ng I noticed

was clean and smelled like expensive wood and fresh flowers. It was a rich smell. The kind of

head throbbed with a dull, heavy ache. It was a brutal reminder o

ve gotten lost in it. The sheets were dark silk, and they felt cool and smoot

my entire apartment. Across the room, a massive window showed the city. I was high up-so high that the streetlights belo

a voice rumbled from the

scaping my throat. I sp

rt with the top buttons open. His sleeves were rolled up, showing off arms that were thick with muscle and covered in

ice clinking softly as he moved it. He

, wondering if I could run for it. "Why did you bring me here? If it's about what I saw... I wo

he was standing right over the bed. He was so tall that I had to crane my neck ju

of last night, Ivy Thorne is dead. The police found your ID in

You can't do that! I have a life. I ha

. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. He

morning. He has the best doctors in the country now. No more waiting l

but Kaelen pulled it bac

to anger. "You don't even know me. You're

ching you. I know you work two jobs just to pay for his oxygen. I know you play the cello when you're

ushed against the star-shaped birthmark on my neck. I shivered, but I did

rom mine. "He thinks you're a witness who knows too much. But I

ncée? I don't even k

like the future Mrs. Volkov. You'll live in this house. You'll wear the clothes I buy. You'll ac

o?" I asked, my

, like a storm was about to break. "Then I walk out that door and let my father's men in. T

ed he wasn't joking. He was offering me a

monster,"

"But I'm the only monster standing between you and the devil.

d it open to show a diamond ring so big it looked fake.

y fingers were shaking, but I didn

finger. It was cold and heavy. It fit perfectly,

other hand sliding around my waist. "Now, get up. There's a closet full of dresses. Pick somethi

hed the handle, he paused. "And Ivy? Don't try the win

n my hand. I was alive, but I wasn't free. I was a pawn in a dangerous gam

ows of red silk dresses stared back at me. I t