Chapter 63

"What's wrong?" Dominic leaned in, gently tapping Vespera's face. Suddenly, her head dropped abruptly onto the table. Reacting instantly, Dominic's hand shot out to catch her, his palm meeting the desk. He carefully cradled her face, realizing she had lost consciousness. Vespera had been running on empty for far too long. After the intense encounter with Blake, she had pushed herself to the breaking point. With the tension finally easing, her body gave in, exhausted. As her eyes fluttered shut, she felt herself fall into a pair of steady arms. The scent of sandalwood wrapped around her, offering an unexpected comfort that made her heart ache. She longed to stay there, to drop her guard completely, and return to the safety of being a vulnerable little girl once more. But just as quickly, a familiar, unsettling voice whispered in her ear. "Vespera, my baby..." Luke? No, it couldn't be. It had to be an illusion—just a horrible, haunting figment of her imagination. … The clock str