Kieran just watched the whole exchange, his eyes dark and unreadable. He was probably waiting for me to slip up, to embarrass myself in front of Chloe’s smug entourage. Chloe lived to put me in my place, like I was some kind of insect she enjoyed stepping on. But this time, I wasn’t about to give he
Lucian’s grip tightened so I could feel the weight of his rage. His eyes burned with something dark—anger, fear, both. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t look away. I finally understood something critical. They wouldn’t kill me. Not now. Not when I was the only thing keeping them from unraveling.I had calme
Lucian remained on top of me, my throat in his hand but his mind was miles away. His eyes were blank, distant, and vacant.“Let go,” I whispered.I didn’t expect him to listen, but his fingers loosened.He moved stiffly, each joint in his fingers straightened with almost puppet-like obedience. His h
Kieran didn’t respond to my taunt. He just stared for a long moment, his jaw tight, then released me without a word. It was unlike him not to have the last say. His silence was more unsettling than any threat he could have made. But I didn’t wait around to question it.I slipped out of the room, my
I tugged at the collar. It fit too tightly and the leather was rough against my skin.Kieran swatted my hand away.“That collar belonged to my dog,” Kieran said, stroking the small metal tag that hung from the black leather strap around my neck. His voice was soft, almost fond, as if he were reminis
I woke to the scent of cedarwood. A bed—an actual bed—cradled my aching body, its plush mattress so foreign after the cold stone floor that for a moment, I wasn’t sure I was still alive. The light was soft, golden, filtered through heavy curtains. Warmth radiated from somewhere near, wrapping me in