Alexia's nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protec...
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Eight
Altered
Mother assisted Alexia in washing up—as her hands trembled too terribly to accomplish any good—and produced a new nightgown.
The baron was dead. There was blood on her fingers, on her clothes. She was the only possible suspect in front of multiple witnesses, and to stoke the fire, she'd been hidden away her whole life. Most probably attributed her long-standing seclusion to madness, in light of these circumstances. Alexia could only imagine the plot unfolding downstairs.
But that was the least of her fears. A blue-eyed murder was out in the night, one she could identify. She may be his next victim. Perhaps, with the company blaming her for Galedrew's death, he would simply fade away and leave her to fate.
Whatever that would be.
Father tucked her into bed. "Rest. We will clear all this up in the morning."
Alexia nodded.
He brushed a hand over her curls, and her trembling stilled. Father would fight for her. He had always protected her and would continue to do so.
"Well." He shook his head, and her parents exited quietly, Father looking back once more.
She waited for consciousness to flee, or to finally awaken from this nightmare. Neither happened. Finally, she rose and returned to the mirror. Dark ringlets spilled around piercing jade eyes and pressed pink lips. Was this what the others had seen tonight when they found her perched over the dead baron?
...another of our kind...
"Impossible," she muttered. Her breathtaking reflection scowled back.
At least people were less inclined to blame the beautiful for ugly deeds. That may be her saving grace—if she wasn't actually touched in the head, and imagining this change. The dreams and now this?
Movement pulled her gaze to the looking glass, to the window reflected in the mirror.
A dark figure dropped from view.
She squeaked and whirled around.
Alexia hurried to the window and peered through. There was nothing but night sky and shadowy estate grounds.
She laughed at herself, though uneasily. She was on the third floor. It had been a bird or bat.
