LOGINThe auctioneer's cadence moved through the wall. I had built something without him. That was still true. It would stay true. Whatever I said next didn't touch it. "I don't know," I said. "That's the honest answer. Not the managed version." I met his gaze. "I don't know if what's left is enough to
Alicia's POV The older man was still talking. "Seven years," he said. "Four jurisdictions. We moved water infrastructure across borders that hadn't spoken to each other in a generation." His hands traced corridors in the air between us. "The archive is the proof it happened. That it worked." He tu
“You entered without cause,” I said. “You stayed without one.” “I don’t know what this is between you two but—” “My wife.” No variation in tone. No additional weight needed. Alicia’s hand lifted a little, then halted mid-motion and settled again without completing the gesture. The woman exhaled
Edward’s POV “Forty thousand. Do I have forty-five?” The paddle was already raised. Alicia’s hand remained under mine, unchanged in position, as though neither of us had adjusted to its presence since it settled there. “Forty-five.” I raised. “Fifty. Fifty-five.” On the left, a man leaned forw
The fifth lot began. Edward moved to speak to someone at the side of the room. I watched the auctioneer. She crossed the room toward him. He turned when she spoke. She laughed. It had worked before, that laugh. I scanned the sixth lot. Mixed media, authenticated 2019, provenance verified. Her h
Alicia's POV Volkov was already at the door when we came in. His eyes went to my dress and came back up. Lazily. He turned to Edward, and they shook hands. It ran a half-second longer than it needed. "You both came," he said. "You invited us," Edward said. "I invite many people. They don't alwa
Darkness felt thick. Heavy in a way that wasn’t sleep. Heavy like sinking, like something pressing me down while sounds brushed the edges of my hearing. A soft beep. A soft hiss. Footsteps. A curtain shifting. Someone said my name, or maybe I imagined it. The sound drifted too far away. A war
"How sweet." Vivienne's smile didn't falter. "Why don't you sit down, sweetheart? You look pale. Let me get you something. Tea? Or maybe some juice?" "I'm good. I'd pass." "You should have something," she insisted, already moving toward the cabinet. "Something warm. Tea is good for settling nerve
I didn’t have the luxury of hesitation. The board demanded a response before evening, and only one solution remained—Alicia would speak. Five minutes. Maybe more. That was all I needed. If she dressed well, if she stood beside me, if my hand stayed firm at her back, steady enough to anchor her, no
Alicia's POV I moved down the terrace steps with my head low. Harrison's voice still echoed somewhere behind me. Edward caught in that sound, pulled away before I could reach him. The night air touched my face, soft at first, then bit down sharply. I didn't pull away. I needed something that felt







