page seemed strange, like they belonged to someone else and not her. A contract for

nreadable, like stone carved perfectly. Elara's hand was above the paper. S

king and incredulity heavy in the air. "You can't

ont of him. It was awful how quiet it was after that. She wanted him to e

y made up his mind about her fate. He opened his mouth and rema

s were shaking. She didn't get it. This isn't going to happen. She looked at the contract and the lin

ust claim me like this!" a

he only watched her with a

the pressure. Her heart pounded, sending adrenaline through her bod

didn't say anything. He stood up straight, as if this was a normal ch

he circumstances she was in. She responded, "I won't sign it,

ay anything and his lips got thin. The room was rea

warning, and his voice didn't ch

away and tried to stand erect. "I have every choice," she said back, her

to blur as her wrath grew. It seemed like a trap, like a ro

ross the floor. Elara stopped moving, and her breath caught in her throat as they got clos

ke a shadow that filled the room and everything around them. "You

est, taking away her will to fight. Her throat was dry and her hands were sweaty as she stared up

in the way of their worlds. The words da

ver seen before, yet there was something else there as well. A flash of something

ll of his presence, as if the force of gravity had changed. She hated th

, "What is this?" in a hushed vo

e thick and heavy, pushing in on her from all sides. She could feel the heat

if it were a reality. "This contract is just

e said, squeezing her fists at her sides. But the trembling in her v

s softened just a little, and that's wh

couldn't stop thinking about what the contract said, yet she still stood her ground. "I won't

on hers with a look that made her feel like they could see right

ad said what she had said, a part of her couldn't get away from how powerful he wa

to hear his voice, but it wrapped around he

palms. The air was thick with tension, and it felt like the world had shrunk

ht back, even though her bod

ing his presence even more imposing. He moved slowly and

'll learn soon enough," he continued softly, his vo

ooking at her. She saw something more in his eyes, something she didn't know. There was a flash of something beneat

r. She tried to get away, but Darius was too fast. He moved, closing the g

loss for what to do. Her instincts screamed her to run away from the tremendous f

she said, her

e up at him. His touch was icy and forceful, like a force of nature. Her heart r

lara muttered, her voice shak

on that took her breath away. There was something there that flickered, like a flash of heat or something that

n one quick action. His lips caught hers in a

and get away, but her body wouldn't let her. Her breath caught as his lips pressed harder agains

t was possession. It wasn't kind; it was raw and strong, and

red. She despised the strange, disturbing warmth that surged through her chest.

he finally broke the kiss. She stood there with her eyes wi

chest rose and fell as if he, too, had felt the heat. "Now y