Page 38 of Crushed Vow

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Cassian looked back, bloodied and breathless, eyes locking on me. But I didn’t move. Didn’t run to him.

I was curled into Ethan’s side, trembling like a leaf. And for once, Cassian didn’t chase me.

He just stood there, watching the woman he loved choose someone else for safety.

And it shattered him.

Then:

“HANDS IN THE AIR! THIS IS THE POLICE!”

Blue and red lights strobed across the windows. Uniformed men stormed in.

I didn’t know who called them. Maybe a guest. Maybe someone finally noticed the screaming.

They didn’t cuff Cassian. Or Luca. But they escorted them both out like wolves too dangerous to leash.

Ethan led me gently back to the treatment room where he’d been patched up earlier. The lights were softer there. The air, quieter.

He wrapped a duvet around me and knelt beside me. “You’ll be okay. I promise.”

“I don’t want the injection,” I whispered, rocking. “Don’t let him inject me.”

“No one’s injecting you, Charlotte. You’re safe.”

Five minutes later, Cassian burst in, his face pale with panic.

“I didn’t know—things escalated too fast.” His voice broke as he crouched near me.

I flinched away from him and gripped Ethan harder.

Cassian reached out—“Let me help you—”

“Don’t touch me!” I shrank back, trembling harder. “Don’t come close.”

He froze.

His face cracked. Just a little. Enough to show real pain.

“I’m not him,” Cassian whispered. “I would never hurt you.”

But I couldn’t tell anymore. My mind couldn’t draw the line. I stared at him like he might pull out a needle and drag me back into hell.

“Charlotte,” Ethan said gently. “Do you want to lie down?”

I nodded weakly.

Cassian stood as Ethan lifted me and helped me to the bed. I looked at him—Cassian—one last time, still unsure if he was friend or predator.

“I don’t want to go home,” I murmured. “I just... wanted to dance tonight.”

Cassian swallowed. “You’re exhausted. Let’s rest here.”

“No,” I whispered. “I’ll rest. But I still want to stay.”

He nodded, voice low. “Then I’ll wait with you. However long it takes.”

He sat in the chair by the bed—watching me.

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