d disorienting. "Am I home?" she whispered, her voice tremb

ng, but she could sense the underlying tension in the air. "Good morning, beautiful lady," he greeted her, his voice smo

her situation. "Where am I?" she demanded, her vo

iatingly calm. "You're in a secure place," he replied c

of the room. "My men came to rescue me, right?" she taunted, her

to the surface like a volcano about to erupt. "You will not te

e face of Maximilian's fury. "Never," she spat, her voice filled with v

r, don't you?" he hissed, stepping closer to her. "But you're wrong. Every moment you resist,

hing about loyalty, about sacrifice. My people will come for

her skin. "We'll see about that. Meanwhile, you'll have plenty of time t

ur stay," he said mockingly, before turning on his heel and leavi

t she also knew she couldn't give in. She had to hold on to the hope that her men would come for her