Chapter 70

VALERIA’S POV I wanted to see Elijah, but I knew Dimitri was watching me. I could feel his presence lingering in the shadows, waiting, observing. If I wanted to meet Elijah, I needed to find a way for Dimitri to come along too—there was no sneaking out of here without consequences. But how? I was lost in thought when a sudden shift in the air made my instincts flare. Before I could react, I found myself surrounded by familiar faces—ones I’d hoped never to deal with again. Lily stood at the front, her arms crossed over her chest, her usual sneer plastered across her face. Her little posse flanked her sides, wearing matching expressions of contempt. “Hello, former slave,” Lily mocked, tilting her head with false sweetness. I let out a sigh, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes. I wasn’t in the mood for this nonsense. Without acknowledging her, I changed my route, hoping they’d take the hint and let me be. But, of course, they didn’t. “Oh, come on,” one of her minions cooed in a sickly sw