Vanessa’s POV

The motel was a dump.

Peeling wallpaper curled at the edges, revealing dark stains underneath. The carpet was stained with things I didn’t want to think about. The whole place reeked of old cigarettes, mildew, and cheap beer, the kind of filth that clung to your skin no matter how hard you scrubbed. The bed creaked under me as I shifted, the springs groaning in protest.

Ronan had made me disguise myself before we even got close to this hellhole. He had taken scissors to my hair, hacking off just enough to make me look different. I had nearly clawed his eyes out for that. Then he shoved...