002

Serena point of View:

I laugh.

it's the wrong reaction - I know that. But it escapes before I can stop it, dry and bitter and sharp enough to slice through the silence between us.

"Financee?" I echo. " That's your game? You spend a quarter million on a hostage and call it romance?"

he doesn't blink. Doesn't Flinch. Doesn't smile.

"I didn't buy you for romance."

"The what the hell-"

"I bought you because I need you"

He says it so plainly.. Like it's a transaction. like I'm a handbag, or a forged signature, or a weapon.

I take a step back, toward the door. my breath is shallow now. I feel the cold of the marble floor through the thin slip dress they forced on me.

"I don't know who you think I am," I say slowly, "But you've made a mistake."

He follows. Leisurely. like a predator who knows the prey can't escape.

"oh, I know exactly who you are, " he says.

"Serena vale. Art student. NYU. Raised in Maine. changed your last name five years ago after your father was caught in an ethics scandal with the Bureau."

My blood turns to ice.

"no one knows that."

"I do."

He stops in front of me again, titling his head, studying me like I'm a puzzle piece that finally snapped into place.

"I've been watching you for weeks," He murmurs.

"why?" I whisper.

Damien looks past me then, towards the painting above the fireplace - the one of the woman who looked like me.

"because you're not the first woman who's worn that face" he says.

I follow his gaze.

"she's my dead fiancee, " he says.

"Killed in a car bombing meant for me. and until I met you, I thought I'd buried her twice."

something ugly twists in my chest.

he thinks I'm her. or some ghost of her. But there's something else behind his words- something colder.

"You Said you need me," I say carefully. "Not that you want me. So tell me- what's the catch?"

he nods once , like I've passed some silent test.

"My family is fractured," he says. "There are whispers that I'm unfit to lead. That I've gone soft. I need to appear settled Grounded. controlled."

"A fake engagement," I say, my voice low.

"To buy time," he replies. "untill I can finish cleaning up the mess my father left behind. you'll stay here. you'll wear the ring. you'll smile at the parties. And In return-"

"In return?" I snap " you're holding me here like I'm your prisoner."

"I could have bought someone else," he says.

"someone who wouldn't ask questions. who'd obey."

"Then why didn't you?"

He steps closer.

"Because I need someone convincing. someone strong enough to lie with their eyes."

A pause then-

"You've lied before, haven't you Serena?"

I freeze.

He knows.

Not everything - but enough to see the cracks I'm my surface.

"I don't lie, ", I say flatly. " I survive"

His lisp curve. The first real expression I've seen on his face.

"That'll do."

he turns away, walks to the side table and open a velvet box.

inside is a ring.

not delicate. Not romantic.

it's bold. platinum. Heavy. like a shackle..

He holds it out

"I'll give you choice," he says.

"you can leave..I'll send you back to where you came from. But if you walk away, you walk away knowing the people that took you will find you again - Only next time I ain't be the one bidding."

I frowned.

"You're threatening me"

"I'm giving you reality," he replies. "or you can stay. wear the ring. Be my fiancee. play the part. three months. Then you walk away with enough money to disappear forever."

"And in the meantime?" I ask. " Do I sleep In your bed too?"

His gaze darkens.

"No, not unless you want to."

I hate that I feel a flicker of heat where there should only be rage.

he walks towards me again, holding out the ring.

"I don't need your love, " he says. " I need you performance."

my hands shake.

because I know I should run.

but I also know he's right.

if I leave now, the ones who took me will find me. or sell me again or worse.

and maybe .. just maybe .. staying gives me time to access information.

because Damien Alaric might think he's the one using me but I have secret too.

like the fact that I know what his family did.

that I know who he really is.

and that I didn't just stumble into this world by accident.

I came here for a reason

vengeance.

so I look him in the eyes.

and then I slide the ring onto my finger.

and I smile.

"congratulations," I say. " you're engaged to the devil's daughter."