to the tast

ted and hungry. He rolled onto his side, heart thudding. The room was too quiet,

omach

hell ha

ktor's confession-and then the kiss. He'd been the one to initiate it, hadn't he? He was the

let out a holl

ov felt like spitting

d up. He moved quietly, pouring coffee like it was just another morning.

different. Distant. The softness from the night be

t sleep,"

e statement. "I

linch. "That's

ask for pe

't giv

old smile. "That kiss meant

"You didn't treat it lik

eded to feel something anything to blo

ed toward

expected. He grabbed his arm n

not le

arm free. "You

do

that statement wasn't ju

what this is? Possession? Am I just

dangerously low. "You think this is a game, Noah? That

"I'd rather die than

ked just slightly.

led my parents. You watched me from a distance like some sick

for it to hap

ere doing. You wanted to control me. Keep me close. You mad

h couldn't name. Not anger. Not sadn

leave," Vik

tch

Viktor stepped in front of the

ll make

idn't back down. "You going to

u don't get to die. Not yet. N

velvet box from his pocket

h f

is t

was a ring. Simple. Elegant. A

eedom? You want to walk away from this hou

stunned. "Yo

ach his eyes. "Probably.

t marry

u w

d my famil

hose men in the alley were the last? You think no one noticed I've been keeping you alive all these

hen let me go and de

dn't last

die free tha

n I'll break your legs and lock

isbelief washing over

. I gave you a chance, Noah. I let you yell. I let you hate me. I eve

s time tighter, pulling him close

hate me? Do it every damn day. But you're g

ry in his voice. "I wi

tor growled. "Y

refused the ring. Refused the proposal. Refus

the ring on the table, like a silent

nt and watchful. Every time Noah passed him, he

a

it. Hated h

toward exits, trying doors, looking for

lways ca

ry

e," Noah said one night

cate," Vikt

him. "You're

move. "And you

m n

oat not too tight enough to c

like you needed

ke," Noah hissed,

ke anoth

ere close aga

away. "No. You don't get to

ly, eyes never leaving h

n a golden cage while

the only way y

breath

own, he knew V