ella

freezing, decaying walls of the West Wing. But then, a violent rush of freezing air and th

or a moment, the cold had indeed claimed my heart. But the sheer, v

nderboss slipped. His face was a chaotic storm of shock, fury, and a sickening flash of relief.

yanked me back to the ni

d melt the ice in his veins. Instead, he had looked at me like a ledger entry. He took me with a cold, punishing dominance, stripping away my d

ed a dormant fire in my hollow chest. I wasn't that beg

ng slightly, I channeled every ounce of my survi

d echoed in th

rned back to me, a lethal, predatory fascination twisting his lips. He didn't strike back-not because he was soft, but because he was savori

burning with the effort. "There are no more tricks," I said, my vo

els clicking against the scuffed floorboards-she had clearly followed the commotion, desperate to see my body hauled out in a bag. She

you," she purred, her gaze dripping

ignored her completely, keeping my eyes locked on Damien's. Then, with a sudden, fluid m

ling backward and c

g to sub-zero. He looked ready to snap my neck, yet he remained rooted to the spot, his gaze

n offered a hollow, mocking smile. "I was just teaching your

stand. I walked straight between them, my shoulder brushing past Damien's rigid chest. He let me pass, a silent, terrifying promise in his stillness that