LILITH

My hand tightened around the phone, my heart trembling with suppressed emotion.

Through the haze of anger, a steady warmth radiated from where Dean held my hand, melting my freezing heart and limbs.

I turned to him and only then noticed, through the window, that we’d already driven past the community gates. Soon, we’d be at the villa.

Dean’s gaze was steady, his brow creased in silent question: Are you okay?

I managed a small, reassuring smile: Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’ve been used to this for a long time.

Of course, that was a lie.

No matter how often I told myself to harden my heart against her...