He froze, his pulse quickening at the sound of her voice. He turned slowly, almost unwillingly, and saw Serafina standing there. Her arms were tightly crossed, and her gaze, sharp, cold, and unforgiving, cut through him like a blade.
"Serafina," he said, his voice tight with a mixture of irritation and something darker. "I wasn't expecting to see you."
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing as she studied him with disdain. "I know. You never expect me. But here I am."
Jared's heart stuttered for a brief moment, but he quickly masked it. "What do you want?"
A laugh, bitter and humorless, escaped her lips. "What do I want?" she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I want you to know exactly what kind of man you are, Jared. What you always have been."
His stomach tightene
