the large, empty space. Each step felt heavier than the last, my body moving

lse will

ounce of resistance I'd built up, despite my need to escape from everything

nto. What world I had entered by si

hting that seemed to flicker at the edges, adding to the eerie atmosphere. I hesitated before the fi

guest. Not in this ho

felt... different. A little more personal. The king-sized bed with its dark velvet comforter sat in the middle of the room, its headboard towering above

e room that had

the s

their breath, waiting for me to make the next

behind me. I was alone. Alone in a house that didn't feel lik

rawl into them, to bury myself in their comfort. But I couldn't bring mys

am I

ve an answer. I had no idea what Lucien wanted

ng I was sure of: I c

down and let him c

shower might clear my head, when the soft soun

skipped

wn he wouldn't

slowly, and ther

if he had every right to

ened. "What do

here was something else beneath the surface-something I cou

orta

rying to keep my voice steady. "I'm not here for comfort. I'm here because you've decide

ating. "You're in my world now, Aria. Whether you like it or not." His voice dropp

bed behind me. "What do you want from me?

f my question. "You're here because I said you are," he said finally, his t

ing despite myself. "You still haven'

. "You'll know soon enough. But for now

d, my mind reelin

d steady, unyielding. "No. From everyt

s tone, his face hardening, as thou

tty clear that I'm not interested in getting comfortable in your world. But I don't need you

moment, just a flicker of something beneath the coldness, but it was gone before I could grasp it. "I didn't bring you here because I wanted to make your life miserable, Ari

rying to stead

I wasn't just dealing with a billionaire with an ego the size of the city-Lucien was part of something

y ears. I needed to get out. But I also knew there was no

d my mind. "Get some rest, Aria. You'll need it. Tom

art hammering in my ch

time. "You're not alone in this anymore," he said, his voice almost a whis

oor behind him, leaving me

It was suffocating. And the weight of