ike a trap. It was tight, showing off every curve, and the co

nder the lights, mocking me. To the world, I was a lucky girl engaged to a rich, p

aelen's voice cam

k like a shadow. He walked toward me, his heavy boots silent on the rug. He stopped right i

o mine. "He's going to look for any sign that you're lying. If he thinks you

. "I'm not a goo

ook at me. Pretend I'm the only thing in the world that matters. If y

didn't feel peaceful. It felt like a bomb waiting to go off. We went down a g

e had silver hair and a face that looked like it was

ke he had spent years screaming. "This is

wn before taking his own seat. "She isn't a fool, Father. She's

nd dead. He looked at my face, then down at my neck. He froze. His

hear the clock ticking on the wall. It felt

ward, his hands gripping the edge of the tab

thudding against my ribs. "It's... it's just a b

"Silas Thorne had a daughter with a mark just like tha

s, Father. Ivy is from a foster home in the city. She has n

tness needs to die, Kaelen. That is the rule. If she is truly your fiancée, she

man whose face was covered in bruises. They threw him onto the f

p steak knife from the table and held it out toward me. "If you are going to be a V

y hands started to tremble. I looked at the man on the floor.

this," Kaelen said, his

iktor snapped. "Or

me, his jaw tight. I knew what he

. I stood up, my legs feeling like they were going to give out.

not a murderer. But then I saw Viktor watching me, a cruel smile

d of stabbing the man, I pressed the

d blood began to drip from my hand, splashing

ing?" Viktor bar

ll mistakes," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "I've already bled for this family tonight. My blood is on your

eyes wide with shock. Viktor stared at me, his expression unreadabl

o laugh. It was a

tting back down. "Dangerous claw

e bleeding. He didn't say anything, but the look he gave me was full of

s even served. As we walked back up the stai

thing I've ever seen," Kaelen whi

im," I whi

hand, his face darkening. "But now my father knows you're