Didn’t he?
Marcellious bared his teeth, his voice a guttural growl. “Give me the fucking journal.”
“We don’t have it,” I said evenly, my pulse hammering. I glanced toward Emily, trying to catch her attention.
“Yes, you do,” he sneered, stalking me in circles. “I’ve been watching you for days. I know you have it.” His eyes gleamed with something feral. “I want it. Hand it over.”
I turned with him, keeping him in sight, my muscles coiled, ready for the slightest opening.
Then, finally, I caught Emily’s gaze and gave her the smallest nod toward Rosie.
Understanding flashed across her face.
She sniffed hard, wiped her eyes, and scurried toward the little girl.
But Marcellious was relentless. His movements became more aggressive.
“I know it’s in the house, bitch.” His voice was thick with rage. “Go get it for me.”
“I’m not your bitch, asshole.”
A frigid wave rolled through the clearing, colder than the rain-soaked ground beneath my boots.
And then?—
A second shape blurred into existence before me.
My stomach dropped.
Oh God.
It was Balthazar.
He stood there, leering, his eyes dark pools of endless night.
“Did you miss me, my darling?” His voice was silk-wrapped poison. “It’s been so quiet without me, hasn’t it?”
Every cell in my body screamed at me to run.
But I couldn’t move.
My legs threatened to give out, weak and useless. My arms hung at my sides, numb and slack.
The last time I saw him, he told us to run. And we did. We fled to Malik, convinced his estate would shield us from this predator.
But we weren’t safe.
We were never safe.
Balthazar reached out, his long, razor-sharp fingernail dragging across my cheek.
I shuddered, jerking my face away from his touch, revulsion creeping up my spine.
Balthazar’s smile widened.
“I asked you a question, my love,” he murmured. “Did you miss me?”
His teeth gleamed unnaturally, catching the dim light in an eerie, almost supernatural way.
