Ella

The diamond necklace was admittedly beautiful. It hung delicately from Alexander’s hands, tiny stones catching the light and throwing rainbows across the vault walls.

But it could never replace Lilith’s locket. Nothing could.

Still, the gesture itself was touching. Alexander was trying to give me his great- grandmother’s necklace in an attempt to make up for what had happened to Lilith’s locket.

“You don’t have to,” I said quietly. “It’s a family heirloom

“I want to.” Alexander stepped closer and twirled one finger. “Turn around.”

I did as he asked, lifting my hair out of the way. His fingers were warm against the back of my neck as he clasped the necklace, and I shivered at the contact. The diamonds settled against my collarbone, heavier than Lilith’s delicate silver chain had been but just as warm.

“There.” Alexander’s hands rested on my shoulders for a moment, warm and broad, before he took a step back. “Perfect.”

I turned back to face him, one hand automatically going to the necklace. “It’s gorgeous. But Alexander, I can’t help but wonder… are there strings attached?”

frowned. “What do

mean?”

off like some kind of token of your…” I bit my lower lip as I struggled to find the

my head back to meet his gaze. “I’m not giving this to you for political reasons. I’m giving it


something important today, and I wanted to give you something beautiful to take its

made my breath lodge in my throat. “You mean

“I do.”

like a

moment, neither of us spoke. I couldn’t seem to find the right words, not when we were surrounded by all of these artifacts and he was looking at me like I

said. “I know

your fault. Gabriel

1/3

If you’d known I wanted

up to frame my face, and suddenly we were standing so close I could feel the warmth from his body enveloping me like a cocoon. His eyes dropped to my lips, and mine dropped

my lower abdomen. I gasped

around me instantly, although he hardly touched me, as if he were

cramp,” I managed through gritted teeth. “I think the stress from


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