Chapter 2

I refused to run deliveries for Julian and Isabella—but of course, he wasn't done with me.

Two bulky bodyguards dragged me into the living room.

Julian and Isabella lounged on the couch, heads tilted together, sipping champagne like they were the only ones alive.

Her hand rested on his knee. He leaned in, whispered something.

She giggled, gave him a light slap. "Stop! I just stopped crying and now you're making me laugh. People'll think I'm nuts."

Julian looked at her with this soft, sugary gaze—one I hadn't seen in forever.

"I promised I'd never let you feel wronged."

Then he looked up. The second his eyes hit me, his smile vanished.

Isabella followed his gaze, let out this dramatic shriek, and dove into his arms.

"Oh my god! Julian, she's terrifying! I'm scared..."

I knew how I looked—gray hair, washed-out skin. Like something half-dead.

Julian pulled her close, eyes full of disgust.

"Sera, did you do this on purpose? Trying to scare Isabella?"

I didn't answer. What was the point? He wouldn't believe me.

Just like before—when I swore I never meant to hurt Isabella, and he still called me vicious over one fake tear.

With Julian defending her, Isabella peeked out from his arms and flashed me a smug little smirk when no one was watching.

Then she tugged her nightgown lower, pressed herself against him, and cooed, syrupy sweet,

"Julian, she's still acting. I've got an idea—let's test her. Why don't we chop up that tree and toss it in the fireplace? I'm a little cold anyway. Sacred wood's gotta burn different, right?"

Julian's eyes lit up, intrigued.

A chill shot through me. I grabbed his coat.

"No! Even if the Heartwood's uprooted, my soul's still tied to it. Anything you do to it, it's like you're—"

He cut me off, already annoyed.

"Like I'm doing it to you?"

His face twisted.

"So you can feel what it's like to be hacked apart? Spare me. You really think you're some guardian spirit? That crap might fool Grandma, but not me."

Then he shoved me aside like I was dirt clinging to his clothes.

I stumbled back and hit the cold floor, too weak to stand, too stunned to speak.

For a second, something like confusion flickered across Julian's face—then it was gone.

"Alright, that's a bit dramatic. Get up. Didn't you say it was cold? That tree's already dead. Might as well make use of it. You should thank Isabella for the idea."

He turned, called for the guards, told them to chop up the Heartwood and toss it into the fireplace.

The second the blades hit, I felt it—like they were carving through me, over and over.

Then came the fire.

I curled up, writhing, the pain unbearable. Screams tore out of me before I could stop them.

The bodyguards muttered to each other.

"She's totally faking it. Can't believe Mr. Aster married a psycho like her. I heard she made up all that guardian spirit crap for his money. Fooled Madam Henrietta, too."

"Honestly, Ms. Duvall's a class act. She's perfect for him. Sera should just back off."

Their words hit harder than any blade.

Isabella's grin stretched wider with every insult—totally eating it up.

But my scream must've cut deep—Julian jerked, stepping toward me before he even knew it.

She launched at him like a clingy octopus.

"Julian, seriously? She's killing it. Oscar-worthy meltdown right here."

He froze. Then ran a thumb across her smile.

"Yeah... when I almost died in that crash, you saved me. I'd do anything for you."

My brain glitched.

What?

She saved you?

No. That was me.

I could still feel the blade cutting my wrist.

Drop by drop, my life—my ichor—dripped into Julian's mouth.

Seven days. No sleep. No breaks. I gave him everything I had.

And it meant nothing.

He was already lost in Isabella's perfect little lie.

Nothing I said could break the spell.

Through the haze, I saw them—hands locked, eyes locked. Picture-perfect. Romantic. Brutal.

Something warm slid down my cheek. I wiped it, but my fingers came back gold.

Not tears.

Just blood. My ichor.

I didn't have tears left anyway.