**Riley**
I stood in front of my bedroom mirror and touched my bottom lip. It felt tender. The memory of Kai’s mouth against mine from last night was like a burn that would not heal. I hated him. I told myself that ten times as I applied a layer of dark red lipstick. I needed to get out of this house. I needed to be around normal people who did not look at me like I was a prize to be broken. I needed to forget the way I had kissed him back.
Jade honked her horn in the driveway. I grabbed my leather jacket and slipped out of my room. I moved quietly, hoping to avoid any dark shadows in the hallway. I reached the front door and stepped out into the cool night air. The Voss mansion felt like a cage, and I was finally escaping, even if it was just for a few hours.
“You look like you are goi
