Kael’s chambers had always been a place of possession—his scent thick in the furs, his dominance written into every stone, every shadow. Ariana had spent nights here tangled in his arms, trapped under his heat, claimed and marked until she forgot her own name.
But tonight, it was a cage.
The heavy iron lock clicked behind her as Kael shoved the bolt home. His hand lingered on the door, claws scraping the wood. Ariana sat on the edge of the massive bed, her silver eyes flashing in the dim light.
“You can’t keep me in here,” she said. Her voice was steady, though her heart thundered.
Kael turned, his eyes still glowing faintly red from the rage he hadn’t yet shaken. His chest rose and fell like a storm barely contained.
“You left me no choice.” His voice was low, controlled, but brittle
