Helena's POV
The sting on my lips from Victor's brutal kiss still lingers like a brand.
His touch had been merciless, demanding, yet every fiber of my being had craved more until he pulled away. My fingertips trace the swollen skin as I replay his cold promise to never complete our bond, words that cut deeper than any blade.
Aria remains eerily silent in the recesses of my mind while I gather my scattered clothes. The raw darkness radiating from Victor both terrifies and draws her like a moth to flame. Our shared consciousness swirls with a dangerous cocktail of longing, shame, and bewilderment.
'Something's wrong,' Aria suddenly pierces through my tangled thoughts, and every muscle in my body locks.
The woodland has fallen unnaturally still. Even the gentle whisper of wind through branches has died away completely. A chill crawls up my spine as the unmistakable sensation of being hunted settles deep in my bones.
