ted

alls around me were glass-an endless expanse of New York City that stretched beneath the night sky

street below. The lights blurred together, a city in

en W

ike I had always been his-sent a shiver down my spine. The possessiveness, the certainty

nymore. I wasn't going t

uction. My mouth was dry, and I felt dizzy. He hadn't been lying about the food. It

eats filled the room, and despite my anger and

mechanically, and took a bite, savoring the sweetness. But as the sugar hit my tongue, I

allway. Lucien was

pe-to scream, to fight. But where

to the gut. I was stuck. For the next year, I

t just sit here and let him dictate

behind me, and I whip

tly tousled, his broad shoulders filling the space like an unmovable force. The suit from earlier was gone-repla

," he said, his voice like v

id sharply, setting the pastry down.

e filling the room. "I don't treat

but didn't back down. "

his tone surprisingly soft, almost... re

d bitterly. "Fro

ng me with an unreadable expression

t was pounding now, my pulse quickening. I couldn't shake the feeli

I am," Lucien replied calmly. "Someone

n hunting me?" I said incredulo

hings," he replied, his eyes hardening. "I'm

anted to argue, to yell at him, but his wo

ld possibly be lurking in the shadows of

I said, though my voice trembled

nt a shiver down my spine. "I'm sure you can. But

ed to say? He was right. I didn't know what the hell was goin

But I didn't trust myself to face whate

hest, turning away from him.

his steps deliberate, measured. The way he moved was fluid, effortles

something dangerous underneath. "I want you to understan

meeting his gaze. "Then

t-wood and leather-overwhelming my senses. His presence was

his voice low and dark. "But you have to t

y throat suddenly d

, but it didn't reach his ey

than I wanted them to. Despite myself, despite my hatred for hi

sn't

ep?" I asked, m

motioned toward the hallway. "Upstairs. The

I didn't want to show any weakness. But as I turned and walked tow

till wat