The Villain's Life Is Now Mine

A Cage of Roses

The sound of her heartbeat thundered in her ears, louder then the music, louder than the guests, louder than the guards yelling in confusion. Run, just keep running.

The hedge maze was a twisted trap. The more Raven turned, the more the garden seemed to mock her, walls of green, blooming roses hiding paths she could have taken. Behind her, the rapid thud of boots grew louder. Temir was still chasing her. "RAVEN!" his voice echoed, furious and desperate, "COME BACK HERE!"

She turned sharply around a corner, nearly slipping on the gravel. Her chest ached, Thorns tore her skirt. She didn't know where she was going, only that she had to keep moving. Her vision blurred, her breathing ragged. Then she hit a dead end. Stone wall. Covered in ivy. Too tall to climb. Her breath caught. She spun around, only to see him. Prince Temir. Still holding his side from where she'd kicked him, his handsome face twisted in something almost... ravenous. "You think you can run from me?" he panted, stepping forward. "From us?"

"There is no us," she said, voice hoarse, trembling with exhaustion and rage.

He walked toward her like a lion closing in on its prey. "You think I don't see it? You changed. You act like a stranger. But I know what you are. You're mine, Raven. And I'm going to make sure you never forget it again."

"No," she whispered, backing up until her shoulders hit the stone. He reached for her. And she slapped him. The sound cracked through the garden like thunder.

Temir froze. His cheek turned red, eyes wide with shock. Then slowly, he smiled. A cruel, delighted smile. "You hit me," he said softly, like it amused him. "Good. I missed that fire. That's the Raven I remember." His hand snapped forward, seizing her by the wrist.

"Let me go!" she shouted, struggling. "HELP!"

He pulled her close again, breath hot against her ear. "Scream all you want. They all know what you are. They'll think this is just another tantrum from the palace villainess."

her heart sank. He was right. To them, she was Raven, the obsessive, dramatic girl everyone avoided. They wouldn't help her.

They'd let him drag her back. Temir pressed her against the wall. "You made me wait so long. But I'm ready now. I'll marry you. I'll give you the crown. Just stop pretending you hate me." His grip tightened.

Then a blade sang out of its sheath. "Let her go." Temir stilled. From the other side of the hedge, a tall figure emerged, cloaked in black, Grey eyed. Duke Alistair Draven.

Temir let go of her wrist slowly, hid body rigid. "You think this concerns you, Duke?" Temir's voice was smooth again, composed, dangerous.

"I think anything that looks like assault concerns me." Alistair said, stepping between them. "And I know what it looks like when a woman's afraid."

Temir's eyes flickered to Raven. She was trembling, her face pale. "She's my fiancée," he said coldly.

"She's also the duke's guest," came a second voice. Another man stepped out from the path. The other duke, sharp golden eyed, wearing a scar on his one brow. Duke Cassian Vale. Raven didn't notice she was crying until the wind touched her cheek. "You've made your point," Cassian said, voice low. "Now walk away, your Highness."

Temir looked at them both. Then at her. Something twisted behind his eyes, hurt, fury, longing. "This isn't over," he whispered to her.

Then he turned, disappearing into the hedges.

Raven sank to the ground, chest heaving. Alistair knelt beside her. "You're safe," he said, voice gentle.

"Safe," she echoed, hollowly. "Not really."

Cassian was already signaling to a nearby guard. "Get her out of here. Quietly. No attention."

Raven didn't resist when Alistair helped her stand. She felt like a doll, weightless and cracked. As she stumbled out of the garden, Raven knew one thing for certain. This wasn't a game anymore. Temir didn't want her heart. He wanted control. And he was willing to burn down everything to get it.