I took a deep breath and moved closer to Chase. He had finally stopped laughing, and a silence settled between us. As I sat beside him on the bed, I suddenly remembered when he had warmed me at the inn. That was kind. When I looked into his eyes, I regretted that those eyes belonged to the murderer of Cristhofer because they were so deeply beautiful, like a nighttime sea filled with secrets.

"I know you're scared and shocked," he began, but I interrupted him with a finger on his lips. ...