ra'

t with a breakfast I didn't want. Kieran sat at the head, his presence cold

e could talk about the territory's man

ply was shar

ed up "But a

ice. Finally, he lifted his cold, piercing eyes to meet mine. "No

m back. Fighting him now would only make things worse. Swallowing my frustration, I sat at the far e

pastries in front of me. I picked at the food, too angry to eat, whi

me through the day. I wasn't going to let him shut me out

over financial records. I knocked on the doorfra

s tone was as welcom

u mentioned,earlier" I said. "I n

air. "What's expected of you is simple. Show up, look pre

seriously expect me to just

king standing over mine. His voice dropped to a mocking tone. "You'

and uncontrollable.

osed the space between us. "Careful," he warned, his voice dan

n my chest. "What are you going to do, Kieran?

de, and his jaw clenched so hard I could hear his teeth grinding. But instead

made to carve out a place for myself in his world was c

ed in the household affair

e library. The room smelled of leather and old paper, and

adow stretched across the pages be

nk you're doing?

said withou

ssion to use this room,"

g with anger. "I didn't know I needed your permission to

face. "Everything here is mine, Elara," he said as he

g my fists. The air between us felt hea

between us. His hand grabbed my arm tightly, and before

inst his chest, struggling as hard as I could, but his grip was like iron. His

led against his mouth. I twisted and

his tone low and commanding. But

the groin. Kieran let out a pained groan,

g as I thought I might actually escape. But before I could get far

e around to face him, his eyes raging with fury. "You

ter how much I kicked or tried to pull away, his grip was

oor I hadn't noticed before, hidden at the end of the corri

the darkness closing in around me. "Kie

light. "You need to learn your place, Elara," he said, hi

ammed the

ists. "You can't do this!" I shouted, my voice

s no reply,