EMILIA’S POV

No.

No, no, no.

My heart was a drum inside my chest, beating so violently I swore the whole room must have heard it. His words—his damn claim—coiled around me like chains.

‘You’re not leaving my sight for the rest of the day.’

I screamed in my head, over and over, the words clawing at me. No. I have to escape. I can’t let him ruin this. Not tonight. Not when I’ve waited this long. Not when freedom is right there, almost within my reach.

I forced my breathing steady, biting down so hard on the inside of my cheek I tasted blood. I couldn’t let him see....