Chapter ONE - Weebly

lades and firearms in this room from every continent,
and from nearly every country in Europe.
After gazing at the smaller blades for some time,
Ethan turned to Sephira, a thousand questions on his
tongue. But seeing how she watched him, the
calculation in those cold blue eyes, Ethan swallowed
them all and chided himself for allowing her to distract
him in this way. He was like a little boy, too easily
enthralled with sweets and shiny toys.
Looking at Sephira—at how she was dressed and
how her hair had been styled—he also understood that
the blades and pistols hadn’t been the only things meant
to entice. Ethan had never seen her in a gown, and he
doubted he ever would. But while she was still dressed
in the garb of the streets, her clothes this day were more
feminine than usual. Instead of breeches, she wore a
long black skirt. Her silk blouse, open at the neck, and
the black silk waistcoat she wore over it both fit her
closely, accentuating the curves of her body. A sapphire
pendant hung from a silver necklace, drawing Ethan’s
eyes where they already wished to go. Her hair spilled
down her back in dark ringlets, and even from across