“He’s up to something” I rolled my eyes, well thank you Captain Obvious. “Yes.” I answered, “But what?” “We still don’t know. But it seems Carlotta has softened.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Leda goes almost everywhere with Brandt. It would seem she’s allowed to leave the castle now – if he goes with her.” “Fucking hell.” I pushed the heels of my hands into my eye sockets. Then pulled them away sharply. Blinding myself won’t get rid of the sickening mental image of them being together. “If it helps” Torstein’s cautious voice came “I don’t think she’s in danger with him. He seems genuinely quite taken with her.” I scoffed, then gritted my teeth. “It doesn’t.” There was silence from Torstein’s end, and I sighed. “Find a way to accompany them. We need to know what he’s up to.” “Yes Boss.” I ended the call, just as Lars walked into my office. “You noticed Skytte lately?” He asked as he plonked himself down in the seat opposite me. “Should I have?” I asked, lookin

I should never have gone on that damned Berlin conference.   Ever since I got back, things between Seb and I have changed. He was so supportive and gentle when I first told him. He held me for hours, only broken by him killing that man...I’m still not convinced that was necessary. Surely, he’d have had information we could use? Not all the victims had that poison in their systems, or, at least, not that the experts could find. Seb told me.   But now, he pulls away from me. I can’t believe someone over 100 years old can’t deal with the prospect of death. I’m at a loss. Dr Vanum was so sure it wasn’t cancer. He’d run it twice because he was so shocked. I’m the first in my family to get this. Great. I should go see Lars. Maybe he would be better company, but I feel awful for getting this. He felt

I stirred awake as kisses trailed down my neck. I didn’t want to wake up. I was exhausted. Plus, Seb had made me wait 30 minutes before he’d returned to pick me up and I was still salty about it. I pushed him away and snuggled back down into the pillow, closing my eyes. Seb renewed his assault on my neck with fervour, pulling me onto my back from where I’d been comfortably positioned on my side. “Seb!” I called, exasperated “You’re so beautiful” “I need beauty sleep to stay that way” “Nope. Pretty enough” He’d pulled up my top now. I knew he wasn’t too happy about my choice of sleepwear. He’d been vocal in his preference for satin nightgowns. He smothered my stomach with kisses, before pulling my bottoms and panties down and inhaling deeply. “You’re so delicious” he whispered huskily “Seb! Please!” I tried again “Please what?” He looked at me, green eyes swirling with dark and light, smokey blues... what was I going to say? He began kissing me aroun

“NO!” “STOP! LET GO OF ME!” The guards simply continued dragging me by the tops of my arms down the winding corridors. I’d stopped walking about 30 feet ago, now the heels of my trainers were catching on the uneven flag stones. “YOU CAN’T DO THIS” I tried kicking out my legs, but still no reaction. Wriggling my upper body just caused them to clutch my arms more tightly – any harder and I was convinced they’d sever them from my body. I was starting to feel crazy. Carlotta was just being a massive bitch, I’m sure when Seb finds out he’ll come and get me. She likes Seb, she’ll listen to him. We reached the dungeon. It was surprisingly clean – a pretty much empty corridor. Slightly wider than those on the upper floors, it was split down the middle by iron bars. Just like any self-respecting medieval dungeon should be. I found myself thinking before remembering I was the one about to be thrown into it. One side of the iron railing had been separated by more railings. I guess

She’s stunning. But there’s something wrong. I entered the ballroom, and my eyes were immediately drawn to Leda. Majestic in maroon taffeta. Strips of shot-silk make up the bodice, accentuating her slender waist and emphasising her breasts. She’s too skinny. Lise can’t have been kidding when she said the food here was awful. Her skirts whirl out around her; there’s a too-high slit giving everyone an eyeball of those shapely legs and I must stop looking at her like this. She’s not mine. I tear my gaze away from her. But she looks so sad. So, I do the gentlemanly thing and ask to cut in. Brandt is so dense he doesn’t recognise me but, from the way her shoulders relax, I’m fairly confident Leda does. As I sweep her away in my arms, I don’t recall the last time I was this worried. The way she’s clinging to me – it's like she’s using me to keep her upright. “You’ve not come to see us lately. Something we said?” I try to lighten the atmosphere, but at the sound of my voice she