MAYA

"Well, I don't like her like this," Julian said, looking me up and down. "I love feisty Maya. Please bring her back."

I didn't have words for any of them. I just stood there, paralyzed, as Isabella and Silas stopped at his door.

“Petition to bring back feisty Maya,” Julian added, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe.

Isabella chuckled, the sound grating. “Oh, believe me, Julian. You should have seen the look on her face that day. The feisty Maya didn’t last very long when the guards were holding her down and once the slaps started landing.”

Julian’s interest piqued. His eyes widened, a slow, dark grin spreading across...