When she finally cried herself to sleep and collapsed onto the grass, I couldn't help myself—I went to her, scooped her into my arms, and held her like she was something precious I couldn't afford to lose.
I brought her back to our marital room, a space heavy with her scent that clung to every corner. My mind went numb, and before I even realized it, I was pinning her to the bed, sinking my teeth into her lips.
One taste, and it was over—I was hooked, consumed by the need to possess her. I wanted her so badly it hurt, but the hatred still burned too deep inside me to ignore. In the end, I tore myself away and locked myself in my office for the rest of the night, wrestling with the chaos inside me.
Morning came, and Princess Claire's soft coos broke through my torment. She asked me to show her around, and I agreed, desperate for a distraction. It was then I heard that Addison had been tending a beautiful garden while I was away.
