ZARA POV
SEVENTEEN DAYS LATER
The heavy wooden door and window, barred and locked, loomed in front of me. Outside, a guard stood watch, his presence a constant reminder of my imprisonment. It was a foolish attempt to flee when my father was away, thinking I was safe. Paul, my father's ruthless second-in-command, relished the opportunity to inflict pain upon me, a pleasure he had been denied since the night of the ill-fated ball. I should have known he'd been keeping tabs on me.
I felt stupid,
I felt like s**t,
A wave of self-loathing washed over me. I should have stayed with Hero. The memory of his warm touch, his knowing smile, was a distant, painful dream. I’d been a fool to let fear dictate my actions.
There was this connection between us. I don't even know if it's a mate bond b
