~Aspen My gaze drifts out the window, watching the rain glide down the glass in thin rivets. I press my hand deeper into the cluster of ice in front of me, wincing. This time, Oliver chose a unique punishment. One that can be attributed to a domestic mishap, if anyone pries. My eyes squeeze shut as images of me holding that hot poker with a tight grip while Oliver slowly counted to five flash through my mind. The accompanying clatter of the hot iron as it hit the kitchen floor a moment later has haunted me all day.

~Aspen Were Kastriv an ordinary man, he would be dead. I look toward my husband, so shocked I'm lost for words. He seems to be struggling to form a response too, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "You...You what?" Kastriv examines my husband with an unforgiving, ice cold gaze. "I want to fuck your wife. And you're going to let me." I could throw up. Not because the notion disgusts me, although it does terrify me, I'm just so afraid he's serious, motivated

~Aspen "I can't believe he did that." I stuff my head deeper into my pillow. "Neither can I." My friend stands by my bedroom window, gazing out. Kaia has been the only friend I've had since meeting Oliver. He made me cut off all of them, and right now, he doesn't know I'm close to Kaia. He suspects, but ultimately, he thinks so little of his staff, I don't think he believes I would befriend her. "We need to get you out of here soon, okay?" She turns, lookin

~Aspen Kastriv is methodical and efficient as he continues to sew up my wound. "Fuck this," I grit out, stomach clenching. It's odd, knowing I should be feeling more pain currently. My arm is numb, either from adrenaline, or from whatever tonic Kastriv gave me, that is currently making my head spin. Finally, after what feels like centuries passing, Kastriv pulls away. I watch as he turns back to his table, rummaging through the supplies. "All done now. Let me clean it up and bandage it." 

~AspenI shiver, pressing deeper into the couch, clasping the hot cup of tea between my hands.Kastriv sits on the coffee table in front of me, our legs basically intertwining. He has had the same grim look on his face since I came in."I'm sorry, Aspen, but I'm not letting you return to him," he murmurs lowly, brows furrowed.I swallow thickly.The thought of going back to Oliver now has my heart racing to the point of pain, leaving my limbs trembling and head spinning. It feels different this time.This time, I have a way out."I'm not going back. I'm done," I say over the rim of my cup, sipping the hot tea. I'm still shivering, my clothes and hair soaked through from my trek in the rain, but the blanket Kastriv draped over my shoulders earlier has helped.Kastriv leans forward, reaching out to brush his thumb along my cheek. When he pulls away, there's dried blood on the surface of his glove from the small cuts along my face."How could anyone do this to you?" He says it less like