bChapter /bb154 /b

    ra’s POV

    79%

    I didn’t expect the moment his arms wrapped around me to hit like a thunderstorm. Thorne’s grip was firm, his heat seeping through my skin. But when I looked up, our eyes locked–and I could feel everything in his gaze. The rawnessb, /bthe frustration. The urge to push him away. I only caught a glimpse of what might’ve been a softer side before he dropped me onto the floor.

    “Can’t climb thedder without falling, huh?” he scoffed, barely disguising the venom in his voice. “Guess you’re better off finding something easier to do.”

    I pulled myself up, the ache from the fall still stinging. “You told me to do something challenging,” I shot back, stubborn, my voice thick with defiance.

    He didn’t answer, his eyes narrowing as if he’d already moved on. He didn’t seem concerned, didn’t even care that I’d just hit the floor. “Didn’t know you were so… stupid.” His words hit harder than the fall, but I managed to hold my ground.

    For a second, I felt a sh of gratitude. Gratitude for what, though? That he didn’t hurt me? That he didn’tugh like he normally would? It was gone as quickly as it came. It was like a strange kind of self–pity. And it disgusted me.

    He was never nice, not even back when we were at Direstone Pack. Back then, at least, he ignored me. Now, it was like he was actively trying to make me hate him.

    I shook my head. “Where the hell did all this tempere from?” I mumbled. I didn’t know whether to me jealousy, or something else.

    The maids were quick to take thedder and the rags away, and I had no choice but to obey. I promised them I’d be careful next time. But that didn’t matter; I wasn’t allowed back on thedder. Instead, they handed me a bed sheet to fold and flowers to arrange in a vase.

    When Thorne left ifor /ithe Counseling Hall in the afternoon, he gave me onest warning.

    “Stay. Here,” hemanded, grabbing my chin roughly, forcing me to meet his dark eyes. “Don’t wander. If Ie back and find you’ve left, I swear I’ll lose it.”

    1

    I kept my gaze fixed on him, stubborn, unmoved.

    “Say you heard me!” His voice sliced through the tension like a de. His grip tightened.

    “…Yes,” I ground out through gritted teeth.

    He stormed off, leaving the room silent and cold.

    With him gone, the other maids quickly finished their tasks and left me alone. I stood there, unsure of what to do next. I picked up the book he’d left behind, the one he’d been reading earlier, and flipped through it. It was dense, full of politics and pointless musings, but it kept my mind from wandering back to him.

    I walked to the door, hesitated, then turned the knob. It wasn’t locked.

    A small thrill ran through me at the thought of slipping past Thorne’s watch. I could leave, could find Kimberly, or even Dorian. But would it be worth the risk? Would Thornee back, to find me gone, and lose whatever fragile peace we had?

    The thought lingered. But I wasn’t that reckless, not right now.

    Not when he coulde back so damn fast.

    I stayed put. yed it safe. Kept my temper in check, not wanting to push him further than I already had.

    11:05 Wed, b6 /bAug

    Wise decision, it turned out. Because, less than two hourster, Thorne was back sooner than expected..

    He burst through the door and froze when he saw me still on the floor, casually flipping through his book.

    His eyes softened, a trace of relief flickering in his gaze. “You stayed,” he said, his voice surprisingly low.

    Fraised an eyebrow. “Did you run all the way back?” I asked, noticing the thinyer of sweat on his forehead, his breath shallow,

    Thorne grunted, shrugging it off. “I thought you’d slipped out. Couldn’t stop thinking about it.“,

    I closed the book slowly, keeping my eyes on him. “So what would you have done if I was gone?”

    479%

    He hesitated, then smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “I’d get you a custom cor and chain. Keep you right by my side.” His tone was mocking, but the implication hit hard.

    I shuddered, disgust curling in my gut. “That’s sick.”

    But he seemed pleased with my reaction, and moved closer, lowering himself to my level. “Do you like the idea?” He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.

    I tilted my head away from him, my skin crawling. “I hate it,” I spat.

    His grin widened. “What if it was gold? Better?” he murmured, his voice growing huskier.

    The idea of it, the image of me chained to him like some pet… I couldn’t even.

    But before I could push him further, he kissed me:

    It wasn’t what I expected. Soft. Too soft. Too damn tender. His lips caressed mine gently, as though he wasn’t the monster I’d made him out to be.

    My body responded before my mind could catch up–an involuntary pull toward him, as if his presence was maic. But it sickened me. I hated it.

    His kiss lingered before he pulled away, pressing a kiss to my cheek. His eyes never left mine, filled with a strange intensity.

    I opened my mouth to speak, but my stomach growled loud enough to make himugh.

    He chuckled, then stood, reaching for the bell. “I’ll order dinneri,/ii” /ihe said, his amusement obvious.

    I sighed in relief, not wanting to hear whatever else he had to say. Whatever he was going to do, I wasn’t ready.

    Fifteen minutester, a servant brought dinner.

    I stood by the table, eyeing the food. As a maid, I was supposed to eat in the basement, away from him, but this time–this time–he wasn’t making me feel like I was beneath him.

    “I don’t like the avocado in the sd,” Thorne grumbled, already picking at his food.

    I frowned. “And the steak? What’s wrong with the steak?”

    “Too cooked,” he muttered. “It should be rare.”

    I raised an eyebrow. “Should I run back to the kitchen for you?”

    “No,” he replied, pushing the tes toward me. “You can have it.”

    11:05 Wed, 6 Aug

    His eyes avoided mine, like he was suddenly… ufortable. And for the first time in a long while, I understood. This was his way of asking me to stay, to have dinner with him.

    I hesitated but then sat down, grabbing the fork. It was nice, the food. Better than what they served in the basement.

    He didn’t force me to stay, didn’t grab my wrist, didn’t yell. It was… different.

    After I finished, I picked up the tes. “I’ll head back to the basement if you don’t need anything else,” I said, standing.

    He stretched back in his chair, loosening the top buttons of his shirt. “Draw me a bath.”

    I froze. It was gettingte, and the idea of being alone with him, in a room with only one bed…

    But he’d asked, and I had no choice.

    I set the tes down and walked to the bathroom. I turned on the water, added a few drops of his favourite essential oils–grapefruit, geranium–and sat on the floor, stirring the water.

    Too many things about him kept me trapped in my mind, memories I didn’t want but couldn’t get rid of.

    My thoughts drifted again, this time to where I was going to sleep tonight. Was I supposed to stay in his room? Go back to Dorian’s?

    I heard footsteps behind me and froze. I didn’t need to look to know it was him.

    “The bath’s almost ready,” I said, my voice steady, trying not to show the panic rising in my chest.

    But the moment I spoke, I felt his arms wrap around me, pulling me into him. His lips were hot against my neck, and I tried to push him away, to break free. “No!” I gasped, struggling. “Get off me!”

    His grip tightened. “Don’t push me away… Please.”

    There was something in his voice, something raw. “Every day without you, it’s like hell,” he breathed.

    I couldn’t handle it. My wolf was stirring, reacting to his touch/and I hated it.

    With a sudden burst of anger, I sshed water in his face.

    He froze, the rage shing in his eyes. And for the first time, I didn’t know whether to fight or flee.