Meadow’s POV:

His brows furrowed and something flashed in his eyes. He started to step forward again. “Meadow, wait—”

“I don’t want you to feel me, Alaric,” I snapped. I hated the person I became whenever he touched me. And truthfully, I really didn’t want him to feel me. I didn’t want to see that relief in his eyes that I saw anytime his skin even so much as grazed mine.

I wanted him to suffer, just as I was suffering.

Alaric shook his head. “Don’t do that, Meadow. ...