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Chapter 1

Laura Caray stone castle and wondered what she'd find inside Prince Charon?

The dragon ossip the townsfolk werethe ferry ride to this beautiful little island Did Richard Blackthorne knoover the ominous stones and the arched s as the cab proceeded up the steep driveway Lord, the structure even had turrets and crenellations And a tower

Laura saw only the loneliness of it all

"Ma'ae house "You sure you're supposed to be here?"

Why did everyone in this little island village ask that, as if she alking to her execution? Blackthorne was just a man, for pity's sake "Oh, yes, I' at the ed cabdriver

"Mr Blackthorne ain't exactly the enial sort, you know"

"With everyone acting as if he'd take a bite out of them, it's a wonder, don't you think?" She looked at hi a brow

He reddened a bit, then looked back at the house "Idea had to come from somewheres," he drawled, then rolled out of the driver's seat to get her bags

Laura left the car, walking with him up the steep front steps

Su, she had been hired to help Richard Blackthorne's four-year-old daughter adjust to living here To living with a recluse, a man locked in a castle and shielded fro to take soossip that no one had set foot inside this house, except delivery personnel, in four years Laura felt instant pity for the little girl, who'd just lost her mother and had been kept frorow accustos before the child arrived

Mr Pinkney set her bags down She turned to pay thedown on a slip of paper As she handed him the fare, he handed her the paper

"This here's , you just give me a holler"

She was touched, but it wasn't necessary "He's not a monster, Mr Pinkney"