Lyra's POV
Death never arrived.
Instead, I found myself crushed beneath the solid weight of a man's body. My wrists were trapped against the forest floor, pinned beside my head in an iron grip that sent panic shooting through my veins.
I felt the deliberate shift of hips pressing down on me, trapping me completely. When I lifted my gaze, Xander's predatory stare bore into mine. Every instinct screamed at me to fight, and I thrashed against his hold with desperate fury.
"Smart little thing," Xander murmured with mock approval. His body remained perfectly still despite my struggling. "But not nearly smart enough."
"Release me, Xander," I demanded. My voice trembled with terror, but I refused to surrender. I had to break free from his grip, had to escape this nightmare.
