LENA
I leaned back into the sofa, eyes fixed on the stack of documents I’d just been holding. I still hadn’t fully processed how insane this all was. I had a new identity, a seven-digit bank account, and a life that could only belong to the devil.
What the hell was I supposed to do with all this power?
I glanced over at Ash, now sitting casually on the armrest, admiring the finished product, Lorne’s work, really, but Ash was clearly taking all the credit. A thought crossed my mind, sharp enough to make me frown. I wanted to test him. I had to, if I was ever going to trust this man completely.
My fingers brushed along the edge of the metal credit card I’d just pulled out from the pape
ASHHumans are foolish creatures. Far too convinced they know what they’re doing. Lena, of course, is the most delightful example of that.She stepped out of the boutique fitting room wearing a blood-red dress that looked like it was designed to mock me. It wrapped around her like deliberate temptation. It was bold, provocative, and definitely not the white “pure” uniform I gave her. I expected as much.My gaze trailed down her body, slow and unfeeling. I didn’t need to strip her; I could see through the silk and skin, right to the defiance she thought made her untouchable.She thought she was winning.“Well?” she asked, arching one brow and spinning slightly, like a queen daring her subjects to question her crown.
LENAI leaned back into the sofa, eyes fixed on the stack of documents I’d just been holding. I still hadn’t fully processed how insane this all was. I had a new identity, a seven-digit bank account, and a life that could only belong to the devil.What the hell was I supposed to do with all this power?I glanced over at Ash, now sitting casually on the armrest, admiring the finished product, Lorne’s work, really, but Ash was clearly taking all the credit. A thought crossed my mind, sharp enough to make me frown. I wanted to test him. I had to, if I was ever going to trust this man completely.My fingers brushed along the edge of the metal credit card I’d just pulled out from the pape
I stepped out of the walk-in closet with my mind still tangled in numbers, documents, and questions. But one clear thing was this house wasn’t just a place to live. It was a fortress, maybe even a shrine. This house was a leftover piece of hundreds of stories that were never finished.My eyes lifted toward the upper landing with the glass railing, just above that massive bed. A narrow spiral staircase rose from the corner of the room, almost hidden behind long curtains.The space upstairs was larger than I expected. Like a private mezzanine tucked away. The walls were lined with shelves. Books, folders, scrolls, and old wooden boxes neatly stacked from floor to ceiling. And in the center of it all stood a long wooden table, its surface scratched and worn by time.Behind the main shelves, I spotted a long glass cabinet. Inside it were names written by hand in slanted, elegant, and cold letters.Names. Not book titles or artifacts, but names of people.Names of women.Some crossed out.
“Give me your last name,” I said calmly, but every word carried weight. “Ravencroft.”Ash didn’t respond right away. He just raised a brow, like he couldn’t decide if he misheard me or was just too amused to care.“That’s … not a typical request,” he finally said.“I want to be Lena Ravencroft,” I continued, folding my legs on the couch and turning fully to face him. “I want that name to be official. On papers. On my ID. On everything I touch when I return.”He studied me for a few seconds. “Ah,” he said eventually. “So this is marriage to you?”I didn’t answer, but I didn’t deny it either.He leaned his head back against the couch, stared at the ceiling, and let out a low chuckle. “Lena, Lena … I don’t do marriage.”“Why?” I asked, sharper than intended.He turned his head lazily back toward me. That relaxed posture vanished from his eyes, replaced with something colder.“Because marriage is a human thing. Ceremonies. Empty vows. Legal chains that humans don’t even respect themselves
I picked up a piece of bread, spread some butter on it, and took a small bite. The food… was good. Too good. Everything felt too cozy. Too perfect. And that made me even more suspicious.I glanced sideways at Ash. “In our deal,” I began, “you said you'd be my slave and do whatever I want. I’m wondering how far that actually goes?”He raised an eyebrow, casually resting his arm along the back of the sofa, like he had all the time in the world. “Care to test it?”“Let’s just say I’m curious.”“You can order me to cook, clean your room, or fly you around the world. You can ask me to get rid of anyone. Kill, conquer, destroy, or just … twist reality—just name them.”I was quiet for a moment, letting his words settle. “So,” I murmured, thinking out loud, “I can really make you do anything?”Ash smirked. “As long as you’re ready to face the consequences.”“Consequences?”“We’ve talked about this, little lamb,” he said patiently—but that damned mouth of his smirked again. “You give me your w
Warm steam wrapped around my skin as I stepped into the bathroom—or more accurately, the private spa room. The floor was heated marble, the ceiling high with a soft, luxurious chandelier. The shower flowed like a waterfall, and the bathtub was large enough to drown in. Every soap and shampoo smelled faintly expensive. It felt like I was being bathed in heaven… if only I wasn’t aware I was living with the devil. I walked under the shower, letting the water soak me completely. The anti-fog mirror reflected my pale face, damp hair clinging to my shoulders. It wasn’t just my body I wanted to scrub clean. My thoughts were far filthier. What have I done? I stared at my wrist—no longer bleeding. The wound was gone, but the guilt was deeper. I had traded my life … for a contract I didn’t even fully understand. And yet, I couldn’t lie. A small part of me didn’t regret it. That was the most terrifying part. After the shower, I pulled on one of