in the living room. She tapped her fingernails against

nutes

ing to the ba

. Behind them walked Buren. He had shifted back into his human form-a towering, broad-shouldered man who looked like he

f the table. They stood there, a u

olent energy from his earlier rampage was

es immediately darted to the handful of nutrient flui

hree empty chairs ne

dy m

, Kenzie? Are the chairs rigged with high-voltage shock

r lips togethe

he table. When she reached thei

n hard. She bounced on the cushion. She stood up, moved

Alfie. "Safe e

d over their faces. The original Kenzie would rather

the table and sat down. She f

at each of them. "I know I've been a monster. I kn

s onto the table. "Unf

ed it open, buttons popping off and hitting

rture. Burn marks. Deep, jag

d, his chest heaving. "Does it cover starving

re at every single scar. Her stomach churned wi

id quietly.

d her to scream, to laugh, or to call the

lographic document projected

voice steady. "And honestly, I don't blame y

rce. In sixty days, when the trial marriage period ends, I will file for

nce fille

says a female cannot unilaterally break a contract without

. It's legally binding on my end. For the next sixty days, I will n

like a child in a classroom. "

the vials down the table toward him. "E

r the vials, stopping Buren fro

emanded. "What

e. I don't want to wake up in two months wit

g her face for the lie. He fo

ct. He didn't sign it. But slowly, delib

silent

. "Good. E

the room, leaving them alone wi