CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-ONE

{Dominic}

It should’ve rained.

The sky should’ve opened up and poured every ounce of heaven’s wrath on Crownshaven, just to match the way my chest felt like it had caved in. But no. The skies were blue, mockingly clear. And a warm breeze swept across my blood-soaked shirt like the deities above were applauding my fall.

I was dragged across the ground. Literally.

Two of Varen’s warriors had me by the arms, hauling me across the marble like I was yesterday’s garbage. My feet scraped lifelessly behind me, boots leaving a trail of blood and broken pride all the way to the front gates of the villa.

“Mind the step,” one of them muttered, and then ruthlessly shoved my already battered body down the stone stairs.

I hit every single one.

“Son of a—” My voice cracked as I rolled, bones screaming with every jolt. My vision sparked white at the edges. I bit back the groan climbing up my throat because I’d be damned if I gave them that satisfaction.

Corvin was waiting at the bottom, looking every