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Chapter One

May 5, 1843

Marcus leaned his forearrate Frorandfather clock as if the da each of the final seconds of his life with a steady determination

The rest of the house was silent The few servants he dared to keep around were still asleep in their beds at the top of the house for another couple of hours His youngest brother, Winter, sat in the dark leather wingback chair close to the , turning a gold coin over and over again between his fingers Its shiny surface would catch and toss out flashes of light, but he paid no notice His gaze was locked on a distant point Marcus kneas not in the room

One of his other brothers, Beltran, was reading a dusty science toly oblivious to the fact that their lives were balanced on a razor’s edge Tonight, everything was changing for the

The door to the library opened and Rafe, Beltran’s twin, returned, his violin and bow clutched tightly in one hand The hair at his temples was slick with sweat, and he looked a little pale, but his ever-present shtened from the mantle and Beltran closed his book, his quick blue eyes sweeping over his brother

“Any trouble?” Marcus asked

“None other than I plan to ram my bon Bach’s throat when I finally meet him in Hell,” Rafe muttered He carelessly dropped his violin and bow in a chair as he marched over to a sideboard He opened a crystal decanter and splashed solass “I’m so bloody sick of Bach”

“Did you ever consider playing some Mendelssohn or maybe Vivaldi for her?” Winter inquired

Marcus sighed heavily and Beltran shook his head

“Yes, I’ve bloody tried Mendelssohn and Vivaldi Do you take me for an uncultured hack?” Rafe snarled at his little brother

“Yes,” Winter said with glee in his voice

Marcus pushed away from the fireplace and stepped into Rafe’s direct path, toward Winter, his drink forgotten in his clenched hand He used his bigger fraant appearance was a bit ru li his slender neck and perfect pale skin His longish dark hair was in wild disarray about his head The ribbon he used to hold it back nowFor all his foppish ways and strict adherence to the latest fashion trends, Rafe’s body vibrated with hidden power and strength Rafe was a bit taller than Marcus with a leaner frame, but Marcus could still handle hi one scuffle after another