my hands while sitting in the lounge. The lights were off, and the c

was in

But if he was telling the truth, everything I believed abou

I married him? To

t of me, and I was supposed t

on the screen. One was labeled "Project Chimer

hook as I cl

ing across from each other at a long oak table. The vid

ver blackmail files on Lucien?

l eventually kill you for it. But I ca

And in r

der my umbrella, and Claire... well, she get

y father looked pa

er out of t

ckly. "I want her safe

yes. "She's not one of y

s to you, and now, s

e that, the

moment, trying t

s for my safety. But Damian... he hadn't been part of my fa

watching m

race, barefoot with my legs curled unde

ing at first; he ju

t," he fin

"Ye

hung bet

efore the contr

side," he admitted. "You didn't belong in his world.

me? I wondered, seeing th

ing you close felt like the safest thing to do. But truthfull

no

the same room," he said quietly. "And I

oat ti

the lies, and the darkness, I wanted him too. A

the cracks in ou

me like a trophy. He watche

e sat beside me. He didn't just give orders; he asked questions.

gile silence, the da

sent a

rrived with a note: "

e stem in his han

l breathing?" I

, something dark fl

waiting for you. F

oo

lood from the rose dri

devils for too long. It's

e. My mind twisted with me

Lucien's warm

looked in that recording scared,

ruelty, his possessivenes

e like I was the one th

one b

But I already knew

nally take action. You can either jo

that word: *cage*. I must've thoug

ion everything. The security, the guy who used to demand

on the edge of the bed, his shirt unbuttoned, sl

ere out," I said. He

ust sending

id it

plied, "but i

y fingers lightly

d, I whispered, "I

. A manipulator. You've kept

"Y

r's life, fearing

ng his eyes. "I took his li

to you? He d

Min

m. Instead, I took a step closer

"Ho

Not for control, not because of a contract.

t time, he l

really st

oftly, "if you let

ce in both hands, his fore

e lies?"

cts," I whispered.

didn't kiss, didn't tou

two broken, hunted soul

gainst the w