eets whirred by in a blur of shadows and streetlights, but Elena had no sense of where he was taking her. Her heart h

, thrashing against him. "Y

rence that made her blood run cold. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he stopped beside a s

breath out of her. Before she could scramble back out, he slammed the door shut and circled

ear and fury, and she shot him a glare that she hoped m

ly calm. He turned the key, and the engine roared

d, casting a frantic look at the door handle, but it wa

eaming in the dim light of the da

to keep from shaking. "This is insane. You can't just

t smirk playing at the cor

all so normal, as if she was the one overreacting. Her fingers fumbled for

game you think you're playing, I want no part of it. You can drop me

nd that made her heart skip. "You t

stomach. Who was he? What kind of pers

guided the car down the winding road out of the city. "You don't have a cho

The world outside turned darker and darker as the city lights faded behind them, replaced by dense trees a

ho are you?" she asked, her voice trembli

wered, his gaze focused on the

r spine, though she had no idea why. "

t ignore the question entirely. But then he looked at h

is voice soft but deadly

his eyes made the words die on her tongue. There was something possessive, alm

r voice barely audible. "W

th against her cheek. "It's not something you would understand, Elena

e intensity of his gaze. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what he was saying, but nothing added up. S

ath, the wheels crunching over rocks and twigs as they entered the woods. The trees grew denser, t

ly above a whisper, as if speaking louder

ry," he rep

strange chill through

r wavering from the road

st caught her in the alley. The unnatural strength, the inhuman speed, the way his eyes gleamed like a predator's in the dar

lf, afraid to say it out loud

ved into that same cold, knowing smile. "Ye

ispered stories about creatures who lived on the outskirts, hidden in the shado

happening," she whisper

na. And here, there's only one law." He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly ov

ing herself against the door. "I don't belong to anyone," she

t flashed in his

uette casting a foreboding shadow over the clearing. The sight of it-looming, ancient, with flickering lights in t

es sharp and unyielding. "

d to her side of the car. The door opened with a soft click, and his h

as soft, almost coax

fight, to do anything but take his hand. But his eyes held

ipped into his. His grip was firm, possessive, as if he'd already claimed h

uld be n