(Adelaide)
The beast passed girl after girl—barely noticing the ones trembling in puddles of their own terror.
Then he reached Calia. The thin girl whimpered, tears streaking down her face. For one horrifying heartbeat, Adelaide thought he would take her—take this fragile doe and crush her without a thought.
But the Devil sniffed the air around Calia—one deep inhale—then moved on.
Straight toward Adelaide.
Her stomach dropped. Her knees threatened to give. But she locked her spine, forcing her chin up.
If he expects me to bow, he’ll be disappointed. If he wants me broken, he can do it in the dark with no witnesses—but he will not have it here.
The beast neared her and stopped.
Right. In. Front. Of. Her.
His chest was a wall of fur and heat. His breath blasted down over her like a
