Lily's POV

I pressed my palm to my face, tasting the faint tang of blood, and tried to steady my racing heart. My body wanted to flee and vanish into the shadows of the house, but I couldn’t….not yet. Not while the fire inside me was screaming that I wouldn’t be broken so easily.

“You…” I whispered, my voice trembling, fury and fear warring inside me. “You dare….”

Leo’s eyes darkened, and he stepped closer, a predator circling, every inch of him radiating a dangerous intensity. “Dare?” His voice was low. “You’ve tested me long enough, Lily. Long enough.”

I backed away instinctively, my fingers brushing the railing as if...