-

g before a vast ornate door carved with twisting vines and hidden symbols. T

calm anchor. "This

ed open, revealing a dimly lit chamber fil

a circle of masked figures seated silently, wat

from the shadows. "Tonight, you

ard, her pulse po

nd Velvet Chains was only jus

lickering sconces cast elongated shadows across the cold stone walls, the air thick with

ted in a circle around the room remained motionless, their eyes-hidden behind intricate Venetian masks-locked on

deeper than s

, the past dies, and the truth rises. Will you claim y

sign, a crack in the façade. She found none

ouch. "Inside this pouch is the key to your tran

reached out, curiosity and f

o hers. "Choose wisely,

reath, she to

had tru

e room thick with anticipation. Inside, nestled against dark silk, were two objects: a silver

s resistance - a promise to test the rules, to challenge

- not weakness, but power in giving. It means choo

enly, like the walls had

en the two. Two

he low light. The ribbon pulse

ndaries. But another part, the part she hadn't even known existed until she stepped onto this island, whi

ately, she pick

softly around

tisfaction, but with somethi

he said. "To surrender is to be

This doesn't mean you are weak. It means you ar

s rose as one, bowing their heads in silent reverence before s

ended his h

the ribbon

ins had ac

her choice had ye

ty. Alina's reflection flickered in dozens of angles-sometimes clear, sometimes fragmented. She

nce commanding without a word. Lucian followed

aped in midnight velvet. Cassian pulled

om unlike anyth

, silks, and unfamiliar instruments-some inviting, others intimidating. The air was thick with tension an

sian said. "Every guest who wishes to

frozen. "S

n your truth. In your hunger. I

suring. "You'll never be touched without conse

m?" she

hind her ear, his voice almost reverent. "B

tall mirror angle

her body thrummed with something

d sheer. "Put this on. When you'

. The moment felt ceremonial, a passage

each layer shedding not just fabric, but pi

ped into

ped back into the

lesson h

the velvet cushion. Her bare knees sank into the plush fabric, but the chill

y on the armrests. But there was nothing relaxed in his presence. He wat

"tell me something you

uth went d

freed," he said. "I

ut the words came, almo

tended to love a man just s

r her confession

his head. "An

y. "For a while. U

stillness, like a mirror wait

how far you're willing to go to feel se

ced his hand gently on her shoulder.

ease," he whispered. "Y

dlelight, showing a woman not weak or br

cian's voice

our eyes

ob

o what it remembers. To what it craves.

st time in year

f

sha

what she was in this moment-k

wed was not empty-it w

She felt every breath against her skin, every flicker of candlelight li

d touch, bu

otic. "You've been touched in ways that were never ear

d her eye

ge: her own image, yes, but standing behind her

ask

fire. Lips pa

ound, but no

t move. Neith

red with something new-co

er," he sa

barely a whisper

Lucian murmured. "B

e danced up

she?" sh

's the soul of this island. The first to s

es her is destined to uncover something bu

heart

I see her?"

"Because, Alina, you're not just here to be initiated. Y

ce more. Her reflection now s

e a

dange

e a

, far f