r's hand on my shoulder. I screamed. Th

il my spine hit the headboard. My eyes dar

, and heavy curtains covered windows that

ed was Lucien, his face, his crimson eyes. The men knee

e shoes. No blood. No injurie

ldn't find it. The stranger cleared his throa

?" The man's expression tightened. That wasn't t

e did. I threw the blank

stared at him. "Who exactly do you think you are?" Before he could answer, the

one looked at me. Then, to my horror,

He straightened

nted toward the door. "I don't know where I am. I don't know who you people are.

d that frightened me more than if they had. The olde

o mean something. It didn't. "I'm Lucien Veyr's

e? "Then take me to him." Dorian's expressio

ajesty specifically ordered that

licker of amusement crossed Dorian's face. It disappeared almost immedia

cannot keep me here." We aren't imprisoning you. "Then m

ce. My mouth w

ound the room again. The enormous bed, the dark wood, the strange silver symbols carved into the walls, the heavy cu

me home." Dorian's expressio

o his coat. He pulled out a small black envelope.

cold. "What?" Dorian didn't blink. "Someone ordere

long. "Because of who you are." I swallowed

t of parchment. There was writing on it. I couldn't read t

ars ago. On birthday cards. On the notes my mother used

s?" Dorian's eyes narrowed. "You recognize

around the parchment. "Where is my mother?" The room went silent. Dorian l

hanged in his face. He glanced toward the doo

needed to announce who had entered. Every person in the room imme

air was slightly disordered, and there was a thin line of blood across

ke it belonged there. Like it had always belonge

nscious." You were unconscious be

ed. The door closed. Suddenly, it was just Luci

." Then

dropped briefly to my hand. I followed it. The black ring w

d. Where did you get that? "I woke up wearing it. He

ost pained. "That you put it o

everything. There was something I c

oked at me. His eyes were unreadable. Then he said quie

?" He didn't smile. "You heard me." I looked down

dn't marry me, Sera. I claimed you." My breath caught. He stepped closer. And for the

ed at me... he looked like a man who had already decided I belonged to him. And somewhere deep inside m