The door slammed shut behind me. The sound was loud in the quiet, fancy room. My heart was beating so fast it hurt. I had to leave. Now. I couldn't breathe in this house full of beautiful, hateful people. My hands shook as I pulled open the dresser drawers and grabbed my few pieces of clothing. I didn't fold them. Just threw them into the small suitcase I'd found in the closet.
Every second, I expected the door to burst open. For one of them—Caspian with his anger, Silas with his cold fury—to come for me. They thought I was a killer. The thought made me feel sick. My mother's betrayal hurt like a fresh cut. She'd thrown me to them. She always threw me away.
A floorboard creaked outside my door. I froze, my whole body tense. The doorknob turned slowly. I looked around for a weapon, anythi
