All Chapters of Cage to Cage: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

VEX POV The grand hall hums with money and menace. Against the back wall, the Council sits like statues, watching, waiting. They occupy the silent auction table, their presence alone enough to remind every family here whose approval matters. The items laid out before them glint under the chandelier light—black market treasures with blood on their history. I pull Brynn toward the table. Necklaces glitter like snares, bottles of vintage wine promise forbidden luxury, and an oil painting, stolen from some gallery in Rome, stares back with painted eyes. Uncut diamonds lie scattered across black velvet like shards of ice. And then there’s the “One Night Invitation”—a discreet card, promising a private evening at the brothel on my territory. Nothing but leverage, all of it. Illegal, obviously. “Anything catch your eye?” I murmur. She shakes her head. Too quick. Too cautious. A server approaches with champagne. I take two glasses, handing one to her deliberately, like I’m reminding the

BRYNN POV While Vex and Kade vanish into the private chambers, I am left alone at the long table. My fingers trace the rim of my untouched glass, the weight of the Council’s eyes heavy even in their absence. It doesn’t take long for the vultures to circle. “Poor little bride,” Livia Moretti purrs as she approaches, Jessie draped on her arm like a jewel. Both wear matching smirks, the kind that say they already know how the story ends. Jessie sets a fresh glass in front of me, her painted nails curling around the stem. “You must be parched. A toast—to survival.” I hesitate only a breath before lifting it. The room is full of eyes; refusing would be its own kind of weakness. The champagne is sweet, cloying, but I swallow anyway. Livia leans down, her perfume sharp, her whisper sharper. “Enjoy the night, Brynn. It may be the last one where you’re smiling.” Her laughter drips like poison as she straightens, pulling Jessie away with her. By the time Vex and Kade return, my pulse ha

BRYNN POV The first blast of cold water slams into me like a wall of ice. My lungs seize, my heart hammering in my chest. The shock is violent but necessary—like claws raking through the fog of the drug clinging to my bloodstream. My hands tremble as they reach for balance, but I’m not alone. Vex’s grip is firm at my front, his palm splayed across my collarbone, holding me upright. Behind me, Kade steadies me by the waist, his warmth a sharp contrast to the water cascading down my skin. Between them, I’m anchored—two immovable forces in a storm I can barely comprehend. I gasp, gulping air like I’ve been drowning. The cold cuts through the haze. It’s painful, but it’s also clarity. When my vision finally sharpens, when the trembling in my fingers becomes something I can control, I manage to speak. My voice is hoarse, broken. “Thank you… both of you.” The words feel small, inadequate. My body shudders as I step out of the shower, teeth chattering. Vex is already there, handing me

BRYNN POV Morning light filters through the curtains, pale and unforgiving. It wakes me before the knock does—soft, precise, at exactly seven. Lila enters with her usual composure, balancing a tray of coffee and delicate pastries. Her expression is as smooth as ever, but her eyes flicker once, sharp with meaning. “Mr. Maddock requests your presence in the east wing study at eight. The wedding planner your brother is sending will arrive at nine.” She lays a simple cream-colored dress across the bed, the fabric light and elegant, designed for appearances, not comfort. When she straightens, her eyes meet mine. Neutral on the surface, but something flickers beneath. “Be careful, Miss Tang. The next three days will be… delicate. For everyone.” My stomach tightens. “What do you mean?” Lila hesitates, the faintest crease etching her brow. “I overheard talk last night. Ajax is getting desperate. With only six days until the wedding, his options narrow. Desperation makes men reckless.

BRYNN POV His mouth crushes mine, the kiss fierce, unrelenting. It’s supposed to be for Liam, but when the door closes, neither of us stops. Heat coils inside me, every nerve sparking, until the only thing I can think about is him. Then he breaks away, breath rough against my lips. His eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen them, and for a moment, he looks as shaken as I feel. “That wasn’t supposed to happen.” The words hang between us, heavy, charged. My pulse pounds in my ears, my body still humming from the taste of him. He looks at me like he wants to say more, like he’s fighting something inside himself—and winning costs him. The silence stretches, thick with all the things we won’t admit. And just when I can’t take it anymore, his mask slides back into place. “Follow me.” He doesn’t wait to see if I will. He turns, sharp and purposeful, leading me down the hall. My legs move before my mind catches up, as if the command alone is enough to pull me after him. Through a locked