A'S

d my suitcase from the cl

shoes I might never wear again into the corners. The house felt empty no

e bag when the d

golden eyes blazing with fury. "

without flinching. "I'm leaving. I don'

humor in it. "You're my wife, Lyra. Yo

me? You've already chosen Sabrina and her daughter. You'v

e an important deal tomorrow, and the in

ked. "

tance rights, and public image... they're all part of the deal. The investors want t

So why did hearing

me or cared about me. He was keeping

ispered. "After ever

and hurled it across the room. Cl

how much you cry. No matter how much you b

sian

to Sabrina and Natasha for the kidnapping. You're going to make amen

into a chair and w

what the

ammed shut

er him, I heard the loc

ocked

ounded by scattered clothes. Suddenly,

age,' Kiara whisper

n him everything: my love, my loyalty, my entire future. And

nees and buried my hands

ell was I

~~~~~

idden in my drawer, the one I'd bought for the nu

dowsill and watched

never get to hold. "I'm so sorry I could

anced in th

eaking. "I wanted a peaceful future. But I ca

dbye to the dreams

rned low, I wiped

hold staff, pounding on the wood. "Is someone out t

e when I heard foots

uickly when I heard t

me. But no one dared to

truly

I paced the room from one

Lyra.

ulled out my phone, my fingers ho

nswered on t

yr

"I need your help. I have to g

sharp breath. "

k House. Second

line. I'll se

ave a plan. I just need you

on my

hun

e into my pocket

he center of the desk. Beside them, I left my

pulled a hoodie over my head. I left the clothes Cassian had scattered

heet. I twisted it into a makeshift rope and fastene

the railing a

nothing compared to the prison

er the edge and st

d twice, scrabbling against the wall. The beds

t going.

bushes below. Thorns tore through my clothes and sliced my hands and legs.

ara urged. 'Get up

blood and the sting. I ran through the garden,

st my face, and the moon hun

iveway, a sleek

the trees. His eyes swept over my torn cl

happened to you

ked me in the bedroom. I had to

hifting to the building beh

d no choice. No one wa

ed it around my shoulders. The warm

he said, his voice cold. "I promise. Yo

oo exhauste

d into the passenger seat, and

, and soon we were on our

vercrest Pack House shrink in the side mirror. The h

y phone, snapped it in half,

sian returned h

.. he'd never