AUTHOR’S POV

Kael froze the moment he stepped inside.

Aurora lay on the bed, her hands tied together above her stomach, her mouth stuffed with cloth. Her eyes were wide, glassy, unfocused. Fear clung to her like a second skin.

“Oh my goodness,” Kael breathed.

He rushed to her, his hands shaking as he pulled the cloth from her mouth. Her lips trembled as she sucked in air, gasping like she had forgotten how to breathe.

Then he saw it.

Bold black ink on her forehead.

WARNING.

His ...