Until the World Falls Down

Prologue

PROLOGUE

U nbidden, a melancholic whisper caressed Enver’s mind— love me, it implored. The sound was a lovely yearning, a desperate plea as enticing as the promise of a new mouse for his labyrinth.

He closed his eyes, focusing until the faint sound grew into the morose wail of a wounded soul. They were close by. His eyes snapped back open, scanning the room, gaze sweeping from sweaty body to sweaty body, searching for the source of such sweet sorrow. He found himself drawn to an unusual place this time—one he did not have time to question. Not that he questioned much anymore.

It did not take long for him to find his prize, and something inside him burgeoned when his gaze finally fell upon the one calling out so desperately—something he did not recognize, settling into the core of his being. Something powerful and intimate.

The hollow ache that ceaselessly haunted him faded, replaced by a wholeness he could not quite understand. He paused, waiting for the moment to pass. When it did not, his hand drifted to his chest, brushing against the constricting fabric of his shirt as though attempting to touch what now dwelled inside him.

Her desperation was suffocating and overwhelming, pressing in on him. It was no wonder he had been led here.

Love . She yearned for. Love. She would do anything for.

That same love she was so desperate for would entice and entrap her.

His eyes narrowed, and his fingers tightened, digging into the fabric of his shirt before he forced himself to release it. He started toward her with a slow, predatory grace. The pulsating crowd parted for him, unconsciously giving way to his target, as though they were aware of the danger that stalked toward them.

She stood still amidst the swarm of people, her pitiful form trembling, her eyes closed, unaware of his approach. Unaware of what her desperation would bring her.

Long, white hair spilled in wavy curls down her back, and a tight black dress clung to her curves, accentuating the flare of her hips and the dip of her waist. Yet, what drew him to her the most were her lips—parted in a delicate, pleading way. Soft and enticing.

Desire stirred in his blood, and he clenched his jaw to stifle the unfamiliar hunger that surged through him.

He came to a stop in front of her and simply watched for a moment. Watched her chest heave in an uneven rhythm. Watched her tears stain her flushed cheeks. Watched her tongue dart out to moisten her lips, still oblivious to his presence.

His restraint slipped, and he lifted his hand, his fingers brushing along the nape of her neck. He cupped his hand around it, causing her eyes to snap open. There was a momentary look of surprise and a flicker of fear in her gaze, but as he turned his smile into something warm and inviting, she relaxed again. He put pressure on her neck, urging her closer to him, and her breathing hitched as she stepped forward. Her chest pressed against his, and he gazed down at her, relishing in the heartbreak in her eyes. The way they seemed to echo her desperate plea.

Love me.

Her beautiful, heartbreaking face revealed it all.

He could not have found someone better. This would be too simple. She was so desperate. So, so desperate.

Once he set the trap, he would have her.

His hand moved up to tangle in the soft hair at the base of her neck, his fingers curling into the silky strands, tugging them down, so that her chin lifted toward him. He could hear her heart beating faster in her chest, feel how her body yearned for his touch, see the tears gathering in her dark lashes…

He leaned in, his lips ghosting across hers, and he felt her take a shuddering breath before her eyes fluttered shut again. Waiting. Anticipating.

Yes.

She would be his.