Chapter 10

Aidan's POV

"What the hell are you doing?"

Elara spun around so fast the rose nearly slipped from her fingers. Her face had gone pale. Too pale. I'd expected guilt, maybe irritation. Not fear.

"I picked a rose."

"I can see that."

"I didn't know I wasn't allowed to."

I looked at the broken stem behind her. One flower. It shouldn't have hit me like it did.

"They're not supposed to be picked."

"Then maybe put up a sign."

She caught herself a second too late, lips pressing together. "Sorry."

I walked past her to the rosebush. Morning sun fell across the garden, still damp from the sprinklers, the estate rising pale behind the hedg