Josie
I kept staring at the path long after Kiel was gone, like maybe—just maybe—he'd change his mind and come back for me. But he didn't. Of course he didn't. The rooftop was silent now, except for the barely-there sound of the guards' heavy boots behind me. They hadn't moved an inch. Useless statues. Watching me, judging me, breathing like their presence was supposed to mean something. I hated them. I hated that they were there to witness me fall apart.
I hated even more that I'd let myself fall for any of them.
My fingers trembled as I dragged them through my hair, fighting off the sting in my chest. I wanted to scream, to rip off the jacket Kiel had given me and throw it off the roof, but I couldn't. It still smelled like him. And that made it worse.
I finally turned, feet moving before I could stop them. I wanted out. Out of this rooftop, out of this house, out of this insane emotional mess. I didn't care where I ended up—I just needed space to breathe.
Then I saw him.
Varen.
Standing by the doorway like he'd been waiting for me. His eyes were heavy with apology, lips parted as though he wanted to explain everything. But I didn't want his words. Not now. Not from him.
I shoved past him without a second glance.
The lights of the ballroom hit my eyes like a punch. I moved fast, weaving through the guests like a ghost, not stopping, not caring who saw me. My chest was burning, my throat tight with the scream I wouldn't let out.
And then I saw him.
Thorne.
Of all the people I wanted to avoid, he was at the top of the list. But of course, the universe hated me. He was glaring at me from across the room like I'd just committed some unforgivable sin. I knew that look. I'd seen it too many times before. He didn't look at me like a person. He looked at me like property. Like something he could control.
I headed straight for him.
"I want to leave," I said, loud and clear. I didn't care that someone was standing beside him. Let them hear. Let them all hear.
Thorne didn't speak. Not at first. He gave me that unreadable expression of his, and then, just like that, he turned his head.
I followed his gaze and saw Varen again, standing a few feet away.
My stomach dropped.
Oh.
So this was a game.
"You told him to stop me?" I whispered.
Thorne didn't answer, but I saw the subtle nod he gave Varen.
I wanted to scream. I clenched my fists, trying to hold myself together, even though everything in me was threatening to spill out. "You can't stop me."
Thorne stepped forward, slowly closing the distance between us. His presence was overpowering, his scent, his heat—it wrapped around me like a trap. He leaned in close, eyes dark and sharp. "Be a good girl, Josie," he murmured, voice low and infuriatingly calm. "Just stay with Varen."
I let out a breathless laugh and smiled, though there was nothing soft about it. "I'm not a good girl," I snapped. "So don't expect me to do what you want just because you say so."
Something flickered in his gaze. Anger, maybe. Or something else entirely. He didn't give me time to figure it out.
His hand shot out, gripping my arm tight, and before I could fight back, he was dragging me away from the crowd.
"Let go of me!" I hissed.
But he didn't.
I stumbled behind him, trying to keep up. My heart was slamming against my ribs. My breaths were uneven, and the damn cold air grazing my skin made things worse. I hated that I was trembling. I hated that my body was reacting.
He pushed open a side door and led me to the back of the ballroom, away from the noise, the people, the music—everything. I was panting now, cheeks flushed, skin burning. And then his gaze dipped—right there, to my chest—and I realized just how visible my reaction was.
My nipples were hard, tight against the fabric of my dress.
Thorne's eyes lingered for half a second too long before he snapped back to my face, jaw clenched.
Asshole.
"What the hell did you do to her?" he barked suddenly.
I turned and saw Varen had followed us.
"What?" Varen looked genuinely confused. "I didn't— I don't know! She was fine earlier, and now she's like this. Maybe you should ask Kiel."
Just hearing his name made my heart lurch.
Kiel.
My arms folded tightly across my chest as I took a sharp step back, eyes stinging. I hated how his name still had power over me. I hated how broken I felt.
"Stop," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Just stop pretending like I'm something you all need to figure out."
Thorne looked at me, really looked at me. And for once, he seemed unsure of what to say.
I didn't wait for him to find the words.
"I'm not leaving," I said, loudly this time, my voice echoing off the walls. "You hear me? I'm not some piece on your board. I don't belong to you. I don't belong to any of you."
The words burned my throat, but I meant every single one.
I saw the flicker of pain in Varen's eyes. Heard the small, choked sound that came from him.
Good.
Let them feel even a fraction of what I was feeling.
I took a shaky step forward—
And suddenly, I was in Thorne's arms.
He'd moved so fast I barely saw it. His hands were tight on my waist, his chest hard and unforgiving against mine.
"Like hell I'll let you go," he snarled.
My breath caught.
Not because of what he said—no.
But because of the heat of him. The strength. The wild storm that crackled beneath his skin.
My hands were caught between us, and I could feel the roughness of his suit against my palms.
I hated him.
I hated how he made me feel.
I hated how even now, part of me wanted him to hold me tighter.
But most of all… I hated that no matter how loud I screamed inside, none of them ever really listened.
And now?
Now, I wasn't even sure who I was screaming for.