ie

ered legs. I was discharged, not to our home, but to a private yacht, a shimmering white behemoth cutting through the tu

August's family jewels sparkling at her throat and wrists. She looked like a godde

oronation," I said, my voice dripping with venom.

a coronation. It's a party. Harper is trying to be nice." He sighed, running a hand throug

leave me to die in a fire for the baby?" The words were lost in the sudden burst of celebratory fireworks, explod

my arm. "Allie, darling, you must be tired. Why don't you go inside and change into something more comfortable?

Harper thinks of everything. She's so

suite. The door clicked shut behind me, and the mask of concern instantly droppe

eg. A sharp cry of pain tore from my throat. "Scream all you want, Allie," she purred

n't you?" I gasped, trying to

t was to seduce August? You were so predictable. So... vanilla. And that high-risk

o anger left, just a profound emptiness. "I don't care about August anymore," I said, my

noble. But you're just a pathetic little fool. Do you know who started the fire at your lake house, Allie? Do you know why you lost your preciou

ral sob tearing from my throat. My baby. Not lost in an accident, but brutally murdered. My hands flew to my mou

bling with a hate so profound it tasted like blood. "

ut, you idiot. He's too obsessed with the idea of his heir. And besides, even if

. They were ragged, unkempt, their eyes glint

her stomach, let out a piercing shriek. "August! Help me! She... she brought these men! They're trying to hurt

I had never seen directed at me. He looked from Harper, sobbing dramatically in

he snarled, his voice a guttural growl. "You truly are a monster. You can't sta

n, to make him see the truth. But he wasn't listening. His eyes wer

egs screaming in protest as I collapsed to the floor, pain exploding through my body. "You'll spend the night

o! August, please! Don't leave me here! They'll kill me! I know it!" A

A night in their company will teach you a lesson." He scooped Harper into his arms, his back to

leering, began to close in. Their yellowed teeth flashed in the di

ered, his breath hot and foul on my

l, primal sound of pure terror. "Help me! August! Please! Someone!" But my cries were swallowed by the booming fireworks outside, a

unbearable, a searing agony that ripped through my body, far worse than any fire, any broken bone. I felt a w

n myself, praying for oblivion. For dea