Bound by Fire and Fate

skin. Every touch burned, a reminder of how many times I had been here before, how many times I had sworn I wouldn't return.A cold shiver ran down my spine, though the room was warm. The

e arrogance that had always kept me trapped, convinced that I belonged to him.I inhaled shakily. "Yes, I am."Vincent exhaled through his nose, his fingers pressing deeper into my skin. Irritation seeped into his voice, threading through every syllable like poison. "And where will you go, Elena? Who will save you?"The question struck deep, a reminder of the isolation he had woven around me, stripping me of friends, of choices, of any sense of independence. He had made sure I had nowhere to run. No one to turn to.But I couldn't let that stop me.I couldn't keep living like this, suffocating in his shadow, waiting for the next moment he would pull me back in.I didn't have an answer to his question. But I knew I had to leave before he destroyed me completely.So I took a deep breath.And I ran.My bare feet hit the cold floor as I slipped out of his grip, wrenching myself from the bed. Vincent cursed behind me, moving faster than I anticipated. His fingers brushed my wrist, but I jerked away, stumbling toward the door."Elena-"I didn't look back.I couldn't.I threw open the door and stepped