“Don’t touch me.” My voice is strained. I’m exhausted, drained. Why did I trust him? I knew he was dangerous. Why did I let myself get caught up in our charade? I know that part of the pain I’m feeling now is the sting of disappointment. I can admit to myself that while this has always been about getting to Hypatia, it was starting to be about something else, too. Something I should have never entertained. Now it’s one more thing I’m losing as I regret this entire decision. I feel complicit in what Rafe has done. I should have known better than to be fooled by his good looks and whatever chemistry there is between us.

I’m trembling with chills, and my teeth are chattering. The shock of the situation enrobes me in a cloak of cold. We’re both still sitting on the bathroom floor. Up close I can see the fading of the years in the degrading grout between each marble tile. It’s not quite as glamorous a view from down here. Rafe is on his knees behind me. He reaches over and grasps my shoulders, trying to calm my shaking and pass on some of his warmth.

“Please don’t touch me,” I say again, but he doesn’t move. “Get off,” I weakly insist. But his hands are still there, grounding me as my body threatens to shake so hard it will shatter into a thousand pieces.

“Ada.” He speaks softly in my ear, his voice as deep as ever but unusually tender. “I’m not going anywhere until you calm down.” I hold my nose as the soft breath of his words plays along my face. I’m scared that if I inhale, I’ll smell her blood on his breath. He wraps his arms around me, swaddling me into stillness, his damp hair hanging into my face. The water has transformed it from golden blond into a dull, pale brown. I try to wriggle out of his grasp, but once again I find him to be as solid as a rock. A rock wrapped in soft terry cloth. I try to push away one last time, but I am well and truly trapped. After what I’ve witnessed, this should terrify me beyond words. But for whatever reason, it has the opposite effect.