Page 332 of Hidden Depths

“I’m fine.”

“You’re bleeding.”

I touched the side of my throat.

My fingers came away red.

“It’s a scratch.”

“He tried to choke you.”

“And you stopped him.”

Ward stared at the bruises forming beneath my skin.

Something frightening moved through his eyes.

Not fear.

Not exactly.

Rage.

Cold and controlled.

The kind that didn’t disappear when the danger ended.

“I should have stayed with you,” he said.

“You couldn’t have known he was already inside.”

“I should have known.”

“You saved me.”

“After he got his hands on you.”

His voice was low.

Furious with himself.

I placed one hand against his chest.

“Ward.”

He looked down at my hand.

Then at me.

For one breath, neither of us moved.

I felt his heartbeat beneath my palm.

Hard.

Fast.

Alive.