ALARIC

The corridor was silent, but my heartbeat wasn’t. It thundered through my chest, wild and unsteady, echoing louder than the footsteps that carried me back.

I didn’t even know when I turned around.Didn’t remember climbing the stairs again. All I knew was that anger had already taken over, steady, burning, too strong to ignore.

The door burst open before I could think twice.

Desdemona jerked up in surprise, her eyes wide, face still wet with tears. Kieran rose instantly, his body stiff, protective, foolishly standing between us.

“Leave,” I said.

My voice was quiet, but it sliced through the air like steel.

He hesitated. “Alaric—”

“Now.”

His jaw tightened....