Raine's POV

I held tightly to Alaric as we navigated the interior of the main estate. Its beauty and opulence was stunning. Huge grand staircases spiraled and flowed like a waterfall of steps, cascading down from the highest level forty feet in the air, intersecting together in several landings, only to split apart again in contrary directions, before gracing the main floor.

Marble and intricately engraved hardwoods, hand-chiseled by only the finest craftsmen, adorned most surfaces. And noble candelabras stood erect, with an air of indifference, as they illuminated our path.

The sound of my heels clicking against the cold hard floor resonated in my ears as we approached a...