Semua Bab CAGED, CLAIMED, AND FATED: Bab 51 - Bab 60

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONEShe walks toward me.Not rushes. Not strides. Walks.Every step is intentional. Deliberate. Like she's taking her time on purpose. Like she wants me to feel every second of her approach.Her heels click against the marble floor. Sharp. Rhythmic. Impossibly high and flashy, red soles that I recognize even from a distance.Louboutins. Probably custom. Probably worth more than everything I own.She looks extremely intimidating.Not just because of her height or her perfect posture or the severe cut of her suit.But because of the presence she carries. The way the air itself seems to shift around her. The way every person in the lobby has gone silent, watching.Afraid to even breathe too loudly.She stops inches from us.So close I can smell her perfume. Something dark and expensive. Jasmine and something else I can't identify.Her eyes, those ice-blue eyes, shift to Miguel.The look she gives him could kill.Actual hatred radiates from her gaze. Like his very existence

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREEShe looks at me.Waiting.Those ice-blue eyes fixed on my face with an intensity that makes it impossible to look away.Expecting an answer to her question.Why is Dante De León calling you his mate?How do I explain what I don't even understand myself?How do I put into words the insanity of the past few weeks? The kidnapping, the auction, the mate bond claim that I can't feel, the possessiveness, the violence, the confusion?"We... we... well..." I stumble over the words. "Dante... he... he said I'm mated to him."The confession hangs in the air between us.Seraphina's eyebrow arches slightly. A small, elegant movement that somehow conveys volumes."And do you think you are?" she asks.Her voice is calm. Measured. Not a trace of anger or jealousy or the violent possessiveness I'd expect.Just genuine curiosity.And that surprises me more than anything else could.Because unlike Dante, who was so cold and aggressive, who grabbed and claimed and demanded without ex

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVESeraphina's expression doesn't change. Doesn't show surprise or concern or anything.Just goes colder. More controlled."How many?" she asks."At least fifty men, ma'am. Armed. Positioned around the entire perimeter. They have the mansion completely surrounded."She nods once. Sharp. Decisive."Stay here, Elena." She's already moving toward the door. "This doesn't concern you.""Wait..." I stand up. "I'm coming with you."She stops. Turns to look at me. One eyebrow arched."No. You're not.""Please." I move toward her. "This is about me. I should be there. I need to...""You need to stay here where it's safe." Her voice is steel. "This is between me and Dante. You don't need to witness what's about to happen."The implication is clear. There's going to be violence. Maybe death.And she doesn't want me to see it.But I can't just hide. Can't let them fight over me like I'm some prize to be won."Please," I say again. "Let me come with you. I'll stay behind you. I won

CHAPTER FIFTY - SEVEN Then Dante explodes.He stands so violently his chair scrapes backward across the floor."This is absolutely unacceptable!" Anger boils in every word. "I met you first, Elena. I took care of you. I saved you. She has done nothing for you!""And that is the reason why I'm giving her an opportunity," I say calmly. "I mean, she's at a very big disadvantage right now.""And why am I at a very big disadvantage?" Seraphina asks. Her voice is still controlled. Still calm.But there's something underneath it now. Something sharp.I take a breath. Force myself to say it."Because I'm not a lesbian."The words hang in the air."I have never been with a woman before," I continue. "I don't even see the possibility of that. But whatever I'm doing right now, this opportunity I'm giving you...is against everything I stand for."I turn to Dante. "And for you, Dante, I never would have believed I'd give such a possessive, self-centered, selfish person an opportunity to make me f

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINEELENA'S POV"Ariel, I promise I will tell you all about it, but right now there is nothing I can do."I'm trying to sound neutral. Casual. Like this is all perfectly normal.Like spending the night at my boss's mansion, my female boss who claims I'm her mate, is just a standard internship requirement."So, Elena." Ariel's voice comes through the phone, skeptical and concerned in equal measure. "You're trying to tell me that on your first day of work, Seraphina Corvinus...the Ice Queen herself, conveniently comes to the company, which is absolutely rare, by the way, and she asks you to follow her home to do further work?"She pauses. I can practically hear her eyebrow raising through the phone."And you just... went? Just like that?"I shrug even though she can't see me. "I'm as surprised as you are, Ariel. But there's nothing I can do. You know this internship means a lot to me. You know the kind of opportunities I'm getting from this. I just have to play along for