Elena’s POV

I knew something was wrong the moment Mark started walking toward me.

Every instinct in my body screamed at me to get away, to knock the chair over, to fall—anything that would break the stillness trapping me in place. I tried to slide off the seat, tried to force my knees to give way, but my limbs refused to obey. It was as though my body no longer belonged to me.

Mark stopped in front of me and slowly crouched down, his shadow swallowing the light. His hand brushed my cheek, ...