even call it and looked around. The room was the same as the night before: lavish, overwhelming, and

ld answer, the door creaked open, and a woman stepped inside. She was tall and

voice polite but detached. "Mr. Stormborn

ngue. The concept of a meal that wasn't s

an pulling out clothes nicer than anything I'd ever worn. She laid them on the bed: a s

dded, almost as an afterthought, "Mr. St

dress clung to me in a way that felt almost indecent, but there was no time to dwell on my discomfort. The woman led me do

cing eyes found me the moment I entered, and I felt my pulse quicken. H

gesturing to the

the slight arch of his brow left no room for argument. I walked to the sea

ne casual as if we were two ordinary p

it was a lie. "

gaze uncomfortably intense. "You

It wasn't a question; it was a statement, a challen

ates were placed before us, filled with dishes that looked like they belonge

his tone leaving

lavors exploded on my tongue, richer and more complex than anything I'd ever t

said, leaning back in his chai

say. Was I supposed to thank him? To tell him h

he observed, his

t me to say," I admitted, my

s. "Honesty. That's all I expected. I do

with unspoken implications. I n

-

d and leather. A large desk sat in the center, papers and folders scattered across its

e chair in front of the desk. I obey

air as he regarded me with a calculating gaze

head, my he

ety, your life-everything about you is under my control. No one touches

spine. "And if I don't?" I da

d made a terrible mistake. But instead of anger,

a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "But do

was overwhelming, and suffocating, but there was something about hi

e?" I asked, my vo

ade my breath catch. "Because I saw something in

they left me feeling strangely... wanted. It was

-

erous a term. I was thrust into it, surrounded by men and women who lived and breathed dange

maintain control. Yet with me, there was a softness and p

t for long. At first, I thought it was paranoia, b

sat in his office. "You don't belong in this world, but now

sword. In Dante's world, safety came w

lue eyes, I realized something terr