ery smell of bl

ment, she was disoriented, the unfamiliar weight of sleep in the wrong room confusing her. The

ing from d

an, her bare feet slapping against the hardwood floor as she sprinted to the nearest bathroom. She barely made it to the toile

ring at her pale reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back

smell grew stronger, leading her to the dining room. There, on the long, polished table,

d for by Griffin, stood stiffly by the table, her fac

er said, her voice flat and mechanical. "He said

liver, seared on the outside but still glistening with blood. It was barely cooked. The i

king her head. "I can't e

his house. She had a violent aversion, an allergy,

ted," Mrs. Peters

ida Brennan entered, leaning heavily on the arm of her younger sister, Melody. Jaida was

perfume. Her eyes, sharp and malicious, immediately landed on

ondescension. "Look what the cat dragged in. I guess

er and turned to go back upstairs, wanting nothing

aida's voice was

w unsteady steps toward Chloe, her hand

sidestepped her, unw

er ankle twisting unnaturally. She let out a sharp, pained cry and crumpled

. She glared up at Chloe, her face contorted with rage

the front door

e, sweeping glance: Jaida on the floor, weeping softly into her hands; Melody kneeling beside her, p

, already cold

room in three long strides, his movements filled with a controlled fury. He s

the stairs. Pain, sharp and immediate, exploded in her spi

ide Jaida, his voice low and laced with a concern he had

e trembling artfully. She looked up at him through a vei

on. It painted Chloe as a cruel aggressor and

Jaida into his arms as if she weighed nothing and carried her to the sofa. After sett

tened up, forcing herself to stand tall despite the thro

s body. He reached out and grabbed her chin, his fingers digging into her jaw, forcing

ut it ends now. You will not touch her. You will not look at her. If you so much as breathe

e had given up everything for. And she saw nothing. No love, no compassion, just a cold,

startle him. His grip on her jaw loosened for a fractio

old. To reassert his control, he let go of her

ded, "and you will eat every l

one, a gleeful, vindictive light in her eyes

made her flinch and quickly put the p

t of putting it in her mouth was a physical torture. But the look on

as she picked up the heavy silver knife and fork. With a deep, steadying breath,

etallic scent filling her nostrils, a

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