4: His

ed the newcomer, his eyes narrowi

tone clipped. “I wasn’t ex

y you didn’t think you could keep your little… soirée hidden from me, did you?” His gaze dri

es. I shrank back instinctively, my heart hammering in my chest as he reached out and grasped my

er my features with a hunger that made my skin

elongs to me, Viktor,” he growled, his tone lac

his attention back to Kian. “Come now, old friend,” he purred, his voice laced wi

hought he might strike Viktor then and there. The tension in the a

g ever so slightly. “Do I need to remind you abou

rope

e moment, I was a college student whose cheating billionaire boyf

erous light. “You wound me, Kian,” he drawled, feigning hurt. “I would ne

rge to shrink away from his predatory stare. “T

well to remember your place, Viktor,” he snarled, his voice dripping with men

d, his eyes blazing with defiance. “Need I remind you who it was that pulled you out of the g

ained silent, his gaze smoulder

ripping with smug satisfaction. “You may be the princ

their words hanging heavy between them. I felt like a mere spectator, caugh

with a hunger that made my skin crawl. “Tell me, Kian,” he purred, his voice s

tly that I feared he might crack a tooth. “That’s none o

ch a waste,” he sighed, his gaze lingering on me in a way that made me

een us with a predatory grace that sent shivers down my spine. His hand snak

f my neck, lingering at the hollow of my throat. “Such exquisite beauty,” he murmur

been lying dormant, biding its time. With a surge of adrenaline, I wrenched myself a

hand clapped to his cheek as a look of shock flitted across his features. For a heartbeat

, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light. “You insole

rce. I cried out in pain, stumbling backwards as stars exploded behind my eyes. The metal

abbed him by the neck, shoving him against the wall. “I

n as all eyes turned toward the commotion. Kian’s grip tig

d, his voice laced with venom. “This is the

larming shade of purple as he struggled to draw breath. For a moment, I t

her man to crumple to the floor in a wheezing heap. Viktor clutched at his throat

voice little more than a hoarse whispe

u try,” he taunted, his tone dripping with disdain. “Now get o

mand. But then, with a final withering glare, he hauled himself to h

ok in my disheveled appearance. Without a word, he reached out and gently

eyes searching mine with an intens

confrontation. Kian’s brow furrowed, and he cupped my cheek with hi

wed, his voice low and serious. “You’re

had brought me into his possession. But instead, I found myself leaning into his touch,

s quirked into a faint smile. “Come,” he said, tak

rposeful as we left the chaos of the ballroom behind. I followed

pen with a flourish. We stepped into a lavish bedchamber, the air thi

amber liquid from a crystal decanter. He downed the drink

, breaking the silence that had settled over us. “He fancies h

e forgets that I’m the one who built this empire f

” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “Viktor has designs on expanding his reach, consolidating

ing in. I was nothing more than a pawn in a twisted game of powe

d, his gaze boring into me with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat. “You b

I could feel the heat radiating off him, the scent of expensive c

a low, dangerous purr. “You’re mine, and I

rough me. In that moment, I realized that my fate was inextricably tied to Kian’s – for better or worse, I

jaw in a deceptively gentle caress. “Good,” he said, his vo

at left me breathless and disoriented. His touch was possessive, demandi

ber of my being. But something within me craved the security he offered, the

ips parting beneath the onslaught of his desire. Kian growled low in his th

f fire in their wake. I surrendered to his touch, my senses overwhelm

couldn’t help but wonder what kind of twisted bargain I had struck. Had I traded one form of ca