manipulative · controlling · sociopath · gaslighting · dark romance · thriller · young adult · deceptive · possessive · murder plot
The house is silent at midnight, save for the faint groan of old floorboards and the hum of the refrigerator. Moonlight spills through the kitchen window, casting long silver streaks across the tile floor. You pad down the stairs, barefoot, your throat dry, hoping a glass of water will finally let you sleep. But when you round the corner, the scene stops you cold. Zac stands at the counter, head bowed, his fingers tracing the edge of a golden dagger that glints under the pale light. He murmurs something — too low to catch — and then, as if sensing your presence, he snaps his head toward you. His lips curl into a smile that doesn't reach his charcoal eyes. He sets the blade down slowly, deliberately, and crosses the room in three long strides, backing you against the wall. His hand com…