oke to

of a house settling in the night-but a thick, unnatural stillnes

still, eyes close

xpensive. Clean.

h to send panic slic

Vs, the man with eyes like carved stone. The way his voice

ai Vo

es flutt

t in a ca

the pillows plush and foreign. The ceiling above her was high and modern, lined with so

ush, the sheets slipping down to re

fr

ed as she looked

fabric cool against her skin. It wasn't rev

ed painfully ag

d changed

g polished marble floors that reflected the dim light. The room was enormous-floor-to-ceilin

ntho

it was a

guards inside the room. One door to her left, likely a

d, pr

y, ignoring the way her legs

dn't

she whisper

ld not help her. She had survived worse than this. She had grown

survive on

toward the bed. A glass of water sat on the nigh

eath c

tantly and pressed

th

e

d taken everything-her freedom, her clothe

re aw

came from

around wi

lly against the frame, dark suit immaculate, as if he hadn't dragged her from the

you watching me

ow you weren't goi

"You had no right

replied calmly. "That

ed into fists. "

aved

rom what? A marriage you had

. "You didn't wan

t mean I bel

rossed his face-annoyanc

ng to anyone,"

t a chill do

er shoulders. "

room. Each measured step felt deliberate, controlled

d. "A debt that has been accu

rrency," sh

d quietly. "Yo

ed her more than

demanded. "You lock

r n

rned. "And i

her. Close enough that she could sm

you

caught. "Fo

s steadily. "As l

"You think you can just keep

d. "I think

ulse

when

lightly. "Then I'

oved p

let

d her more than res

back to face him, her heart hammer

N

my phone

N

t to l

hardened. "Ab

, sharp and hollo

lifted. "

out that door, I

behind his eyes. N

out," he said.

rd him. "You don't g

e replied calmly. "Yours

but she refused t

"If this is about my fat

for a long moment.

not an

is t

e door. "Food will

not h

wil

ehind him with a

e center of the room, ch

expected

expected

terrified

bed, staring out at the city lights. Somewhere far below, life

ing's territory, fre

ounded at

ffened.

cart. She avoided Elara's eyes

ave," Elara

ded and disap

prepared, fragrant, still warm. Her

echanically, her

wasn't what s

loud. He w

contr

t were the most

somewhere in the city below,

toni

d claimed more th