The final night arrived like a verdict I wasn’t ready to hear.
They called it my graduation ceremony. The private theater in the compound’s lowest level was lit only by candles in wall sconces, casting long shadows over velvet seats and the wide, raised platform at the front. I walked in on my own feet this time, no leash, wearing nothing but the permanent collar and the fresh brand on my inner thigh that still throbbed when I moved.
All six of them waited on the platform, dressed in black, faces serious for once. No smirks. No teasing. Just quiet intensity that made my stomach knot.
Damien stood in the center. He held out his hand. I took it and let him lead me to the middle of the soft rug that covered the stage. A single spotlight clicked on above us, warm and golden.
“One last nigh
