---

---

She woke in her familiar room and a call came in from Nathaniel.

"Seraphina. Everything's in place. We're at the last step."

"You sure about this? No regrets?"

"Of course not." Her voice came out raw. "I want to be gone yesterday. Book two tickets. The moment it's done, I'm leaving."

She was about to confirm the fake-death arrangements when the door opened.

"Sera. Where are you going?"

Damien stood there.

She cut the call and went ice cold.

"Your body still needs time. Don't go running around before you heal. It worries me." He came closer, reaching to smooth her hair. "Luckily Vivienne's hand didn't hit bone. Just some stitches. Otherwise you'd really be past forgiving."

Didn't hit bone.

So for surface lacerations on Vivienne's hand, he'd used up the hospital's only ER doctor and had him stand guard overnight, and let her bleed out in a hallway?

And he was calling that concern?

It was almost funny.

She stepped back out of reach. Her gaze was glass.

"Get out."

He stopped.

"What?"

"I said get out. I don't want to look at you."