n Kell

n't fo

cked pavement, the city lights blurring through my unshed tears, and waited. A part of me, a foolish, masochi

affic and the rain. He stayed

alien, contaminated. Every surface seemed to hold a memory of his touch, a p

he collection of first-edition novels he

se. He was holding a velvet box. "I know I failed you. I was wron

Medallion, a priceless, one-of-a-kind emerald piece that had been in my family for over a century. It had been my mother

the last tangible piece of my mother I had. "Where did you

. I wanted to give it to you after our next child was born. A new family heirloom for a new generation of Kelle

utiful truth. He knew my weaknesses. He knew

open. Cydney sashayed in, wearing one of my si

on your dresser and just had to try it on. It's exquisite." She smiled sweetly at me. "Barron told me all about it. A ne

for her, my hands outstretched, my only thought to rip t

stepping between us. His arm was a rig

edge of the Persian rug, an intentional, clumsy movement, and went down hard. The velvet box flew from Barron's hand, and the spare med

a sicken

agnificent emerald was shattered, the gold setting twisted and bro

of loss and fury. I flew at her, my nails see

k until I stumbled against a bookshelf. A sharp pain shot through my shoulder. H

y okay?" he murmured, his

hands gently probing her stomach, his face a mask of terror. The same terro

taring at the ruined jewelry

a finger at me, his voice low and dangerous. "You have been unstable and irrational since your... episode. I've been patient, but this at

rary, leaving me alone with the shattered remnants

grieving, for reacting, for not quietly accepting my

edroom door. I was a prisoner in my own home. When I refused

" he said, his tone one

a monster,

to harm Cydney. I won't have it." He gestured to the guards outside

oice softening into that familiar, manipulative purr, "I remember you

ng of his lips. "Good night, E

al sound of a key turning in the lock. The si

ck and heavy. A primal terror I thought I had conquered clawed its way up my th

I understood that Barron Carroll wasn't just content to let