Ava's POV

I sat in the back of the car, my hands clenched in my lap, nails digging into my palms until I could feel the sting of blood. The city streets blurred past, too bright, too vivid, mocking the storm raging inside me. I closed my eyes, letting my head rest against the cool glass.

I could still feel the touch of Orion’s fingers against my skin from the night before—how they had gone from tender to cruelly indifferent within hours. He had played his role well. Too well.

I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, the taste of iron mingling with the bile rising in...