ella

d, unforgiving gray. I hadn't slept. The stabbing agony in my lower right abdom

arwood cologne washed over me, mixing with the suffocating memor

eet hit the hardwood, but pure adrenaline and nausea propelled me forward. I practically crawled into th

ng against the freezing rim, trembl

w fell

d trousers, looking down at me like I was a stain on his pristine marble floor.

he demanded, his voice a low, danger

hing my side, my vision blurring with t

hit the side of my head, dropp

h absolute disgust. "You think gagging on my floor will make me for

y humanity snapping. He didn't see a dying woman. He saw

om. I forced myself up, using the sink for leverag

ront of the mirror. On the velvet bench at the

ook at me. "You will wear that dress. You will stand by my side, and you will sm

oice raw. "Damien, I need a

hat terrifying, predatory grace. He stopped inches from m

d for by my personal trust," he said, his

. The blood drain

e ruthlessness, "I will cut it off. I will let the bank seize the land, and I will throw your gr

ly pale cheek in a mockingly gentle caress. I

k, Isabella.

t behind him, leaving me alone

ized the only thing I had left to love. Aurthur Davenport was my

ere today, my grandfather would be left at the mercy of a monster. I couldn't just survive tonight; I had to burn h