The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the barrel of a gun pointed straight at my chest.

My head throbbed. My wrists burned. Metal bit into my skin.

Then I heard her voice.

“Julian, don’t move.”

Aria.

She was beside me, hands cuffed, eyes wild, face pale. Relief shot through me like lightning, but fear followed right after.

Leo stood before us, his grin razor-sharp. “Finally awake, aren’t you, hero?”

“Let her go,” I rasped, fighting against the cuffs. The ...