[Lyra]

I pulled out my phone during class, missing Damian already. That intense, dangerous edge of his—the one I was desperately trying to wear down—was so alluring.

I fired off a quick text to him, just to remind him I was still close enough to torture him with my absence. He needed to claim me, and every second I stayed away from home, pushing him to the edge of his control, brought him closer to finally doing it.

That wretched human’s existence was just a great excuse to use to stay ...