Zane~
Griffin Blackthorn lay crumpled on the marble floor, unconscious and twitching slightly, a pungent stench lingering in the air from the puddle soaking into his pants. I stood over him with clenched fists, my heart pounding like a war drum. My eyes burned with barely restrained fury, Red, snarling inside me like a beast waiting to be let loose.
I turned slowly, the air around me crackling with too many emotions, and locked eyes with Natalie.
"Why the hell," I growled, voice low and razor-sharp, "is he in my house? And more importantly—how the fuck is he alive, Natalie? I saw his corpse with my own eyes. I saw it." My voice broke at the end, a raw edge of disbelief slicing through my rage. "Don't lie to me."
Natalie flinched but stood her ground, her back straight, her gaze meeting mine—not defiantly, but earnestly, painfully. Her fingers curled at her sides, trembling slightly, but her voice when she finally spoke was clear and deliberate.
