HELENA’S POVThe day had arrived, though part of me wished it hadn’t.I stared at myself in the mirror, my reflection striking yet unrecognizable. The red dress clung to me like a second skin, its fabric pooling at my feet in elegant defiance of the night ahead. My mask—a sleek, feline design with sharp edges framing my eyes—only added to the surrealism of it all. I felt like a stranger in my own skin, dressed for a game where the stakes were life and death.Behind me, Matteo’s voice cut through my thoughts. “You look stunning.”I turned slightly, catching his gaze in the mirror as he stood in the doorway. His sharp intake of breath made my stomach flutter, but the butterflies were tangled with something else, something far darker.He stepped closer, his footsteps soft against the carpeted floor. When he reached me, his hands found my waist, and his lips brushed mine—soft, gentle, reverent. For a moment, I let myself sink into the kiss, into him, but the moment broke as quickly as it
Last Updated : 2024-12-02 Read more