Damon My eyes kept straying to the signed agreement as I walked. I’d memorized every word when I sealed it, every carefully inked lie that now bound me to the Ashfords and, by extension, to Ella’s poison. Outwardly I was calm. Inwardly, Zane paced like a caged predator, claws scraping against bone, low growls vibrating through my chest. We shouldn’t be doing this, he snarled, voice sharp in the back of my mind. Tear it up. Make her choke on her own words. My hand flexed around the parchment. For once, Zane and I were aligned in this; every instinct screamed to turn on my heel, storm into Ella’s chambers, and rip her apart before her games spread another inch. But this instinct wouldn’t save Lila. Swallowing my pride, enduring this humiliation would. I stopped before the guest sui

