Meadow’s POV:

And just like that, I lost all coherent thought.

I couldn’t move.

I couldn’t breathe.

Alaric’s words echoed in my ears like a promise.

And even worse? He didn’t even give me a moment to second-guess it.

Wait—” I gasped as his strong arms gripped my waist, lifting me off the ground like I weighed nothing. My thighs brushed the cool edge of the marble counter as he settled me onto it like I belonged there.

My core throbbed nonstop, my heart pounding hard against ...