ized hiss of the electronic lock was a sound she was beginning to loathe.

ng. The sheets were silk, the carpet was plush enough to swallow her ankles, a

itched. The silver collar was a constant, cold weight. Every time she swallowed, she felt the bite of

cing. If I don't find a way out tonight, I'l

e door was solid oak with a steel core. She turned her attention to the walk-in closet. It was a cavernous spac

he back wall. She tapped on the wood, listening for a

elease. She found a small, recessed lever hi

l swung inward, revealing

abbed a small decorative candle from the vanity, lit it, and stepped

miles, though it couldn't have been more than fifty feet. The path ended at another sm

edroom. It wa

sands of them. They weren't of the estate o

hotos of her sitting in a park three years ago. Photos of her sleeping on a train. Some were taken from a

purchase. This was an ob

ht her at an auction to settle a debt. He had been waiting for the debt to happen. He had been

On it sat a leather-bound file with he

But it was the final page that made her breath hitch. It was a contract, dated three years ago-long before her father's gambling d

neered her downfall. He had destroyed her

was a cold, shimmering fire. She reached for the file, intending to take it

d her ear

nd dripping with entitlement. "The board expects an announcement. Our families hav

m to expect, Lydia," Julian's voic

akable clink of a glass. "You've had your fun. You bought the girl. You branded her. Now

her room before she was discovered. She shut the secret door and raced through the dark, her lungs burning. She s

wung

of a high-fashion magazine. She had sleek blonde hair, eyes like emeralds, and a smile that didn't reach the

thed. She stopped at the foot of the bed and leaned over, squinting at the silver coll

ssion unreadable. "Lydia, I believe I

reached out a gloved hand and flicked the silver collar. "

f the secrets she had just discovered. She didn

oice steady and lethal. "He's already taken

spicion crossing his face. He looked fr

. We'll have to fix that. After all, a pet should be seen a

Enjoy your time in the master's bed, Elara. But remember-I'm the one who wi

r heel and strutte

he door closing automatically behind him. He walked to the edge of the be

bed," he said. It

a replied, her heart hamm

to look up at him. His touch was electric, a terrifying mix

his thumb brushing over her lower lip. "You mi

nd enough,"

rs, a touch so light it was an agony. "We'll

ha

s again, the collar won't be the o

clicking into place with a finali

ng heavier than ever. He knew. He knew she had

estate anymore. She had to survive a fiancée who wanted her g