Anya’s povThe ballroom air felt like it was running out of oxygen. Every smile from a board member felt like a jagged edge, and every flash of a camera felt like an interrogation light. I walked back to Kai, my heart echoing the frantic rhythm of my father’s voice in the hallway.Kai reached for me the second I was within range. His hand slid around my waist not for the cameras this time, but as if he needed an anchor to keep from drifting into the dark. His fingers pressed into the silk of my gown, a silent question in the tilt of his head."You're pale," he murmured, leaning down so his lips brushed my temple. To the room, it looked like an intimate whisper between lovers. To me, it felt like a plea."We need to leave," I breathed, my eyes darting to where Ethan stood near the bar, watching us with that terrifying, porcelain stillness. "Now, Kai."He didn't argue. He didn't check with Ethan. He simply turned, his hand staying firm on my lower back, and guided me toward the exit. We
Last Updated : 2026-01-13 Read more