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Her nails dug deeper, sharp crescents biting into my throat as she leaned closer, her hair curtaining us from Vladimir's line of sight. To him, it would look like she was shielding me. Protecting me.
But her grip told another story.
Air choked in my lungs as her fingers pressed harder, cutting off what little strength I had left. My broken ribs screamed, but the fire in her eyes burned hotter than my pain.
"Ever since you came here," she hissed, her voice venom, "everything has changed. Do you have any idea what you've done? You've derailed years of order. My life. My place. All for youāa hybrid that will never ascend."
Her face hovered inches from mine, her lips curling in contempt. "You think you matter? You're nothing but a distraction. They will find another hybrid to heal the Veilāone worthy. One not born from scandal and shame. A man. Not some lustful, gold-digging whore."