d to the side, my cheek burning. But the physical pain

e slap. It was th

entenced me to my slow, agonizing death. The cold, reptilian cruelty

at instan

. He had been

oice a low, venomous whisper that only I coul

like talons. "You are going to walk over to Chloe, ge

port, now standing near the doorway, loo

rmation that my monster had followed me back fro

HANDS OFF

e ground with the force of a freight train. Fists fl

rious assault, his first instinct was to call o

t to swoon, pressing a hand to h

triking me, after everything he did to me in our last life. Th

he empty crib in the nursery. My parents' tear-streaked faces at

lunged forward, my nails bared like claws,

ms as I struggled against him. He was the only thing keeping me

pulling me back into his embrace while my mother

Thorne' s face was a terrifying mixture of shame and rage. He backhanded his o

s family for the last t

n't blame Julian! It's all my fault. I shouldn't have been so weak. Olivia..

painting me as the hysterical, jealous woma

d. His gaze, full of fury just moments

back to me, filled with renewed venom. "It's hers. She's always be

opping again, laced with the same ch

r arrangement stands. You will apologize to Chloe

mily stood ready to fight. The guest

e chaos. It was calm, cool, and

't thi

entrance, impeccably dressed and radiating an aura of

s legitimate, and far