30 Chapter 30


    Seraphina’s POV 1


    The words hung in the air like a toxic cloud, poisoning every breath I tried to take. “Are youpletely insane?” I breathed, my


    barely above a whisper as the full horror of what Elizabeth was suggesting crashed over me like a tidal wave.


    voice


    Harold’s oily smile widened, revealing those unnaturally white teeth. “Now, now, there’s no need for dramatics,” he said, his voice


    carrying the patronizing tone of someone who was used to getting exactly what he wanted. “I understand this mighte as a surprise,


    but I assure you, I can provide very well for you and your… child.”


    The way he said ‘child’ made my skin crawl. “This is not happening,” I said, taking a step backward toward the door. “I don’t know what


    kind of sick arrangement you two have cooked up, but I’m leaving. Right now.”


    Elizabeth moved to block my path with surprising speed, her perfectly manicured hand shooting out to wrap around my wrist like a steel


    trap. “Sit down, Seraphina,” shemanded. “We’re not finished talking”


    “Yes, we are,” I snapped, trying to wrench my arm free from her grip. “I wouldn’t marry that man if he was thest person on earth. Find


    someone else for your disgusting little scheme.”


    Harold chuckled, a sound like oil bubbling in a hot pan. “Oh, my dear, I think you misunderstand your position here. This isn’t really a


    request.”


    Elizabeth’s grip tightened on my wrist, her fingernails digging into my skin hard enough to leave marks. “You’re going to marry Harold,


    and you’re going to be grateful for the opportunity,” she said, her voice taking on that sweet.


    “Let go of me,” I said, my voice growing stronger despite the fear wing at my chest. “I’m an adult, Elizabeth. You can’t force me to do


    anything.”


    “Can’t I?” Her smile was like a razor de wrapped in silk. “Tell me, darling, how is little Adrian enjoying his new school? Silver Moon


    Harbor Elementary, isn’t it? Such a lovely ce. So many children ying outside every day at recess.”


    The blood in my veins turned to ice water. “What did you just say?”


    Elizabeth continued conversationally, as if she were discussing the weather instead of threatening my child. “Usually that friend of yours


    -Ophelia, is it?-picks him up. But idents happen, don’t they?”


    White-hot rage exploded through my system, so pure and intense that my vision actually tinted red around the edges. A snarled in my


    mind, her mental voice sharp with protective fury that matched my own.


    “If you go anywhere near my son,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper that carried more menace than any scream, “I will kill you. I will


    tear your throat out with my bare hands and dance on your corpse.”


    Haroldughed, actuallyughed, as if my desperate threat was the most amusing thing he’d heard all day. “Such spirit! I do love a


    woman with fire. Don’t worry, my dear-once we’re married, I’ll teach you all sorts of ways to channel that passion.


    The implications in his voice made bile rise in my throat. I lunged toward the door, but Elizabeth’s grip on my wrist was like iron, and


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    30 Chapter 30


    But I was ready for her. As she reached for me, I caught her wrist and twisted, using her own momentum to spin her around. Then I sank my teeth into the soft flesh of her forearm, biting down with all the fury of years of suppressed rage.


    Elizabeth’s scream was like breaking ss as my teeth found bone. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, but I held on, grinding my jaw until I felt something give way beneath my teeth.


    “You little animal!” she gasped, trying to shake me off. “You savage little-”


    I released her arm and shoved her away from me with enough force to send her stumbling into the wall. Harold was groaning on the


    floor, a trickle of blood running down his forehead from where the bottle had connected, but he was still breathing.


    I didn’t wait to see if either of them would recover enough to stop me.


    I ran.


    Out of the bedroom, down the hallway, through the living room where my childhood nightmares still lingered like smoke. I burst through


    the front door and into the cool evening air, my heart hammering against my ribs as adrenaline flooded my system.


    My hands were shaking so badly I could barely get my keys into the car’s ignition. Behind me, I could hear Elizabeth’s voice rising to a


    hysterical shriek as she called for help, probably for Harold rather than for me.


    I gunned the engine and tore out of the driveway, gravel spraying behind my tires as I put as much distance as possible between myself and that house of horrors. In my rearview mirror, I could see Elizabeth standing on the front porch, clutching her bleeding arm and


    screaming something I couldn’t make out over the roar of my engine.


    I drove without really seeing the road, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles had gone white. My whole body was


    shaking with the aftermath of violence and terror, and I could still taste Elizabeth’s blood in my mouth.


    I was halfway back to Silver Moon Harbor when my phone rang.


    The sound cut through my panicked thoughts like a knife, and I fumbled for the device with trembling fingers. Ophelia’s name shed on


    the screen, and relief flooded through me. She would have picked up Adrian from school by now. Everything would be fine.


    “Ophelia?” I answered, barely keeping my voice steady.


    “Sera!” Her voice exploded through the speaker, sharp with panic and terror. “Where are you? Please tell me you picked up Adrian early


    today!”


    My blood turned to ice in my veins. “What? No, I… Why? What’s wrong?”


    Ophelia’s voice was rising to a frantic pitch. “The school said Adrian was picked up by someone!”