Adrian POV
A claw and a mark from someone?
Someone.
The reality of the word took a moment to register, then slammed into me like a blade driven into bone.
And I froze.
The world narrowed to a single point at that instant.
My ears rang from an invisible slap. My breathing grew heavy; I stirred as her fury radiated from me.
My hand curled slowly into a fist at my side, nails biting into my palm.
I didn't feel the pain. I welcomed it. The pain was grounding. Pain reminded me I was still in control.
But that wasn't just the problem; what was more challenging was that she was even smiling as though it was the best gift she had ever received.
What the hell?
Karl stirred in my head—no, erupted.
Someone? His voice thundered through my skull, a low, savage growl vibrating through my veins.
She bears another's seal? He growled again after a long, contemplating pause.
Yet I felt the disbelief beneath his voice.
