“味道……灭蜡烛……”

宁秉宇再度重复，每一个字都像是从胸腔深处挤出来，带着破碎的喘息。

药效的作用让宁秉宇额角青筋暴起，死死盯着那些摇曳的红色蜡烛。

当初荣昭南让他查的某种蜡烛……

楚红玉哪里能想到这房间里暗藏玄机。

她只当宁秉宇是嫌房间气氛太暧昧，毕竟这满屋子女人味和浓郁香水气混在一起，让她闻着都头晕难受。

“大少，先别管蜡烛了，咱们出去再说，这味确实冲。”

楚红玉好声好气地一边劝着宁秉宇，一边利索......

NinhOrdnerstoodfrozeninthecenteroftheroom,hiseyesfixedintentlyontheflickeringredcandles.Hischestheavedwithlaboredbreathsasifeveryounceofenergyhadbeendrainedfromhisbody.Theairaroundhimseemedtothickenwithtension,andtheshadowscastbythecandlesappearedtogrowlongerandmoremenacing.

Hismindwasajumbleofemotions,histhoughtsracingwithmemoriesofthepastfewdays.Hecouldn‘tshakeoffthefeelingthatsomethingwasoff,thattherewasmoretothissituationthanmettheeye.Thewords“drownedinwax“echoedinhismindlikeamantra,eachrepetitionmakingitfeelmorereal.

Suddenly,thecandlesseemedtoleanincloser,theirflamesdancingwithanotherworldlyenergy.NinhOrdnerfeltashiverrundownhisspineasherealizedthatthesewerenoordinarycandles.Theyseemedtobeimbuedwithapowerthatwasbothcaptivatingandterrifying.

“Stop,“hewhispered,hisvoicebarelyaudibleoverthesoundofhisownbreathing.“You‘renotgoingtofoolmeagain.“

Theroomfellsilent,theonlysoundthesoftcrackleofthecandles.NinhOrdner‘seyesnarrowedashetookineverydetailofhissurroundings.Theairwasthickwiththescentofrosesandjasmine,butitdidn‘tmasktheunderlyingaromaofdecay.

Heturnedhisattentionbacktothecandles,hisgazeburningwithanintensefocus.Ashelookedatthem,theflamesseemedtogrowhigher,castingeerieshadowsonthewalls.NinhOrdnerfeltathrillrunthroughhimasherealizedthatthesecandleswerenotjustmeredecorations.

Theywereakey.

Asmallsmileplayedonhislipsashereachedoutatremblinghandtotouchoneofthecandles.Assoonashemadecontactwithit,theflameseemedtoleaphigher,castingawarmglowovertheroom.NinhOrdnerfeltasurgeofenergyflowthroughhim,andsuddenly,hewasfloodedwithvisionsofthepast.

Hesawhimselfstandinginthisveryroom,hiseyeslockedonafigureshroudedinshadows.Thefigurespokeinalow,huskyvoice,itswordsdrippingwithmalice.

“You‘llneverescapeme,“itsaid.

NinhOrdner‘svisionblurredashestumbledbackward,hishandflyingtohisforehead.Hecollapsedontothenearestchair,gaspingforbreathastheroomspunaroundhim.

“Whatjusthappened?“asoftvoiceasked,concernetchedintoeveryword.

Heopenedhiseyestofindhimselffacetofacewithawomanwholookedlikeshehadsteppedoutofadream.Herskinwassmoothandunlined,herhairdarkandluscious.Astrandofsilkcascadeddownherbacklikeawaterfall,andherlipswerepaintedadeepshadeofcrimson.

“Whoareyou?“NinhOrdnercroaked,histhroatparched.

“I‘m...I‘mLian,“shesaid,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.“Andyouare?“

NinhOrdner‘smindwasstillreelingfromthevisionshehadjustexperienced.HestruggledtoformcoherentwordsashegazedatLian,tryingtoplaceherinhismemories.

Butsomethingdidn‘tfeelright.

Theairseemedtovibratewithtension,andNinhOrdnercouldsensethattherewasmoretothissituationthanmettheeye.