Choosing her holder

IRIS

My fingers tightened around the bars as fear settled deep in my chest.

Why would someone like him…

Before I could finish the thought, a thick cloth was suddenly thrown over the cage, blocking my view.

“No wait!” I shouted, panic rising again.

The cage moved.

I stumbled, gripping the bars tightly as I tried to stop myself from hitting my head on the iron bars.

“Stop! Please!” I cried, my voice breaking.

No one answered.

The sounds of the room faded as I was carried away. My breathing grew heavier, my chest tightening painfully as my sickness started creeping in again. My head spun and I felt like I might pass out.

Then the movement stopped and the cage was lowered. The cloth was pulled away and there he was standing right in front of me.

Tristan Ross.

Up close, he looked even more intimidating. Tall, calm, completely unreadable. His green eyes locked onto mine like he was trying to figure me out.

“Your name?” he asked.

His voice was low and controlled, like nothing that just happened mattered.

My throat felt dry.

“ Are you kidding me right now?” I was visibly irritated and I wanted to leave immediately.

He didn’t react. He just looked at me for a few seconds before making a small gesture.

The cage door opened.

The second it did, I ran.

I didn’t hesitate. I just ran.

Bare feet hitting the ground, heart pounding, breath uneven.

I barely made it two steps when a hand grabbed me.

Strong and firm.

“No! Let go of me!” I shouted, struggling as hard as I could.

I kicked, twisted, fought, but it was useless.

They were too strong.

“Please!” I cried, panic taking over again.

My body felt weak. Too weak. I hadn’t eaten. I was already sick. Everything was spinning.

And then my legs gave out.

My strength disappeared completely.

The fight drained out of me as darkness crept in again.

The last thing I saw was Tristan watching me.

His expression, completely unreadable.

And then everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, everything felt softer.

I didn't feel any iron bars or hear noises just complete silence.

I blinked slowly, my vision adjusting to the dim light around me. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, white and smooth, with a chandelier hanging from it. My body sank into something soft beneath me.

A sofa.

I sat up too quickly and immediately regretted it. Pain shot through my head and I held it, breathing slowly until the spinning stopped.

“Where am I…” I muttered.

“You’re safe.”

My head snapped toward the voice.

He was there.

Leaning casually against the wall like he had all the time in the world.

Tristan Ross.

My chest tightened immediately.

Safe?

That word didn’t belong anywhere near him.

“You call this safe?” I snapped, my voice hoarse. “You bought me.”

The word felt disgusting in my mouth.

Bought.

Like I was nothing.

Like I was something to own.

He didn’t react. Not even a little.

Instead, he straightened and walked toward me slowly. Each step was calm, controlled, like he wasn’t dealing with a human being but something far less important.

“You were in danger,” he said simply.

I let out a short laugh.

“And this is better?” I asked. “Being dragged, caged, and sold?”

He stopped a few steps away from the sofa, his gaze steady on mine.

“Yes.”

The way he said it made my stomach twist.

Like he believed it.

Like this was normal.

“You’re insane,” I muttered, looking away from him.

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Then the door opened and two men walked in.

One I recognized immediately.

 That man who got me in this mess in the first place. My jaw tightened.

So he was part of this. Of course he was.

The other man stood beside him, relaxed, with a faint smile on his face like this whole situation amused him.

“Glad you’re awake,” The man who I personally call devil said.

I glared at him. “You.”

He didn’t look guilty. Not even a little.

“If it makes you feel better,” the other man said lightly, “it wasn’t personal.”

I turned to him. “Who are you?”

“Dylan,” he replied. “Dylan Carter.”

I didn’t care.

“And I'm Adrien Cole” The man said

“I'm still not going to stop calling you a devil,” I said with disdain in my voice.

“Fine by me” 

I wanted to slap the stupid smirk off his face!!

I looked between all three of them, anger rising again.

“So what now?” I asked. “What happens to me?”

No one answered immediately.

That scared me more than anything.

Tristan finally spoke.

“You choose.”

I frowned. “Choose what?” He gestured slightly.

“Who you belong to.”

My stomach dropped. “What?” I whispered.

Adrian leaned against the wall, arms crossed, like this was just another normal conversation. Dylan watched me quietly, still with that unreadable look.

“You’re joking,” I said, shaking my head. “This is sick. I’m not choosing anything.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Tristan replied calmly.

My chest tightened.

“There’s always a choice,” I snapped.

“Not here.”

Silence fell again.

“Except you want to go back to the auction” he said amused “The second highest would take you instead” I froze upon remembering who it was… that old man. “No!!”

My heart pounded loudly in my ears as I looked at each of them.

Adrian.

The man who dragged me into this mess.

Dylan.

The one who looked like he found all this entertaining.

And Tristan.

The one who bought me.

The one who hadn’t shown a single emotion since I met him.

My breathing became uneven.

This couldn’t be real.

“I just want to go home,” I said quietly.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

That was my answer.

Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back quickly.

I wasn’t going to cry in front of them.

I refused.

“Make your choice,” Tristan said again. His voice was colder this time. My hands clenched into fists. If I had to choose…

Then I needed to choose the least dangerous option. Adrian was unpredictable and I hated his guts. Dylan didn’t take anything seriously.

But Tristan… He was cold. Controlled.

And somehow, that made him the safest out of the three.

At least with him, I knew what I was dealing with. Slowly, I lifted my hand. My fingers trembled slightly as I pointed at him. Tristan.

The room went quiet. Dylan let out a small breath, almost like he expected it. Adrian didn’t look surprised either. “Good luck,” Dylan said lightly. “You’ll need it,” Adrian added.

My stomach twisted. That didn’t sound reassuring at all. Tristan didn’t react much.

He just nodded once, like a decision had been confirmed. “Get some rest,” he said. “You’ll need it.” “For what?” I asked, my voice barely steady. He paused at the door. Then looked back at me. “For the rules.” A chill ran down my spine. Then I was left alone with Dylan.

He escorted me to my room.

I waited until he left before rushing to the door. It was locked. I checked the windows next, but we were too high up. There was no way out.

My chest tightened as I looked around again, hoping I missed something, anything. Nothing.

I was trapped.

The

weight of everything hit me at once. My body felt heavy, my head spinning.

I slowly sank onto the bed.

And before I even realized it…

I fell asleep.