Faye's feet pounded against the wet pavement, her breath coming out in short gasps. The city streets blurred around her, neon lights flashing and traffic roaring past, but all she could focus on was getting away. She couldn't go back. Not now. Not after what just happened.
Her mind raced back to Alaric's words, the way he had looked at her like he knew. He had always been able to see through people, to know their secrets. How long before he pieced together the truth?
How long before he realized that she was carrying his twins?
She hadn't meant for this to happen. She had planned to disappear quietly, to leave this city and start over somewhere new where no one knew her name or her past. But after tonight, that dream felt impossibly far away.
As she turned the corner, ducking into an alleyway, she leaned against the brick wall, her hands trembling. She couldn't stay here. She had to go somewhere he couldn't find her. Somewhere safe for her and the babies.
But there was nowhere Alaric's influence didn't reach.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out to see the name she dreaded most.
Alaric.
The text was simple, chilling in its brevity: We need to talk.
Faye's heart pounded in her chest. She was running out of time.