Evander's POV
I was worried about Claire as I dragged her to my mansion, and it hurt to see how much she doubted me, more than I could admit. I wanted to tend to her bruises, to soothe her pain, but I could see the way she looked at me— with hate, suspicion, and a guardedness that cut me to the core. So, for now, I decided to hold back. I would win her trust again, piece by piece, and make sure she never had to feel wary of me ever again.
I wanted her to open up, to confide in me, to tell me everything that was on her mind and in her heart. But I knew that was a distant dream. I had a long way to go before she could see me as anything other than a source of her pain.
