Ella's POV
The dungeon air was thick with rot and regret.
I moved slowly down the narrow stone corridor, torchlight flickering against the damp walls. The guards stepped aside without a word. My boots echoed with each step, the sound crisp against the stillness. The scent of blood, damp metal, and wolfsbane grew stronger the deeper I went.
He was waiting for me.
Dean.
My ex-mate. The one who'd once nearly severed my head from my body. The one who watched my parents die and did nothing. Or worse—helped.
My fingers twitched as I reached the cell door. It creaked open with a groan of rusted hinges. The torches didn't reach all the way in, but I saw the glint of his eyes in the dark.
"You came," he said, his voice smooth and taunting. "I was starting to think Remo had locked you in a to
