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Their kiss deepened, the softness replaced by intensity and urgency. He gave into his wild desires, and she was the recipient of those pleasures. The world faded as they became lost in each other. Time lost all meaning. There was nothing else. For a moment, all longing for the spell disappeared. There was only the two of them. A shiver ran down her body as passion coursed through her veins.

Sebastian stopped. He pulled back and lowered his hands. Her hands followed, still caught in his necktie. He tightened her restraints, tugging on the tie. They gazed into each other’s eyes once more. Her soul still yearned for his touch, his body.

“I love you,” Sylvia said.

He said nothing in return. Sylvia squirmed in the uncomfortable silence as moments passed.

She gulped before asking, “Will you not profess your love for me as I have for you?”

He yanked on the necktie to guide her down the hallway. She followed without protest. They proceeded up the winding staircase. Sylvia’s heart raced with every step. Her breath was short and shallow with anticipation. Each step was one step closer to her release from the blissful excitement.

They entered the bedroom, and he shut the door. Thick, crimson red curtains blocked out the rest of the world. There was only the two of them.

Sebastian led her to the edge of their bed. He pulled back the matching crimson red bedcovers and black bedsheets. He loosened the necktie, freeing her hands from their restraints. Sylvia dropped them to her sides.

Sebastian lifted one of his hands to her face. His fingers grazed her cheek before he drew them over her jaw, under her chin, and down her neck to meet her shoulder. Her body twinged. His touch fueled her burning desires.

He grinned.

Sebastian raised his other hand and pushed the straps of her dress over her shoulders. It slipped down her arms, past her hips, and fell to the floor. She was left exposed to the nighttime air as she stepped out of the dress.

She shivered with anticipation and smiled.

“I love you against all reason and wisdom. You are the only light I need in the darkness. I want to see you elevated as the rightful queen that you are. There is no one else I’d spend an undying eternity with. That is my profession of love,” Sebastian growled as he placed his thumb on her chin. “And now it’s time for my reward.”

Chapter 7

Daylight Plotting Time

Hugo removed boxes from the spare bedroom closet, stacking them neatly behind him. The spare bedroom was less of a bedroom and more of a museum to the past. He peeled back layers of historical artifacts and documents—items they didn’t want to throw away, yet had no place to display them.

He uncovered the treasure he sought—a wooden box with metal handles on the side. He pulled on the handle to free it from its hidden location. The stack behind it wavered as he pulled. He braced the boxes with his hand, but they tumbled to the ground.

The two hat boxes spilled their contents onto the floor. Max was quick to investigate, worming her way in between the items and Hugo to get a better look.

“Max, back up,” Hugo said.

She didn’t listen. She continued her exploration. She smelled each item on the floor. First, an old witch’s hat. It was black with an oversized wide brim and a tall point. The end was bent over with age. The second was an old, black cowboy hat. Two playing cards spilled out from the hat—an Ace and Eight of Spades. Their once white color now yellowed with age.

Hugo pushed the adventurous pup back. “Watch out, Max.”

She backed away.

Hugo removed the wooden box from the closet, setting it next to him, where Max once stood. He used it to block her from coming closer. He gathered up the playing cards and placed them back in the cowboy hat. He placed both hats in their respective boxes and returned all the items.

He lifted the wooden box and kicked the closet door closed. He carried his treasure out of the bedroom. Max followed. They went down the stairs and into the dining room, where he set it on the table. Max raised her nose above the table to smell the wooden box. Unsatisfied, she jumped up and placed her front paws on the table to look.

“Get down, Max,” Hugo said as he pushed her down.

Max whined in frustration.

Hugo turned his attention to Alice, who was clutching a cup of tea and looking out the bay window.

“What are they doing now?”

“Nothing,” Alice replied. “They’re shuffling around, acting like they’re doing yard work.”

Hugo peered out the bay window. Four male figures, all wearing matching white canvas coveralls, meandered in the Savinos’ backyard. One of the playing card symbols—a black club, a black spade, a red diamond, or a red heart—was painted below their left shoulders. They each held rakes, sweeping the backyard without any real purpose. Their eyes scanned every inch of the fence and occasionally focused back on Alice and Hugo’s purple house.