"What the—?" Juliana whispered under her breath.
As soon as she turned to flee, the temple's inner sanctum vanished.
In the blink of an eye, she found herself standing inside a grand dining hall.
The opulent dining hall was spacious and luxuriously furnished, its polished marble floors reflecting the glow of a chandelier strung with crystal flames above.
Velvet curtains draped from towering windows, letting the warm light of early evening spill into the room.
The salivating scent of roasted lamb, fresh bread, and an impressive array of exquisite dishes had filled the air.
And seated at the long hardwood table… was her family.
Count Elijah Vox Blade was at the head of the table. His handsome yet severe face bore a deep scar down his left cheek. Yet his eyes, though sharp and intense, held a rare tenderness.
He was a man of dark hair, blue eyes, and a towering frame. All that combined with his strict code of honor gave him the presence of a storybook knight.
