The knock came at 2:17 a.m.I was half-asleep on Mariel’s couch, the TV playing softly in the background, when three sharp knocks sounded on the door.My heart jumped instantly. Elias was still in custody, but the fear hadn’t left me, it never really did.I reached for the baseball bat Mariel kept beside the couch and moved slowly to the door, peering through the peephole.Alaric.He stood in the hallway, coat pulled tight, eyes scanning the corridor like he expected danger to follow him.Relief hit so hard it almost made my knees weak.I unlocked the door quickly and pulled him inside before he could say anything. The moment it shut, he had me against it, his mouth crashing onto mine with months of pent-up hunger. His hands cupped my face, thumbs brushing my cheekbones as if making sure I was real.“You’re here,” I whispered between kisses, tasting rain and desperation on his lips.“I couldn’t stay away any longer,” he said, breathing unevenly.And in that moment, nothing else matt
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