AMAYA
I stand frozen, trapped beneath the weight of Lucian’s stare.
His words echo in my mind, like a vow. “You’re more than just a slave, and I’m going to find out who exactly you are.”
He doesn’t move, just watches me like he’s already unraveling my secrets one by one.
I force myself to breathe.
I can’t let him see through me. I’ve spent years perfecting this mask, hiding the cracks that threaten to split me open every time someone looks too closely.
“You’re wrong,” I say softly, but there’s a tremble in my voice I can’t control. “There’s nothing to find out.”
He tilts his head like he’s studying me. “You can keep saying that if it makes you feel safe, Amaya, but I see you.”
A dangerous silence stretches between us, full of things I don’t want to admit. The bond between us puls
