"Jason," Mr. Miller greets smoothly, patting him on the shoulder with practiced charm. "I see you’ve already been acquainted with Danika. She’s one of the most desired girls this year." Jason nods, his grin stretching wider as his eyes flicker to me. "I can see why. You've curated a good list this year—it's definitely improving. How’s Henry?" Mr. Miller laughs, the sound hollow and clipped. "My boy’s doing well. Top of his class again this year. He’s heading off to Velmorian Dominion University next year." My heart drops. No. No. That can't be right. Henry will be at the same school as Aiden? Jason hums approvingly. "Same here. Kieran just turned thirty yesterday. Took off with his new jet to party it up on some private island." He's got a son who's older than me? Of course he does. Because why wouldn’t that be the case? Mr. Miller chuckles with forced delight, nodding as though he’s genuinely enjoying the conversation. “We’ll catch up later. I need to make the rounds tonight.
He steps closer. "Don’t count on your dom," he warns, his voice like gravel coated in venom. "If you make things difficult tonight, you will be the reason for his downfall. One misstep, Danika—and your precious dom pays the price. So will his dear parents." I meet his eyes—cold, calculating, soulless—and let mine reflect the same hatred. "I hear his mother loves her dear animals," he sneers, every word laced with mockery. "It would be a shame if someone were to visit them in the dead of night... leave nothing but silence and blood behind." "Don't you dare," I snap, my voice sharp and reckless. Fuck. I can’t control myself. He knows it. He’s playing me like a violin, and I’m stringing out every note he wants. My fury is confirmation. My love is his leverage. "Just one misstep, Dani." He drags out my nickname like it's intimate—like we share something other than contempt. "That’s all it takes. One wrong look. One unscripted word. One refusal to smile. Just one." He steps closer a
I look dark. Dangerous. Nothing like the smiling girls around me. Nothing like an innocent submissive. My hair falls in loose curls, framing my face like a veil. It hides me—just like the shadowy makeup that's been carefully painted on. I look like a witch cloaked in black velvet. And I feel like one too. My dress matches the mood perfectly. Long, flowing, and wicked in its silhouette. It covers everything but reveals power. There's a coiled tension in it. In me. I don’t look approachable. I look like a warning. But not to Ellie. She skips over to me, radiant in a short dark-blue dress that clings to her athletic frame. Her legs look impossibly long in brand-new heels, and her smile could charm a nation. She looks like the ideal, polished housewife—gorgeous, playful, and ready to be owned. “Ready?” she asks, beaming. “No,” I answer flatly. “Oh, come on,” she groans, tugging at the sleeve of my black dress like an eager child. “I’m weirdly excited. Maybe this whole thing isn’t s
I stir slowly, groggy after a horrible night. The men were animals outside. Clapping on our door like maniacs. Yelling, laughing, cheering with feral glee—like they were celebrating something dark. I know some of the girls cried themselves to sleep. Others would have stayed frozen in fear. They had no one to protect them. Just thin walls and thinner blankets. Daniel stayed in Isla’s bed. For the first time. I’m pretty sure he had a knife gripped in his hand the entire night. I don’t think he slept at all—just watched the door in silence, heart wired, ready to fight. The moment I sit up, he's fled through the door. "Morning," Isla yawns behind me, stretching lazily. I raise an eyebrow. "You're up early." She shrugs. "Weirdly, I slept really well. Didn’t even need sleeping pills." "Hmm." I flash a grin. "You think maybe it had something to do with a cock pressed against your ass all night?" "DANI!" she shrieks. She darts into the bathroom, a furious flush rising on her cheeks
I stop walking, planting my heels into the cold marble floor like I’m trying to anchor myself to the earth. Aiden senses it coming—of course he does—and before I can resist further, his flat hand presses firmly against my lower back, forcing me forward. “Why?” I ask, my tone sharp and defiant, my eyes fixed on the curve of his jaw. We descend the marble staircase, but I make him work for every step. I’m dragging my feet like lead weights, shifting all my weight backward just to make things harder for him. It's petty, but I don’t care. “Because,” Aiden bites out, his voice strained with effort, “I’m going to tell him you’re not going to be sold.” My breath catches. The surprise hits like a slap. I blink up at him, suddenly uncertain. We reach the entrance of the main building, and the looming marble statues watch us like silent executioners. Their blank eyes stir something cold in my chest. Anxiety coils tighter around my ribs. “Can’t you… tell him on your own?” I ask, my voice
The men we pass stare at us as we walk, and the disgust in my chest only grows. I want to stab them all. Every single one of them. What makes them think they’re so much better than us? What gives them the right to walk around like they own this world? If you think about it logically, why should men be in charge? Why are they allowed to control everything? Women should be valued more—hell, we create life. We endure pain, sacrifice, and yet we're treated like we're disposable. Men? They contribute nothing but anger and hate. Control. Money. Aggression. Everything that's wrong with this world is built on their shoulders. "Leave!" I snap again, my voice sharp, as I exit the male dormitory. The sun is setting, and the sky is a violent mix of oranges and pinks, the colors so beautiful, so opposite of the anger bubbling in my chest. "If you just wait, Dani!" Aiden's voice calls after me, thick with frustration. "My god, stand still—" "Go. Away!" I scream, fury rising, and I don't care