Chapter 12

Julian stood there with his phone in hand, frozen by the busy tone in his ear. For a second, he swore that he could hear his own heartbeat stall. A wave of loss and panic swept through him. ... Autumn in Lambain stayed wet and cold, and it matched Jace's mood perfectly. Months had crawled by. Jace chased Avery like a tireless bloodhound, using every trick he knew. He waited outside her building, blocked her between classes, and followed her like a shadow. He sent obscene jewelry, left the key to a limited-edition sports car, and had new bouquets delivered every day. He booked candlelit dinners at the most exclusive restaurants. He even carpeted the sidewalk beneath her apartment with rose petals and hired a band to croon love songs. Every move that had never failed him before only looked laughable to Avery. Her gaze shifted from cold indifference to open disgust, then finally to outright disregard. She no longer even bothered to dislike him. She ignored him completely. He fel