skin from Lucien Blackthorne's attention. She did not understand why he was loo

lackthorne," he

remained on Lena for a moment before m

ho had won Lena's bid earlier turned in his seat, his b

heavy, silent weight in his stare,

roat nervously. "My lord, the

been pa

sitated, shifting

sale isn't

anything to her, and the sudden shift in her fate left her chest tight with anxiety. The

d perfectly calm. There was no anger in it, no raised voice,

swallowed har

ple shift uncomfortably in their seats. Th

s unnec

ard the auctioneer, but the auctioneer had already understood what

offer has be

looked at Lucien, her mind racing

g the crowd, but no one dared

r: Lucien Blackthorne. Yet he gave no explanation. No one announced why he wanted her, and he did not speak of w

ment can be arran

you sti

na remained frozen where she was until th

d him to say something, hoping for any sort of explanation, but nothing cam

looked at Lena.

at him, bewildered by th

e almost did not know how to respond. A sudde

ted, searching his face, but

came out quieter than she intended,

ng, unreadable moment. "You d

rows as frustration warred with her fear. "

kno

won't you

steady and unyielding. "Because you h

n the dark dress stepped away, melting back into the shadows of the room. Lucien t

den in, built of dark wood, polished metal, and thick curtains that completely covered the windows. A d

can g

nted firmly on the cobblesto

t going to

nt flicker of confusion crossing his fe

n't what

between them before he

gaze. Deciding she had no other choice, she climbed inside. Lucien follow

lap. She had expected the journey to be frightening, but the suffocating quiet made her feel even more uneasy. She looked through the window as the auction

against the side of the carriage, his posture relaxed

ked at her

in her shoulders refusing to l

softening into something that w

nds. She had expected him to remind her that he had paid for her, but instead, he seemed almo

o tell me what y

her face. "You don't need to do

ctively defensive. "

deeply wrinkled from the long, grueling evening. Her hands still carried the faint, pale marks from where sh

ded blanket, holding it out to her. Lena star

d with the blanket

n see

im suspiciously, her mind racing for an ult

e you'r

t say I

n waited without pressing her, his extended hand perfectly stead

n the unexpected warmth. She hated that she liked it, and she hated even more that she could not figure out why this terrifying ma

r, calm and calculating

look, still clutching the edges of the blanket.

none for

ying to read the lines of his face in

, letting the question hang

harsh answer could have. She had spent the entire evening being treated like merchandise, fully expecting the person who bought her to l

hat, so she didn't. But as the miles rolled

tion, Lena remained awake. She tried to settle against the plush leather seat, but ev

forcing her eyes open once again. Lucien no

n't s

hy

n't know wher

g to Blackth

snapped, her pati

gaze piercing through the shadows of

again. She pulled the blanket closer to her chin, seeking a comfort

e wh

one means but don't inte

cusation, his head tilti

ad in disbelief.

It vanished so quickly that Lena wondered if it had simply been a trick of the passing moonlight. She looked

es

a asked staring at

y, processing the informatio

rs tightened painfully around the thick wool

n't k

s voice dropping to a quieter, more delibe

flushed with unexpected warmth. She had no idea how to respond to that sort of declaration from the man who now owned her. Fortunat

warily. "I do

r eyes narrowed with immediate

u at the

re watc

a fresh wave of discomfort wash over her. She lo

" His hands stret

n eat

il the sweet smell of the fruit hit the air. As she took a small piece of the bread, Lucien turned his attention back toward the window, deliberately giving her privacy

s attention back to le

ack to the half-empty dish, a knot of conflicting

his voice, which somehow made it significant

gentle rocking of the carriage soothe her frayed nerves. She was still deeply wary of him, and she certainly didn't trust him, but her fear had changed. At the auction, she had bee

at her, giving her

nto something difficult to read-a fleeting shadow of something deeper. Lena waited

ply said, "We'r

lls that seemed to scrape the sky. Lena slowly sat straighter, her breath catching in her throat as the carriage passed through the heavy iron gates. Ahead of them, Blackthorne

upon arriving at her new prison. Instead, as she took in the sight, she felt a

t in the courtyard, Lena's fingers tightened around the frayed edge of her blanket. She had been sold like an object. She had been bought by an Alp