. His right leg hung at a grotesque angle, the

ing to let them carry him. He grabbed his wooden cane from the floor. His hands were shak

red leg. Every movement sent a wave of nausea through

d. The look in the boy's eyes was no longer fear. It

sting his left cufflink. The hatred

closed, taking th

ircase. He climbed the steps to the top floor

creen. She looked like a discarded ragdoll. Her eyes were op

ute defeat sent a strange, uncomfortable prickl

Elinor violently flinched. It was as if he

as a broken, raspy whisper, b

jaw ticked. "It seems the

nt down, scooped her up into his arms, and carried h

ts and struck his chest, his shoulders, his neck. Her hits lacked

It ignited a dark, twisted heat in his bl

down onto the

bounce back, Boyd

leg flashed behind her eyes. A primal rage exploded in her chest.

p into the muscle of Boyd's shoulder, right

erything she had, he

t out a low grunt. He could feel the fabric tear and the s

away. He didn

ugh his veins. His pupils dilated. He looke

ispered, his voice thick wi

ng her body flush against his, trapping her comple

etallic tang of his blood on her tongue. S

soft, pulsing skin just below her e

d against her tender flesh, breaking the skin just enough to leave a perma

d, her jaw releasing his shoulder. She stared up

eam, Boyd's mouth cr

g, tasting of copper and violence. He forced her lips apa

oxygen depleted. Her muscles burned with exhaustion. The fight s

onto the mattress.

er of her eye. It rolled down her cheek

broken weeping. The sound of a trappe

s cheek. He felt the absolute st

fro

eavy, suffocating pressure in his chest. The silent tears felt like

re closed, tears continuous

his throat. He abruptly rolled off her. He grabbed the thick duvet and p

nst his chest, locking his arms

voice was harsh, but his

ent and the lingering terror, her brain finally shut do

hed up and touched his own shoulder. His fingers came away sticky with blood. He s