Vivienne crumpled to the floor, clutching her bruised throat and coughing so violently her entire frame shuddered.
Cassian, meanwhile, was supported onto the leather sofa by Arthur, his face ashen and twisted with a dark, turbulent fury that looked carved from stone.
He tried to convince himself that Vivienne was merely spewing venom to torment him, that none of her words were true.
Then the horrific possibility slammed into his chest like a sledgehammer.
What if Vespera had genuinely cried out for him in the blaze, only to watch him carry Vivienne away to safety?
How utterly, agonizingly hopeless must she have felt in her final moments?
He had only ever wanted to avenge her, to repay the blood debt for the unborn child they had lost two years ago!
He had intended to let her witness
