Sixty one

KAIDA REED POVEverything moved in slow motion. The static in my ear grew louder, my heart pounding hard in my chest almost like it wasn't even mine to begin with as my eyes shifted from Lucien's terrified ones to Zavian's unreadable expression.No, not unreadable. Cold. Yes, that was the only word to describe them. But they weren't just cold. They were terrifying. I stared at him, air barely scraping past my lungs as I waited with bated breath for what he was going to do next, because the look in his eyes promised retribution and even though it scared me, I wanted to see him unleash whatever dark thought was spiralling through his head. I wanted him to hurt Lucien...just like he'd hurt me.Almost as if he could feel me staring at him, he slowly turned, then his breath hitched, his throat moving as his eyes settled on my face. I tensed, my chest hurting as his eyes dragged over me slowly, checking every inch of me like he needed to make sure I was untouched, that I wasn't hurt.Wha

Sixty two

ZAVIAN NOLVEN POV For the first time, I couldn't read the look in Kaida's eyes. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, and it killed me inside, because I knew that whenever she got quiet like this, it was because she was trying to make up her mind about something...and whatever it was, I was sure I wouldn't like it."We need to call for an ambulance."My hands stilled against her cheek, the sharp feeling of my heart being ripped out of my chest making my eyes slip closed for a second."If he dies, you'll go to jail," she said, her eyes tracing mine as I opened them. "I... I..." she stuttered, her chest rising as she moved her face away from my touch. "I don't want you to go to jail. I don't want to—""You don't want to be with a murderer, is that it?" I asked, fire flowing through my veins where there used to be blood. She shook her head, then took another step back, her hands clenched so tight I was sure the indent her finger would leave would take ages to clear.I hated that she w

Sixty three

YILENA HOLT POVMy lung was on fire.I twitched, the horrible, suffocating burn forcing my body into panic before my mind could even catch up.Something was pressing hard against my throat, forcing my head back into the mattress and cutting off my air little by little.I tried to move, to pull myself out of the darkness but all I managed was a few twitches. My body felt impossibly heavy, almost as if someone had tied weights to each of my limbs and then thrown me face down into ice-cold water. Helena.Fuck! As if bashing me over the head wasn't enough, she was trying to drown me too.No. I couldn't just go like this. I refuse to die like this.Using all of my sheer will, I forced my hand to move, to reach for and pull away the hand at my throat but all I managed to do was graze their hand, my eyes still refusing to open.Desperate for air, I tried to scream, but the sound lodged in my throat and then got stuck there as the hands choking tightened even further.The panic that exploded

Sixty four

YILENA HOLT POV "I don't get you. Why do you suddenly want her dead? Wasn't our original plan to frame her for Helena's death?"She nodded once, looking completely uninterested. "Yes, it was, but you're no longer friends with Helena, are you?"I stared at her, knowing that she was right... But I wasn't close to Kaida either so how the hell was I supposed to pull off her murder?"You don't have to worry your pretty little head about how you're going to kill her," she said casually, and my eyes snapped to hers instantly. "I'll be the one to make all the arrangements."I gaped at her, shocked out of my mind. Was she psychic? I was a hundred percent sure that I didn't say that question out loud, so how..."It's because you wear all your emotions on your face," she explained, shocking me even further and making my eyes widen. She scoffed, shaking her head a little before pointing one dainty finger at me. "Just like how you're doing now."Was I really that transparent? Me? The one who was

Sixty five

YILENA HOLT POV Kaiser was the one behind the door. My heart skipped, then started pounding, every beat of it drowning out the pain from before. "How..." I started, my voice trailing off as I slowly moved toward him."I told you I was going to make him yours, didn't I?" She asked drawing my gaze from Kaiser. "I always keep my word."I turned to face Kaiser, my mouth drying at the sight of him. He was firmly secured against a heavy wooden St. Andrew's cross bolted firmly at the center of the room. His arms were stretched high and wide, wrists bound tightly with thick black leather cuffs padded just enough to prevent immediate bruising but not enough to offer any real comfort.His legs were spread apart too, ankles secured to the bottom of the X with matching cuffs. A wide leather belt wrapped around his waist and cinched him tight to the center of the cross, keeping his torso completely pinned so he couldn't twist or slump even if he tried.I swallowed hard as I stared at his bare

Sixty six

YILENA HOLT POV His jaw clenched hard, his eyes blazing but it wasn't just with anger, there was desire too and no matter how much he denied it, he wanted me just as bad as I did."Do you dare to deny it," I whispered as I let my other hand drift lower, fingertips dipping just beneath the waistband of his pants. His abs tightened instantly."You can lie to yourself all you want, but I know the truth..." I kissed the side of his neck, then bit down gently, tasting salt and skin. He hissed, hips jerking forward as much as the waist belt allowed. The small movement made me dizzy with want. Fuck. I wanted more."I don't want you," he gritted, tongue darting over his dry lips."Liar." I cupped him through his pants, feeling the growing hardness there despite his clenched jaw. "You're hard for me and you still try to deny it?""Yilena," he warned again, but his voice had roughened further, breath hitching when I squeezed lightly. "Don't—""You turned me into this Kaiser," I interrupted, my