I blinked hard, my head still foggy, my thoughts lagging behind the moment. “W‑What are you even saying?”
Something flew straight at my face. Pain snapped against my cheek. I gasped and looked down.
A necklace.
My necklace.
The one I thought I’d lost the night the man in black attacked me.
“Aria!” Thorne snarled, jaw locked so tight I could hear his teeth grind. “Start talking. Now.”
My hands trembled as I picked it up, the chain cold against my fingers. “This… this belongs to me. But I don’t know how—”
“She messaged me last night,” he cut in sharply. “Just two words. Help me. When I rushed to the hospital, her bed was empty. This was all that was left.” His eyes burned into me, sharp and accusing, like he’d already decided my guilt.
My mouth went dry. “This has nothing to do with me.”
In a blink, he surged forward. His fingers clamped around my throat, crushing the air from my lungs. His face twisted, rage spilling out unchecked. “You told me yesterday that Lilith hurt you. And now she’s vanished. You expect me to believe this isn’t revenge?”
I clawed at his wrist, choking, but forced myself to meet his eyes. “I don’t know where she is,” I rasped. “I swear. I didn’t do anything.”