e spoke. It was heavy a storm trapped in ocean blue, cold

the city skyline in shades of bruised lavender and gold. But here, in this room his

leeves of his shirt rolled up, veins visible under tanned skin. She noticed the gun holstered u

ence grew too loud, S

p," she whispered, her tone c

n a smile, but something co

d around the blanket

omach twist. "You think I don't know girls like you? You run a

eren't loud, but they cracke

idn'

nsive, dark filling her lungs. He stopped just close enough for her to see the fai

dropped. "

ned on the last word, but it felt like a blade brushing her skin. "And that spineless snake so

e'd never asked for his twisted version of protection. But

aw, red mark on her skin, and for a second just a second she swore she saw r

, standing tall again.

ist, trying to hide

caging her against the headboard. She could see the faint stubb

ct anyone. You will not step outside that door without one of my men at your side. You will eat wh

stiffened.

, "Or I'll find new ways to keep you ch

ension crackling between them like live wire. She hated him. She hated the way he

doing this?"

ok at her. The distance did nothing

t too quietly, "someone h

y. Instead, she met the house or more accuratel

fter Ethan left, a tray balanced in his arms with sc

ng into her room before she could pro

ood suspiciously.

eyes. "Red, if you starve to death, Ethan will put me on dishwashing d

out dry, but real. Lucas beamed

er lap and plopping down beside her.

ast, her eyes flicking to him.

ir cages," he teased. His grin faded a fraction when he saw the flicker

d. "I've been

darkened. "Not anym

rying to get him to strip on screen ("Not that I mind but Ethan threatened to pull the funding. He's so uptight."). He told her ab

an once. It felt alien on her face,

ng it with one hand as he leaned down close enough

red conspiratorially, "just let me know

nd then what? E

Probably. But i

place was huge too huge. Endless corridors lined with expensive art, black marble flo

lopped onto a chaise, tossing her a knowing look when

ice softer now, "he's not t

ape of a rose petal on the glass, watching i

's lost more than you know. Someone who'd bur

time, she saw a shadow behind Lucas's usual sun

g me prisone

eping yo

en saving herself for years, even when no one else would. But the

to indigo. Lucas finally left her alone, promising

ocks here didn't belong

hbook Lucas had found for her a blank page already smudged with tentative pencil li

hirt sleeves rolled down now, dark hair damp like he'd j

awake,"

gging it to her chest like a shi

e. He held a small box in his hand,

at?" she a

mchair across from her. He set the box on

ul, but wrong somehow. Sophia's eyes narrowed when sh

r," she s

corrected. "You wear

ck but she didn't. She let him slip the cold metal over her skin, let him close t

ide of her wrist lingering, almost tender. It made her throat ti

she whispered,

nflinching. "Good. H

it the spark that hadn't died yet, no m

ething too," she said, he

t's

ing his lips. For a heartbeat, she saw something flicker in h

n. And you'll nev