Chapter 22: Library

Valerian took a step closer while his silver-grey eyes gleamed with amusement as he extended a hand toward her. "I'm Valerian Vasiliev, and this little troublemaker is my nephew, Alexei Dimitriv." His tone was smooth with a warm expression on his face, but there was something in the way he carried himself that made Noelle hesitate.

She glanced at his outstretched hand but made no move to shake it. Her grip tightened around the strap of her purse ...