Ava’s POV

I stayed on the floor, my hand pressed to my throat, each ragged breath burning in my lungs. My ears were ringing from his words, the promise of death echoing louder than the vase shattering across the room.

For a second, I couldn’t move. Not out of fear, but from the realization of just how far Orion had fallen. Or maybe, how blind I’d been all along.

He was a monster.

Slowly, I forced myself to stand, my legs shaky beneath me. I wiped at the tears streaking my face, hating how weak I must’ve looked, how much satisfaction that would’ve given him.

“The only way out of...