ne's

Alaric's parents were busy entertaining guests, all smiles and laughter. Meanwhile,

upstairs, tangled up

rf

The last thing I needed was someone walking up and ask

my glass like everything was fine, and tried my best to blend i

t take it

t the side of the mansion. The air was cooler here, lit up with soft golden lights strung along the hedges.

be

I didn't count-I just drank. My head was spinning, eyes a little unfocused, but the pain in my chest? S

universe just loves t

were glowing neon: Alaric and Marla, walking side by

violently. The ur

of my mouth with the back of my hand a

I drawled, loud enou

fake smile falt

inger at her with a crooked gri

hroat. "You're a d*mn snake, Marla. Tell me, how lon

e crowd. Marla's eyes wi

anking that pathetic little *ss of yours, Marla? Hmm? Was it before

?" she asked, of cou

inting his face. "Selene, stop this.

ense? My own mate is f*ck*ng my best fr

and shoved him, hard.

nd landed on her cheek with a satisfy

screwing each other in the dark like the dirty l

you...Marla, we are over.

ne, eyes locked on Alaric as if daring hi

emotional mess, I stumbled-feet slipping

ng arms

bs. His grip was firm, warm... groundi

e he

His scent wrapped around me, rich and intoxicating like sandalwood and sm

e Ca

nfamous Cassian I'd only heard abo

ed in disbel

like velvet over a blade. "I'm guessing

Cas

hurricane-wild, chaotic, and dre

... tho

es I hadn't s

Selene

bled all over her tiny hands, and she'd patched me up with trembling fingers and this

as here. In m

melling like betray

how I imagine

led, brushing my chest as she straightened herself, clearly embarrassed, clearly tipsy. Her cheeks wer

ly, heels clicking against stone, one hand curled

esn't rec

r, I was just some stranger

pear into the darkn

hell just

ike a kid caught stealing cookies. Face scratched. Lip bleeding. Ho

. some

wasn't it? The so-called best friend. Her ma

l,

quarrel with your future bride in front of a

pened hi

. "Don't. I don

der my breath, "And here I thoug

he one who had haunted the corners of my mem

ged to m

*mn people i

, life. R