The heavy glass doors of the conservatory groaned as Jupiter manually overrode the security lock, finally cutting off the mechanical hiss of the emergency sprinkler system. The sudden silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the steady drip-drip-drip of water pooling on the exotic fronds and stone tiles.
I looked down at myself. My emerald green silk gown was completely ruined, clinging heavily to my skin and turning a deep, bruised shade of forest green from the water. My hair was plastered to my neck. Yet, as I watched the empty, dark corridor where two of Asher's largest security guards had just dragged Billy away, the heavy weight that had rested on my chest for eight long years suddenly evaporated.
Billy was gone. The physical folder of faked documents was a pile of useless, dripping mush in Jupiter's hands.
"Are you cold?" Asher's voice was a low, rumbling caress near my ear.
