I knew he was doing it so he’d be better equipped to protect me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy the perks. Since the violent encounter with Jake last year, Xavier had hit the gym even harder and thrown himself into sports more vigorously. Sometimes it was easy to think of us as one entity. I could feel his taut body occasionally brushing against mine as we walked side by side, our footsteps falling in time. His tie hung loose and his blazer was slung casually over one shoulder. He was just as breathtakingly beautiful as ever. It couldn’t be changed and it wasn’t our job to try and change it.īut the best development of all was that Xavier and I had grown even closer. Nowadays the only disputes that happened were minor, like drivers arguing over who saw a parking space first. The church congregation had tripled in numbers, charity missions had more volunteers than they could handle, and reported incidents of crime were so few and far between that the sheriff was forced to find other things to occupy his time. Over the past year the influence of my family had spread and transformed Venus Cove into a model town. In fact, everything from the cinema to the old courthouse exuded the Southern charm and gentility of a long-forgotten era. With its pretty balconies and ornate shopfronts, Main Street was so quaint it could have been an image on a postcard. Nestled on the picturesque Georgia coastline, the sleepy little town in Sherbrooke County had become my home. Peace had returned to Venus Cove and I’d grown more attached to the place than ever. It was six months now since the ordeal with Jake Thorn and things couldn’t have been better. “Beth.” Xavier stopped walking and took hold of my shoulders.

Why would anyone want to dress up as ghosts and zombies? It’s like everyone’s worst nightmares coming to life.” I knew he wasn’t exaggerating jack-o’-lanterns and plaster headstones already adorned every front porch in town in honor of the occasion. “Everyone around here takes it very seriously.” “You should try and get into the spirit of it,” Xavier said.

“I promised my kid sister I’d stay home and carve pumpkins.” “Because we have a reputation to uphold,” I said, nudging him. “How come in all the paintings, angels are depicted guarding thrones in Heaven or taking out demons? I wonder why they’re never shown in the kitchen making burritos.” “Are you coming over for dinner tonight?” I asked Xavier, linking my arm through his. Occasionally the watery sunlight broke through and fingers of light danced across the grounds, warming the back of my neck. The weather forecast had predicted a clear afternoon, but the sun was fighting an uphill battle and the sky remained a cheerless, gunmetal gray.

WHEN the final bell sounded at Bryce Hamilton, Xavier and I gathered our things and headed out onto the south lawn. He was in a bind, ’cos he was way behind How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,

Hades by alexandra adornetto