There was something special about Bucharest after the heat of summer had passed.

The storms came more frequently, leaving the skies overcast with heavy blue-gray clouds. The many trees throughout the city were turning orange and gold, while the people bustled down the streets, trying to get their chores done before the chill of the evening set in.

And for the first time in a long time, Ember had the sparkle of happiness and excitement for the days to come.

The noon hour had just struck while Ember and Adrian were strolling down the cobblestone streets on their way to the bakers. It had been almost two weeks since Adrian had come to Ember's home, and they had reconciled.

She couldn't help but smile at the memory of the sensual touches they had exchanged. While she had wanted to take that first day a little further than it had gone, she and Adrian had decided together to take their relationship slow.

Looking up at Adrian, who was looking sharp in a clean black vest with an eggshell-ruffled shirt underneath, she admired his genuine kindness. He must have sensed her looking at him because he glanced down at her.

"What?" he asked, giving her a dashing smile.

Ember looked away nonchalantly and smiled softly. "Nothing."

With a chuckle, Adrian wrapped his arm around her waist and the two of them continued their journey through town. The merchants were out strong today with plenty of harvested fruits and vegetables fresh from the fields. The two of them took their time meandering from stall to stall, picking out complementary goods for their dinner, until they finally made their way into the baker's shop.

This had to be Ember's favorite place of all. The smell of fresh bread and pastries never failed to raise her spirits. Passing off the groceries to Adrian, she walked up to the counter and searched the shelves for her favorite treats.

Soon the patissier, Luke, approached her with a grin on his jolly face. "Madam Woods, back again, I see."

"Good afternoon Luke," Ember said, smiling back at him. "You know I can't go a week without a taste of your decadent goods."

"Well, we have much to offer this afternoon," he said, moving to the bread box behind the counter. "In fact, I was hoping you would come by today. I have something special for you."

Luke pulled out something wrapped in paper and handed it over the counter.

"It is a chocolate croissant with hazelnut almond cream in the center," he said proudly. "The recipe came from my recent trip to Vienna."

Ember's eyes widened in delight. "Luke, that is so kind of you, thank you!"

Without hesitation, she unfolded the parchment paper to find the most delicious thing she'd ever seen. A golden brown, flaky crescent-shaped pastry drizzled with chocolate. With Luke watching her apprehensively, Ember lifted the treat to her lips and took a generous bite.

Her eyes widened as she looked up at Luke with appreciation. "This is amazing," she said, in between chews. "Thank you so much."

Adrian had approached her by then, curious at what she was eating. She lifted the treat to his lips and he took a bite, his reaction much the same as Ember's as he chewed.

"Wow," Adrian said simply, looking at Luke, who looked very satisfied with himself.

"Please tell me that you are going to have this on the menu permanently," Ember said, before taking another bite.

"As long as the cocoa supply doesn't run low," Luke said with a laugh.

Before long, Ember had polished off the pastry, giggling as she gave Adrian one more bite after he begged a little.

Soon, the couple had their order of bread in hand and were heading out of the shop.

"Thanks again, Luke!" Ember said as she walked out the door. "See you next week!"

The two started their journey back to Ember's apartment, the sky threatening a downpour at any moment.

"We'd better hurry and get back," Adrian said, his eyes to the sky. "Or your bread will get soaked before we have a chance to eat it."

"There's nothing wrong with a little rain," Ember said, looking up at her companion.

"I rather hate the feeling of cold wet boots myself," he said in return.

She laughed as the two linked arms and continued down the street. They were only a few minutes away from Ember's apartment when they passed a group of people chatting earnestly.

Ember couldn't help but overhear their conversation, as they were talking loudly and with a hint of worry in their voices.

"... the poor old woman is in a frenzy," a middle-aged man said. "She has been out searching night after night, but for a week now there's been no sightings."

"Not only that," a younger man began. "There is also the Batton girl. She went missing only a day after Clarice Rusnek."

This is when Ember stopped in her tracks and watched the group for a moment, a feeling of uneasiness growing in her belly. Adrian stopped, looking down at her curiously before tuning into the conversation as well.

"That's three girls in just a week," an older woman said, her voice filled with fear. "And all of them going missing in the middle of the night. What well-mannered girl is out on the streets at such an ungodly hour?"

"The last thing we need is for some predator walking the streets, just as we are recovering from the fires," the middle-aged man added, shaking his head.

"Excuse me?" Ember said, approaching them. "Do you know the names of the woman who has gone missing?"

***

Unlocking the door with hurried movements, Ember stepped into her apartment and walked into the kitchen to drop off her groceries. Adrian was right behind her, relieving himself of his load.

Walking to the window, Ember looked out onto the skyline of the city just as the rain started to pour. Crossing her arms, she rubbed her eyes for a moment, her mind racing about the information she'd just learned.

"Ember," Adrian said, approaching her, "just because those girls have gone missing doesn't mean that it is Reign."

"So, it is just a coincidence?" she asked, turning to him as he stood beside her. "You think that we would just be off the hook after trying to murder Donovan in his own home?"

Adrian looked a bit annoyed at her use of Donovan's first name, not appreciating the familiarity that her voice carried when she said it.

"No, of course not," Adrian went on, "but…"

"It is him, Adrian," Ember said assertively, a slight tremble in her voice. "I know it."

Adrian grabbed her arm softly and pulled her into his warm embrace, which she returned, trying to stop the tremors from flooding through her body.

"He will never hurt you again, Ember," Adrian said softly into her hair. "I will not let anything happen to you. I promise."

Ember nodded but said nothing. While she appreciated Adrian's promise to keep her safe, he didn't know everything. She hadn't told Adrian about the visions she'd been having and knew that Donovan was good on his promise to come for her.

Cursing herself silently, Ember pulled away from Adrian and looked out the window once again. She'd had two weeks to prepare for his impending attack, and instead, she'd lazed around with Adrian like a fool.

Worst of all, it wasn't her that had suffered. It was the innocent lives of four young women.

A few long moments went by before Adrian spoke again. "Ember, are you all right?"

Instead of answering, Ember sighed and rubbed her eyes again.

"What can I do?" Adrian persisted and she felt his concern and need to soothe her.

Looking up at him, she gave him the most reassuring smile she could muster.

"I will be all right," she said, putting her hand on his arm. "I just have to figure out what to do next."

"You won't have to figure out anything," Adrian said confidently. "I am going to find that b*stard and kill him myself. Besides, I don't want you in harm's way. You know that."

And there it was.

The tingle of anger that Adrian had managed to snub out that fateful night a couple of weeks ago. Ember tried her best to quell it so that it didn't come out as an inferno.

"Adrian," she said softly, taking a deep breath. "You managed to get me kicked out of the Kresniks, but you do not have the authority to dictate what I do outside the group."

At these words, Adrian took a step back, the distance between them growing more than just physical.

"You're not stupid enough to try and take Reign on your own again, are you?" His words also hold a hint of controlled anger. "How can you think that would be safe or wise after what-"

"Because I have to do something!" Ember bit out, passion flowing through her. "I cannot sit by and let him harm anyone else! Especially if-"

Ember was about to reveal her secrets about her vision when Adrian interrupted her.

"He almost murdered you, Ember!" he snapped furiously, then took a breath, trying to contain whatever was boiling within him. His next words seemed agonizing to say. "When we broke into that hall, he was cradling your limp body, drinking from you like a rabid animal. The only reason I even thought you might carry breath was because of the jerking twitch of your fingers as he feasted off of you!"

The image was visceral and morbid as she imagined what Adrian described, the only signs of life being the mechanical jerking of her hands.

"When I held you in my arms… you were cold and lifeless…" Adrian shook the thoughts away, closing at the pain of his words. "So, if you want to be angry at me for the rest of time for trying to protect you… then you are going to die angry."

They stared at each other with a deafening silence falling over them.

Ember had no words, so instead of saying anything, she did the only thing she could think of. Closing the space between them, she wrapped her arms around Adrian.

Neither of them moved as they listened to the rain as it fell outside the window.