Chapter 9: The Chains that Bind
796 Words
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Alina's pulse was a thunderstorm in her ears.
Viktor still held the fireplace poker in his grip, its cold metal glinting in the dim light. His expression was unreadable, but the amusement in his eyes sent a chill down her spine.
She had failed.
She had tried to fight, tried to escape.
And he had expected it.
"You're braver than I thought," Viktor mused, tapping the poker lightly against the floor. "But not smart enough."
Alina took a slow step back, her breath shallow.
Her mind screamed at her to do something—anything—but her body was frozen.
Then, Viktor moved.
Too fast.
Before she could react, his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist in a grip like iron. Alina gasped as he yanked her forward, her body colliding with his.
His scent wrapped around her—dark, intoxicating, dangerous.
Viktor leaned down, his lips a breath away from her ear.
"You really thought you could hurt me, printsessa?" His voice was low, velvety. "That you could run?"
Alina tried to wrench her arm away, but his grip tightened.
"You should be grateful," he murmured. "If it were anyone else, you'd be dead for trying that."
Her stomach twisted.
Viktor wasn't lying. In the world he ruled, defiance was a death sentence.
But she wouldn't let him win.
"You can't keep me here forever," she spat, her voice shaking. "You think you own me, but you don't."
A dark chuckle rumbled from his chest.
"Oh, Alina," he sighed. "You still don't understand, do you?"
Viktor’s free hand rose, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
"I already own you."
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A Price for Rebellion
Alina barely had time to register the meaning of his words before he was moving.
In one swift motion, Viktor released her wrist—only to grab her by the waist.
She gasped as he lifted her effortlessly, throwing her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.
"Let me go!" she screamed, kicking wildly.
Viktor didn't flinch.
Her fists pounded against his back, but he carried her as if she were no more than a doll in his grasp.
Panic surged through her as he strode toward the heavy doors.
"Where are you taking me?!"
Viktor didn't answer.
He pushed the doors open, stepping into the dimly lit hallway.
Alina's heart raced as she twisted, trying to catch a glimpse of where they were headed.
This part of the house was different.
The air was colder. The walls were lined with dark, polished wood.
And then she saw it—
A steel door at the end of the corridor.
No.
Fear clawed up her throat.
She struggled, kicking harder, but Viktor’s grip remained firm.
He reached the door, unlocked it with a slow, deliberate movement, and pushed it open.
The room beyond was bare. No windows. Just a single chair in the center.
Alina's breath hitched.
Viktor stepped inside, slamming the door shut behind them.
She barely had time to react before he dropped her onto the chair.
She scrambled to her feet, but before she could move—
Cold metal snapped around her wrist.
She froze.
Slowly, she looked down.
Handcuffs.
A chain connected them to the chair’s armrest, locking her in place.
Panic flared in her chest.
She yanked at the cuffs, but they didn’t budge. “What the hell are you doing?!”
Viktor crouched in front of her, his gaze sharp, assessing.
"You need to learn, Alina," he said simply.
Her throat dried. “Learn what?”
Viktor leaned closer.
"That no matter what you do, no matter how hard you fight..." His fingers traced the edge of the cuffs, his touch mockingly gentle.
"You'll never escape me."
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A Lesson in Power
Alina's breath was shallow, her mind racing.
This wasn't just about punishment.
This was a lesson.
A reminder that no matter how much she resisted, he was always ten steps ahead.
She forced herself to meet his gaze. "This is insane."
Viktor's lips curled. "Perhaps."
He stood, towering over her. "But it's necessary."
Alina gritted her teeth. "Necessary for what?"
Viktor exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “For you to understand your place.”
Her stomach twisted.
She wasn’t an i***t—she knew what this was.
Control.
Domination.
Possession.
She yanked at the cuffs again. "You can’t do this!"
Viktor smirked. “I already have.”
Her pulse hammered. "And what happens when I don’t ‘learn’?"
Viktor tilted his head.
"Oh, you will," he murmured. "Because I can be very... persuasive."
A shiver ran down her spine.
There was no doubt in her mind—Viktor wouldn’t stop until he owned every piece of her.
And that terrified her more than anything.
To be continued...
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- Writer
