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He was a monster. A monster who relished the fact that she couldn’t even scream.

But she could now.

Drawing in a painful breath of air, she let her fury break free. The wail that bellowed out of her came from the darkest depths of her soul, where her rage burned the hottest. The deafening crescendo built into a blaring cry, and the mirror popped, glass webbing beneath the steam. She panted and stared at the broken glass, undisturbed by the damage, as she struggled to breathe this suffocating air.

“Juniper?”

Adriel’s voice reminded her where she was, but she could only gasp and stare.

She pounded on the door. “Are you all right?” The knob shook. “Juniper, answer me!”

She stared at the door, numb and unblinking. What if she closed her eyes and woke up in that cell again? What if Adriel changed her mind, broke her promise, and turned on her? Was she a fool for trusting a vampire?

“Juniper, say something!” The knob rattled again, and the old door burst open. “Good Lord.” Adriel rushed forward and shut off the water. “What happened? You’re shivering.” She bundledher in a towel, buffing away the drops that clung to her chilled skin.

What happened?

Three years ago, she was just a dumb kid about to graduate, stealing her aunt’s weed and flunking math. After that…

A whimper escaped.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.”

She needed sleep. She needed help.

Adriel wrapped the towel around her, holding her as if she might shatter. Perhaps she already did.

“You don’t have to say anything, but if you want to talk about it, I’m here,” Adriel whispered, gently rocking her.

It felt good to be held.

Safe.

Familiar.

Her emotions calmed, ebbing back into the shadows far enough that she could breathe again.

“That’s it. Deep breaths.” Adriel dragged a hand over her damp hair. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”

She closed her eyes, sinking into the comfort of her touch and resting her head on her shoulder. She smelled of sugar and mist beneath the traces of wilderness and smoke. Her touch was gentle, like an afternoon storm on a warm August day, but also strong. Capable. Possibly even fierce.

There was no pressure to talk or explain. And in that unspoken silence, they shared some sortof mysterious understanding. Without having to ask, she could tell that Adriel knew what it was like. She knew the fear and discomfort as well as Juniper. Perhaps more so.

The thought made her question how a strong immortal could also be weak. Perhaps the culprit wasn’t weakness any more than being female was to blame. What if they were merely victims because monsters were masquerading as men?

Looking at Adriel now, she wondered how anyone could hurt her. She had the delicate bone structure of a pixie and skin as translucent as porcelain. “I’m crushing you.”

Adriel stilled her when she tried to stand. “You’re fine. Just breathe.”

It had been so long since someone held her. How long had it been for Adriel?

Wanting to reciprocate the support she offered, Juniper tightened her arms around her waist. Adriel hummed softly and rested her head against Juniper’s. Maybe they both just really needed a hug.

A sense of déjà vu washed over her, and she frowned. She must have been remembering a dream. It triggered the memorable scent of smoke in the air. She recalled the sight of stars in the sky. The vision was as vapor thin but weighed heavily on her memory as if it had actually happened. But how could that be? What she pictured in her mind made absolutely no sense at all.

She’d been running—noton bare feet, but four padded paws. The world lacked color, and everything was tinged in pastels of blue and yellow. She was more animal than woman, dog-minded, with feline dexterity.

Then she was in a field, naked under a plume of black smoke.