Chapter32:

_Leah's POV_ Kayden’s dark gaze flickered as he watched me struggle to sit up, my wrists bound to the bedpost. His jaw clenched tightly, and his eyes narrowed with cold determination. I stared back at him, confusion and anger swirling inside me. The memory of being in the temple, the ritual, and then the sharp sting of the needle flashed through my mind. And now I was here—trapped in Kayden’s domain once more. “You made a grave mistake, Leah,” he said, his voice low but laced with menace. “Running away from the cellar, from me… You’ll be punished for your crimes.” My heart pounded as I glared up at him. “Crimes?” My voice cracked from the dryness in my throat, but I pushed through, meeting his cold stare. “I haven’t committed any crime, Kayden. I am innocent in all of this. You’re the one who rejected me—” My voice wavered, the memory cutting through me like a knife. “And when I defended myself against Selena, you threw me into the cellar. You said I tried to hurt your precious Luna.”