_Kayden's POV_
Leah’s wide and terrified eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the shiver that ran through her. Her fear was palpable, but I didn’t care. My voice, low and sharp, cut through the tense silence of the temple. "You really thought you could escape me, didn’t you?"
Her body froze, and I watched as the blood drained from her face. Her heart was pounding. I could hear it. Whatever power she thought she had, whatever defiance she thought she could wield, was gone now. She knew she couldn’t run anymore.
Tariq immediately stepped in front of her, as if he could protect her from me. His posture was tense, his anger barely contained. "Kayden," he spat, his tone daring. "You don’t belong here."
I smirked at his pathetic attempt to challenge me. "I think you’re wrong about that." W
