KAIDA REED POV

The sound of my clothes being ripped off me was the wake-up call I needed to snap out of it.

My hands, which had been bracing against him, curled into claws, and with a guttural scream, I shoved with everything I had, twisting my body violently to the side.

Lucien tumbled backward, his sharp gasp of pain as he hit the ground echoing louder than it should have in the quietness.

I pushed myself up before he could move, my hands grabbing my torn clothes and pulling them together as he watched me from the floor.

Both of our harsh breaths filled the room.

"I told you...