Scarlett stepped into the room, wearin

he bed. Her face was twisted into an exagger

ght hand. She squeezed it tightly w

p upon seeing the thick white bandage

en is a cruel monster. He keeps you locked

rge to rip her hand away. She forced her n

overpowering floral perfume assaulted Co

"Julian is waiting for you. In a bl

ady. She feigned a look of desperate, t

er eyes darted suspiciously into the corne

ped the gold hardware on her oversize

ensive leather bag. Her eyes locked

ly carved silver dagger. It was h

the edge of the silk blanket. She pressed

you escape the monster holding you captive. Use it on Damie

ing out from the fabric. She remembered this

She had actually tried to stab Damien

eyes. She met Scarlett's ea

ng other than fear--something cold and shar

inely confused and unsettled by the sudde

tood completely frozen. He peered thr

glint of the silver dagger part

d suffocating fury washed over his rig

. He misinterpreted her silence as acti

nob. He was ready to burst into the room and sto

ged. His chest ached with actual, ph

stic side demanded to see if she would

f the doorframe instead. His knuckl

h-black abyss. He braced his entir