All Chapters of Binds of Silk and Steel: Chapter 11 - Chapter 13

Clare's POV:I try to stand up, but my legs betray me almost immediately, and I collapse back onto the bed. I huff, a sharp, frustrated breath. At least the bed is comfortable, I think, before shaking my head. No, absolutely no, I am being held hostage; I don't care how fucking comfortable the bed is. Shaking my head was a bad idea, I realize almost immediately as the room starts to spin. I close my eyes, breathing through my nose and letting it out through my mouth to steady my racing pulse.A few seconds later, a sharp knock echoes through the room, vibrating through the heavy oak door. “Enter,” I call out, and a housemaid walks in carrying a tray of food. The scent makes my mouth water immediately, reminding me with agonizing clarity how much time has passed since I've eaten properly. Then she opens her mouth, and the illusion shatters into a million shards. “Mr. Vance has made it clear that anything you ask for should be provided immediately,” she remarks.I glare at her. “I am no

Clare's POV: The overhead lights flicker on as I make my way down the corridor. The house is quiet, save for the faint hum of the electricity and the soft creak of the floorboards beneath my feet. My shoes barely make a sound as I cross the heavy velvet carpet toward the grand staircase, each step feeling like an excursion into uncharted territory. From up here, the scale of Julian’s home is dizzying. Tall, arched windows line the hallway, casting long, bruised shadows of twilight across the walls. I wrap my arms tighter around myself, a defensive instinct I can't quite shake off, though whether it's from the lingering chill of the concussion or the oppressive weight of the silence, I can't tell. At the top of the staircase, I pause and peer over the ornate wrought-iron banister. Down below, the foyer is vast enough to echo, illuminated by a massive crystal chandelier that catches the fading amber light bleeding through the front glass doors. There’s no sign of Julian, nor of the s