-LILIAN-
The heavy bolt clicked, sealing us inside Alexander's chambers. The dim light from the dying fire cast long, dancing shadows, making the massive room feel even more suffocating. I lay on the rug where he had pushed me, my heart pounding, my body coiled tight. He stalked towards me, his eyes burning with a dark fire, his powerful frame radiating a terrifying mix of rage and raw, unleashed hunger.
"What are you doing?" I demanded, pushing myself up onto my knees. My voice was steady, despite the tremor in my hands. Fear flickered, but a deeper, colder defiance burned brighter. I would not let him see me break. I would not let him win.
"What am I doing?" he growled, stopping just a few feet away. His voice was low, menacing, thick with suppressed violence. "I am ending this. This
