Book 1 & Book 2

<p>The Vale townhouse on Belgrave Square always felt like a mu-</p><p>seum of everything I didn't belong to. Marble floors stretched</p><p>beneath my feet like frozen rivers of light and Baccarat</p><p>chandeliers hung overhead like captured constellations each</p><p>prism refracting a thousand tiny flames. I moved carefully</p><p>through the crowd my Dolce & Gabbana gown swishing</p><p>against the polished stone Louboutins clicking softly as if</p><p>the sound alone could anchor me here.</p><p>My skin warm cinnamon with a golden glow felt almost too</p><p>alive under the candlelight. I caught my reflection in one of the</p><p>enormous mirrors lining the hall and barely recognized the</p><p>porcelain perfection staring back at me: flawless symmetrical</p><p>almost unreal. My grey ash-blonde hair framed my face in soft</p><p>waves tumbling to my shoulders and my gold-blue eyes-</p><p>glass-like and luminous-surveyed the room with detached</p><p>curiosity.</p><p>I didn't belong here. I never had. And yet something inside</p><p>me hummed with anticipation like the air itself was vibrating</p><p>in response to something unseen. I could feel it before I saw</p><p>him.</p><p><br> </p>