ush of adrenaline through my veins. My fingers tingled

y my legs wo

shackled to the wall, m

resence was a live wire sparking against me. Every part of me recognized what I was facing: a predator. My hybrid instin

Play it cool, Phia, I told myself. D

t raced. "I mean... King?" The last word slipped from my mouth awkwardly, a squeak I couldn'

atory. He radiated a danger so intense, I felt it pressing against my chest. Anyone

ympathy for him-he was terrifying, but that scowl? It would keep even the bravest of women at arm's

sharp as ice, brittle with a coldness that sent a shiver down my spine. His

chance of escape, but off to the side. It was a subtle movement, one that showed how thorou

long, dark trench coat, relishing the quiet click of it. A tiny rebellion against the weig

e that seemed to pierce through me. But he said

said, my voice a little too lig

ill that unsettling calm. "It couldn't be avoide

oing to send you a bill for this," I qui

oth and dripping with disdain, carried a tone of authority that made my teeth grit. "Fucking dogs," he muttered under his br

p, dark pools with flashes of grey-green slivers. The

their thumbs, waiting for the moment to strike. The dogs who locked you a

d to know you've got e

t for a long time," he replied, his

you could swoop in and rescue me?" I shot back, half-teasi

gain, his gaze was intense, searching. It wasn't a casual inspection-it was something else, s

hing primal. Unnatural. The kind of reaction a perso

ny woman forget how to breat

it. I had to stay in control. The tension between us was palpable, thick with unsp

he muttered after a moment. "Or

eady. "I appreciate your keen powers of observation," I said

ng confined for so long, my stomach weak from hunger. But if I stayed here, pretending to be

y tone light, "you came to rescue

iness swamped me, and my knees buckled. I stagge

und me, holding me steady with an ease that