in her mind. "You are mine now," he'd said, his voice a dange

ss it, to rationalize it as a necessary evil, a sacrifice she had to make. But another part, a bolde

den light. Elena got out of bed, her muscles stiff from the night's anxieties. She went t

ion that would impact the rest of her life

, once so vibrant and full of life, now looked fragile, almost translucent. Elena felt a famil

smell of freshly baked bread from a nearby bakery, the sound of children's l

phony of sights and sounds, a reminder

ed. It was a t

lena. I'm expecting you

lings of defiance were replaced by a chilling rea

thought about her life, about her dreams, about the future she'd envisioned for he

ace the truth. This wasn't a transaction. This wasn't just about

day. It was the dress she'd worn to her first date with her high school sweetheart, a reminder of

nce of courage. She wasn't sure what she was faci

n, a monument to wealth and power. Elena took the elevat

panoramic windows offered a breathtaking view of the city, but Elena couldn't appreciate it. Her gaze was f

ice a smooth velvet, "I'

d towards her, his aura exuding power and confidence. He of

d, his voice a low murmur, "I want to be c

, his eyes a dark,

n, Elena," he continued, "This

nsion tighten in her stomach

facade. But she couldn't help but wonder if there

tment?" she asked,

, dangerous thing. He leaned forwar

," he said, "wil

et? He was talking about their arrangement, a

orne?" Elena asked, her voi

re are no rules, Elena," he said, his ton

A game? What kind of game was

she asked, her voic

warm against her ear, a whisper

hispered, his voice husk

n't love. It was a twisted arrange

Thorne," Elena said, he

lena," he said, his voice a low growl. "You're already playing a game, a

't a game, she thought. This was her life, her mother's

a said, her voice firm, her gaze

e caress. "You're already making a choice, Elena," he said, his v

just offering you a deal, Elena," he said, his voic

To lose her life?

n, of doubt. She didn't know

" she asked, her vo

rned, a dangerous

ning in, his lips inches

tive influence, or will she succumb to the