Chapter 67. She’s Not Yours To Keep

Ryder’s POV

The room still smelled like her.

That mix of pine and vanilla and… something else. Something soft. Sweet. It was all over the sheets. The hoodie she was wearing. The pillow still creased from where she slept.

And I knew. I knew that kind of peace wouldn’t last.

It never does.

The door slammed open.

I didn’t even flinch. I’d been waiting for it.

Helena came in like a damn executioner—black outfit, red lipstick, that frostbite look in her eyes. Always like she’s about to ruin someone and enjoy it. Two council guys behind her. Quiet. Watching everything.

Then they saw Lila.

She was sitting at the far end of the room, a book on her lap and scribbling something in it, she froze, her eyes widening and she turned slowly to my direction, her eyes locked on mine.

I stood up slowly, feeling a slight pain in my side. The wound had almost healed but it stung a bit as I stood up, still shirtless, standing between Aunt