pte

ena

stal chandelier shimmering above me. Everything in the room walls, furniture,

rned. My body ached, my head heavy, and the lingering scent of so

ll, but that wasn't what

had tried to forget. The bar. The fight. Him. My fingers flew to my nec

the way I had lost control it was real. A sou

he going to wake up?" I sucked in a sharp breath. Even wi

eplied. Ryker hummed, the soun

ng she needs. She is not to be harmed

ict, possessive, like I belonged to him. I clenched my

I threw the sheets off and swung my legs over the side of the bed.

hallway was even grander than the bedroom. Gold-trimmed walls, polished floors, expensive paintings a pal

pe flickered in my chest, but before I could push it ope

place?" another man asked.

er she wakes up,"

posed to mean? Wh

ng it," the ot

d yet you still-" He stopped, then let out a

ared. The door flew open before I could stop myself. Two sets of golden eyes turned to

walked toward me. I backed away, but he was too fast. His h

his lips brushing against my cheek, soft, intimate. I slapped him. Hard. The sound echoed in

er," he murmured. I w

ll are you t

d," he said smoothly. "An

ed. This isn

body locking up. "You're lying," I w

hing me like I was someth

And now he had stolen my first time. Had impregnated me. And now, he

m me." "I don't negotiate, I take. But just this once... name it."

Hu

desire and I will

ed, he nodded his han

ive me your life. I want you de

ands trembling at my sides. Then

said you want me dead," he murmure

ing you want." He turned slightly

entered, carrying a sleek silver blade. Ryker took it without a s

"Go ahead." I jus

another, lifting his hands in surrender. His face rema

uld still see my father's lifeless body, the smell of

tightened. And before I could stop myself, I drove the knife into his c

resistance of flesh and bone beneath my fing

d onto mine, still burning, still sharp. Then

sharp bursts. I killed him. Fear cu

nything. But he didn't move. He didn't even blink. Instea

ce. I turned sharply and my blood turned to ice. Ryker

was. His lifeless body still lay on the floor, the knife buried deep

couldn't breathe. This wasn'

er, his golden eyes

said smoothly. "Now, it's my

r tu

right? "You killed me, Serena." His voice was calm,

r. My heart hammered wildly, and my stomach churned with f

ight before my eyes, the body turned to ash. I let out a sharp gasp, my han

hands like nothing had happened. His smirk deepened as he leaned i

me to m