my skin. The silence in the room pressed in on me, each tick of the clock sounding like an ominous countdown

but it was impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, Lucien's words echoed in my

g me down into a pit of uncertainty. But no matter how hard I trie

e carried himself-it was as if the world bent to his will. He had a presence, an

ldn't stay here. I couldn't let him control me, not even in the smallest way. But what was my alternative? Running wa

d up, my feet finding the cold floor beneath me.

skipped

to face him a

ri

owed me everywhere, even when I tried to shut it out. But his voice-there was something about it that I could

ed, my voice rough

, calculating look in his eyes. I could feel the tension in the air, thick

ice still soft but carrying an unmistakabl

ng to give him the satisfaction of seein

radiated, filling the room with his energy. He seemed completely at ease in this world-this world that f

conversation I wasn't sure I was ready for. "And I know you're not happy to be here. Bu

stration slipping through. "I don't need yo

use. He took a step closer, closing the distance between us. His presenc

t a game. You think you can run, that you can escape this

ed, and I swallowed hard. "What do you want from me?" I

to look away. "I want you to understand the stakes. You're in my world now, and there are rules. Whet

our world," I said, my voice wavering despite my best efforts to s

know you didn't. But that's not how this works. You're here, and I'm

t some sort of... war," I said, the

powerful people who want you gone, Aria. People who are willing to do w

't even know who these people are. I don't know who you ar

I know you don't trust me. And frankly, I don't blame you. But you don't have much of a choice

n. But his words lingered, heavy and ominous. People who w

do," I said, my voice barely above

t I say. You survive by learning to navigate this world." His eyes bore int

w could I? How could I trust the man who had dragged me int

hispered, the words hang

ad, he simply said, "Th

urned to leave. "Get some rest, Ar

felt colder now, and the silence louder. I wanted to scream, to fight, to break free. But

'd survive the game