LA'S

es , cloaking the surroundings in a haunting beauty. In the center of the forest , somet

ent. Hol

led by my own d

ant to believe it , but I had to. I was no longer alive. The hatred burning inside me made my who

cept that this

y to find a lake bathed in moonlight. Standing beside it was a woman

oon G

turned to me with eyes full of gentl

drift-weightless , directionless-as my vi

ed and bolted upright

me was familia

and I had shared on the

k at me-eighteen again , in the same engagement

been r

nted me a second chance.

Charlotte

ell

ce broke into

u okay? I can fi

ding me. "I'm okay. It feels so

I couldn't protect you.

fault. It was Charlotte's p

lice's rage se

ch. I'll rip h

. "Charlotte , Maddison. Ever

blindsided. I would drive them out of the

my hear

ngage

me had hurt worse than any betrayal. It shatte

only. A loveless contr

er lov

he engagement. Leave Tristan behind. Don't let

e

ld es

now, and love ha

egs buckled. Heat flooded my body ,

o, no

h aphrodisiac. That's how she planned to destroy me l

s happeni

The trap was a

omplete Charlotte's plan-frame me ,

t this

, drawing strength from Alice

oadside-a car

ing hard. No phone.

ring from my finger an

the heat pulsing thr

turned ,

nt to go , dear

t v

is

y

the p

ut the fire inside me burned hotter with every breath.

oman. Damn

relief. D

ked though

ot Tr

someone... if Charlot

him. Let h

ers down Tristan's cheek. His

g I couldn't make out through the haze in my head

moved on

the contrast of his cool skin against my fevered body. My mind blurred with cravin

sted-at

kissed me

g down the zipper of my dre

th

s ins

something deeper in me. A dangerous

with him , moaning into

ike that-i

rn

hrough the window

riented. My body ached. My

heat. The s

as outside the car now , facin

rf

for whatever awkward mess

waiting for news. And Trist

mir

to see the loo

o the driver's seat , shoved the car i

I would st

ven Tristan-was