Page 45 of Wraith

For the first time, I really looked at her.

She was interested—not just in conversation, but in me. And I liked that.

Liked the way she leaned in slightly, like something about me pulled her closer.

Like I was still someone worth wanting.

Something in my chest loosened. Just a little.

"Not bad," I admitted.

Elise grinned. "Good. Let’s see if we can make it even better."

She grabbed my wrist, tugging me toward the main room where people were dancing.

For the first time inweeks, I let myself follow.

And for the first time inweeks, I let myselfforget.

But forgetting was never an option

I woke up gasping.

No. Not gasping—choking.

My throat clenched, lungs locking up as if something cold and invisible had slid down into my chest.

The room was dark—too dark. My head throbbed, my body drenched in sweat despite the chill crawling up my spine.

I tried to move. I couldn’t.

A weight pressed down on my chest, invisible hands wrapping around my wrists, pinning me against the bed.

The shadows shifted.

A shape moved in the corner.

No. Not a shape. A girl.

My breath hitched.

Lily.

She stood at the foot of the bed, her outline blurred, not quite real, not quite solid. Her eyes were too dark, too hollow, black pits where there should’ve been light.

And she was smiling.

Not the way she used to.

Not the way I remembered.

This was something else.

Something cruel.

"Did you really think you could forget me, Thorne?" she whispered.

Her voice wasn’t right—it echoed, doubled over itself, like two voices speaking at once. One was hers. The other wasn’t.

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