Chapter 666

Something thin and sharp brushed against Eleanor’s lower leg. Her first instinct was to bend down and check— But she forgot. Her wrist was still bound to another man. The moment her leg caught on that near-invisible thread, her balance faltered. Her body lurched forward abruptly, heart leaping into her throat. Eyes wide, she finally saw it clearly— A fine, transparent fishing line was strung deliberately across the path near the bookshelf. Nearly invisible, stretched taut and low, it was no accident. A deliberate trap. A tripwire. Her eyes narrowed. With her reflexes, Eleanor knew she could have twisted her body, caught her footing, and avoided the fall. Alone, she would have escaped unscathed. But— Fate wasn’t that merciful. Her hand was tied to Robert’s. And Robert, seeing her stumble, panicked. He surged forward to catch her, his movements instinctive and desperate. The result— Both of them went down. Eleanor’s chance to steady herself slipped away. She hit the ground first, her bod