Chapter 4: Caged

The sound of the heavy oak door closing behind her sent a shiver down Seraphina’s spine. She stood frozen in the grand bedroom—their bedroom. Nothing had changed. The same luxurious king-sized bed with silk sheets, the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, the scent of Lucian’s cologne lingering in the air.

It was a prison disguised as paradise.

Lucian leaned against the doorway, watching her with a calculating gaze.

"You can stop looking for an escape," he said coolly. "There isn’t one."

Seraphina turned sharply to face him, her nails digging into her palms. "You can’t keep me here against my will"

A smirk tugged at Lucian’s lips. "Legally, I can. You’re my wife, and under the law, I have every right to—"

"I don’t care about your damn laws!" she snapped. "You lost the right to control me the day I walked away."

Lucian’s jaw tightened, but his smirk didn’t falter. Instead, he took slow, measured steps toward her, forcing her back until she hit the edge of the bed. He leaned in slightly, his voice dangerously soft.

"You walked away, Seraphina. But you never let me go."

Her breath hitched, her heart slamming against her ribs.

Lucian straightened, his expression hardening. "You're not leaving. Not until I get the truth."

Seraphina forced herself to keep her face blank. The truth? He had no idea how deep it ran.

The Game of Control

Later that night, Seraphina sat on the plush armchair by the fireplace, arms crossed as Lucian handed her a glass of wine. She didn't touch it.

"I'm not drinking anything you give me," she said flatly.

Lucian chuckled, taking a sip from his own glass. "Paranoid much?"

She stayed silent, watching the fire flicker.

"Why did you run, Seraphina?" Lucian asked suddenly.

She had been expecting this question. He wouldn’t stop until he got his answers.

"You already know why," she said, keeping her voice steady.

Lucian tilted his head, studying her. "Do I?"

Seraphina swallowed. He was testing her. Looking for cracks.

"Tell me, sweetheart," he murmured, swirling his glass, "was it guilt? Fear? Or something else?"

Her pulse quickened. She had to be careful. If she said too much, if she gave him even a hint of the real reason, it would all be over.

"You don’t scare me," she said instead, lifting her chin.

Lucian set his glass down and leaned forward. "You should be scared, Seraphina. Because I don’t intend to let you lie to me any longer."

A cold chill ran through her.

She wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.

Lucian wanted something from her—something more than just her return.

And she had a feeling she was running out of time before she found out exactly what.

A Deal with the Devil

Seraphina’s hands trembled as she clutched the edge of her coat, her gaze locked on the man seated before her.

Raphael.

The devil she had once sworn never to trust.

And yet, here she was, seeking refuge in his den.

The dimly lit penthouse was eerily silent, save for the faint clinking of ice against glass as Raphael swirled his drink. The city lights behind him cast long shadows, making him appear even more dangerous than she remembered.

"I have to admit, sweetheart," Raphael drawled, his voice laced with amusement, "I didn't expect you to come running to me."

Seraphina squared her shoulders, willing her heart to steady. "I'm not running. I'm making a deal."

His brows lifted, intrigue flickering in his dark eyes. "Oh? And what exactly are you offering?"

She took a deep breath. This was it.

"My freedom."

Raphael chuckled, shaking his head. "Freedom is an illusion, darling. Especially when it comes to Lucian."

Seraphina clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "You don’t understand—"

"Oh, I understand perfectly," he interrupted smoothly. "You want out. You want to disappear. You think coming to me is the answer."

He leaned back in his chair, tilting his head as he studied her. "The real question is, Seraphina… why should I help you?"

She hesitated. This was the part she had dreaded the most—convincing Raphael that helping her was in his best interest.

"Because if you help me disappear," she said slowly, "you win."

The smirk faded slightly. She had his attention now.

"You think Lucian will just let you go?" Raphael leaned forward, his expression turning serious. "He will hunt you down, Seraphina. No matter where you run."

She swallowed hard. She knew that.

But she had no other choice.

"You know what he's capable of," she whispered. "But so do you. If anyone can outmaneuver him, it’s you."

Raphael studied her, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. Calculating. Dangerous.

Then, he stood, stepping toward her with the smooth confidence of a man who knew exactly how much power he held.

"You’re right," he murmured. "I can outmaneuver him."

Seraphina's breath hitched as Raphael reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"But the real question is," he continued, his voice dropping, "what are you willing to give me in return?"

Silence.

Seraphina’s pulse pounded.

She had prepared for this—Raphael never did anything for free.

So she squared her shoulders and met his gaze. "Name your price."

A slow smile spread across his face.

And Seraphina knew—she had just made a deal with the devil.