Eliana's POV

My head snapped to the side, the sting blooming hot across my cheek. For a moment, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears.

And then something inside me snapped.

I slowly turned my face back toward him, with my chest heaving as I started boiling in anger. His hand was still halfway raised, as if even he couldn’t believe he’d done it. But I could see it in his eyes — that flash of dark satisfaction.

“You son of a bitch.” I hissed, my voice shaking with rage. ...