Emilia’s POV

The beast growled and the sound of the growl nearly ripped the air apart.

Low. Deep. Brutal.

It wasn’t just a sound—it was a force, a vibration that shook my bones and made the hair on my arms stand on end. The chains clattered violently as the beast lunged forward, its massive body straining against the iron, black eyes burning with a hunger that made my blood run cold.

I froze in the doorway, my hand still on the knob, heart pounding against my ribcage so hard I thought it would break free.

Goddess, what the hell was I doing here?

The beast roared again, so loud it...