Chapter 22

The moon was bright that night. Its soft light spilled over the quiet path like liquid silver. As usual, Conrad walked Isobel back to the villa where she lived. The warm glow of the streetlamps pooled above their heads. It stretched their shadows long and thin, then pulled them back in again until they finally stopped at the entrance. Usually, this was where he would smile, tell her to get some rest, and turn to leave. But tonight, he didn't move. Isobel took a few steps toward the door, then noticed Conrad still standing behind her. She turned back to look at him, puzzled. Under the dim light, Conrad looked at Isobel without saying a word. The usual calm in his expression was gone, replaced by a tension he could no longer hide. His fingers curled slightly at his side. When his gaze met hers, it was like he'd made up his mind about something. "Isobel." His voice came out lower than it usually was, but in the silence of the night, every word sounded unmistakably clear. He took