from the diamond. Tugging on the front of the corset, she sucked in quick, sharp breaths. Moving across the room, away from them all. Pulling the pins out of her braid. Tossing them to the side, her hair falling back around her shoulders in a mess of curls.
Waving the maid’s back, Ghost bent, picking up a pair of high heels.
“Its time,” putting the shoes down in front of her. The werewolf picked up her jacket, sliding her arms into it before turning for the door.
She stared at the shoes before her. Her trembling growing. A fine sweat running down her back. Talia focused on one long breath. She slid one foot into the black high heels, followed by the other. Every step forward forced. Every instinct screaming at her to run.
She didn’t want to see Draven. Yet the only chance of ever going home again was going to come from him. So she followed Ghost to the elevator. Trying to calm her pounding heart. To get a grip on the fear coursing through her. She was utterly spooked. The painting and necklace were creeping her out.
Watching the numbers go up, Talia tightly gripped her skirt as the elevator finally came to a stop.
Two large men stood guard in the small room that the doors opened to. The Titan patch on their leather jackets was a stark reminder of Hyde. Ghost stepped out with a wide grin on his face.
“Hi boys, shouldn’t you be on the other side of the door?”
“Boss wants privacy” opening the door, the bigger of the two gave Talia a nod. “He is waiting for you, Miss.”
Oh gods.
Nodding, Talia made her way through the door. Only giving a small start as the door closed promptly behind her.
This wasn’t what she was expecting.
On the roof of the heavy goth club was a garden of exceptional depth and beauty.
It spread from one side of the building to the other. Everywhere her eyes drifted were plants of varying size and colours: scarlet poppies, rows of yellow daises, and purple irises. The concrete path under her feet wandered through this oasis that the rooftop had become. Every inch of the roof had been covered in soil and coaxed to life.
Small, twinkling fairy lights hung draped over small trees like diamonds on branches. With small braziers of fire burning low in beds of white stones, casting a warm glow upon the ground. Touching the leaves as she moved forward, Talia couldn’t help but to be impressed with the meticulous design of it all; a lot of thought and care had gone into creating this magical space. The distant lights of the city created a stunning backdrop that was only beaten by the canopy of stars overhead. Each one twinkling like tiny lanterns in the black sky. The night was quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze and the soft crackling of the fires.
Rounding a curve in the design, her steps hesitating as she spied him.
He stood alone, his back to her as he leaned against the railing of a small balcony. His hair tied back with a black ribbon fell just past his shoulders. A long suit jacket, tapered to his shoulders and waist, hung low to his knees. The light illuminating him seemed brighter than the rest of the city combined, making his skin glow like alabaster.
His head lifting for a moment, his profile tilting a little as his lips lifted into a small smile..
“Navina,”
“My name is Talia,”
Turning to face her. He bowed deeply.
“My apologies, Talia” his voice held a European accent that she couldn’t quite place, her breath catching at the shiver that went down her spine at the sound of it. His gaze moving over her, drinking in every detail.
“You look like a dream. I can barely grasp that you are finally in front of me.”
“You have gone to a lot of trouble to have me standing in front of you.” taking a deep breath, she stepped forward. “Why?”
“Please,” holding out his hand to her, his dark eyes meeting hers, “let’s talk”
As she stared at his hand, Talia placed her fingers over his. An electric jolt shot across her nerves as his fingers wrapped around hers. Bringing her closer to him, he lifted a dark rose that lay on the stone railing. Wrapped with a fragrant jasmine and a red ribbon, he handed it to her. His eyes intent on her face.
