Daphne’s POV

“I didn’t remember how long I stood there after Charles left.

Seconds? Minutes? Hours?

The air still felt poisoned, the shadows thick with his presence.

I could almost smell his cologne clinging to the walls, hearing the echo of his voice whispering that Christian would never be safe.

My hands were white-knuckled on the edge of Xavier’s desk when the door flew open.

‘Daphne?’

Xavier’s voice cut through the fog. His stride was quick, sharp, his expression hardening ...