le

ked, desperation spilling out with every word. "I won't speak unless spoken to. I won't fig

d with cruelty, like he'd b

that lingered even after I'd escaped. I'd sworn never again. Yet

il my neck strained. Then just as suddenly he released me,

urling in a smirk that made my stomach twist

y waist, gripping hard

ispered, voi

led out his phone. His tone was calm, but the me

as planning,

as my

focus was elsewhere, voice low as he spoke into the phone

retched fo

AC

y head. The world tipped sidewa

pensive cologne. My skull throbbed, e

golden, draped in luxury creamy walls, silk curtains, furniture

, fingers brushing the tende

door and twisted t

der, pounding my fists against the wood. "No

on. I slid to the floor, curling against

sobs. "I'll vanish from your life fo

r creak

scle in

ss the room like it owned me. His eyes were darker than

upright, hea

"Tell me, Selena," he said softly, "were

e I could think. "I wasn'

. "You know my rules. I hate liars. I ha

ith his catch. My knees buckle

"I'll follow the rules. Please...

ing around my face. His grip was i

mine. "You address me as Master. Your father killed my mother, and yet yo

d turne

risked anything anything other than this. Now I was

through my panic,

play

d through me

mes," I'd woken from a coma with nothi

play," I whispere

wering over me. "This is your warning, Selena. Dis

smile cu

w r

couldn't move. Then

ra