ers curled around the edges of the velvet chair she was seated in, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and doub

e here, Isabella. Whet

as. His presence filled the space even before he entered. Alexander's figure loomed in the doorwa

smooth, though there was an edge to it.

his gaze burn into her, but she refused to back down. If she was going

a choice," she said, her voice steady but laced with defiance. "How y

each his lips. "You're right," he admitted, stepping closer. "But the tr

up until the desk stopped her, her hands gripping its edge as she fought to maintain control. "What choice is t

oice is whether or not you accept your place in this

ied to focus on anything but him. He had that effect on her-unpredictable, magnetic, dangerous. And deep down, she kne

pered, her voice trembling despit

her head back so she had no choice but to look into his eyes. "You didn't. But it's

that churned inside her. She wanted to pull away, to fight back, but a part of her didn't

she asked, her voice barely a w

derstand it. I want you to see that there's no turning back. You'v

r breath catching in her throat. She hated how easy it was for him to control her, to pull her

, his lips brushing just above her ear. "Bu

m him, her heart pounding in her chest. "You think I'm just

"I don't want a puppet. I want you, Isabella. A

much, too intense, and she couldn't keep them contained any longer. "I don't want th

is expression unreadable. "It doesn't matter what you want," he

th the weight of his words. She had no answers. She had no escape

now, but still carrying that dangerous edge. "And the choices you

here was no escape. She couldn't outrun him. She couldn't escape this world.

epped into the room, his presence a cold

tral, but there was something in his eyes

g as she nodded. She was ready. But not becau

d into a satisfied smi