Her elegant dress made low kissing sounds as she moved closer to me. Each step drained me of a pant of blood.

She got to my bed and sat down graciously. I pushed down the urge to shift further into the bed. This woman scared me in every way. I felt like I was looking at death when I was in her presence.

"Avalyn, I believe we started on the wrong foot," she said with her voice ever so smooth and soothing —but not in a good way.

I opened my mouth to speak but it closed up again like a fish out of water. What response should I give...