Third person's POV
Liora’s breath came in sharp, ragged pulls, every nerve screaming as Kade loomed over her, his face twisted by fury and obsession. The world felt narrow—metal beneath her palms, the stench of seawater and rust in the air, the knife flashing in and out of her peripheral vision.
“Get away from me!” she shouted, the words tearing out of her throat before she could stop them.
Kade sneered. “Still acting proud,” he said hoarsely. “You never learn.”
Something inside her snapped. Before he could react, Liora drove her knee upward with everything she had left, striking him hard in a vital spot. The impact echoed in the hollow space of the dock. Kade let out a strangled grunt, staggering back a step. She didn’t wait. Liora spun and ran.
Her feet slipped on the da
