IVY’S POV
The cold stone floor beneath me felt like ice against my skin. The room was smaller, darker, with no windows at all. Just four stone walls and a heavy wooden door that I was sure was locked from the outside.
I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them, trying to conserve what little warmth I had left. My whole body ached from being dragged here, and my wrists were raw from the rope they'd used to bind me.
"Think, Ivy," I whispered to myself. "There has to be a way out of here."
I'd been examining every inch of this prison for what felt like hours. The walls were solid stone, old but well-built. The door was thick oak reinforced with iron bands. There was no obvious weakness, no loose stones or rotting wood I could exploit.
Still, I wasn't giving up. Kade would come for me – I was sure of that. But I couldn't just sit here waiting to be rescued. I had to try to help myself.
The sound of footsteps in the hallway outside made me freeze. Heavy boots, getting closer. I quickly moved to the far corner of the room, pressing my back against the wall.
The footsteps stopped right outside my door. I heard the scrape of a key in the lock, then the creak of hinges as the door swung open.
Darius stepped into the room, and even in the dim light, I could see the cruel smile on his face. He looked pleased with himself, like a cat that had cornered a mouse.
"Well, Princess," he said, his voice dripping with false politeness. "I hope you're finding your accommodations comfortable."
I didn't answer, just stared at him with all the hatred I could muster.
He chuckled at my silence. "Still not talking? That's unfortunate. I was hoping we could have a civilized conversation."
"We have nothing to talk about," I said finally, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me.
"Oh, but we do." He stepped further into the room, and I instinctively pressed harder against the wall. "We have so much to discuss. Your future, for instance."
"My future is none of your concern."
"But it is," he said, moving closer. "You see, I've decided that you're going to be my Luna. Whether you want to or not."
The words made my stomach turn. "I'd rather die."
"That can be arranged," he said casually. "But first, you're going to listen to what I have to say."
I remained silent, watching him carefully. He was between me and the door now, blocking my only escape route.
"You're wasting your potential here," he continued. "Serving that cursed prince, healing his wounds, cleaning up after his transformations. You could be so much more."
"I am exactly where I want to be."
"Are you?" His voice turned mocking. "A slave pretending to be a princess? How pathetic."
"I'm not pretending anything."
"You're pretending that beast cares about you," Darius snapped, his facade of politeness slipping. "You're pretending that you matter to anyone in that castle. But the truth is, you're nothing more than a useful tool to them."
His words stung, but I refused to let him see that they affected me. "You're wrong."
"Am I? Then where is your precious prince now? Why isn't he here, fighting to save you?"
"He'll come," I said with more confidence than I felt.
Darius laughed coldly. "Will he? Or will his father convince him that you're not worth the risk? After all, what's one slave compared to the safety of an entire kingdom?"
"Kade isn't like that."
"Kade is a prince," Darius said, his voice turning harsh. "And princes always choose duty over love. You'll see."
He was trying to break my spirit, to make me doubt the people I cared about. But I wouldn't let him.
"You don't know anything about Kade," I said firmly. "Or about me."
"Don't I?" He took another step closer, and I could smell the malice on him like a disease. "I know you're afraid. I know you're alone. And I know that deep down, you're starting to wonder if anyone is really coming to save you."
"I'm not afraid of you."
"You should be." His voice dropped to a whisper, and there was something in his eyes that made my blood run cold. "Because I always get what I want, Princess. One way or another."
I felt along the wall behind me, looking for anything I could use as a weapon. My fingers found a loose stone, small but heavy. It would have to do.
"You can make this easy on yourself," Darius continued, "or you can make it difficult. But either way, you're going to be mine."
"Never," I said, gripping the stone tighter.
"We'll see about that."
He lunged toward me, and I threw the stone as hard as I could. It caught him in the shoulder, making him stumble and curse.
"You little—"
I didn't wait to hear the rest. I darted toward the door, but he recovered faster than I'd expected. His hand shot out and grabbed my arm, yanking me back.
"Let go of me!" I screamed, clawing at his hand with my free arm.
"You're going to learn to behave," he snarled, his grip tightening painfully.
I bit down hard on his wrist, tasting blood. He yelled and released me, and I stumbled toward the door again.
But I wasn't fast enough. He caught me before I could reach the hallway, his arms wrapping around me from behind.
"Stop fighting," he hissed in my ear. "You're only making this harder on yourself."
"I'll never stop fighting you," I gasped, still struggling against his hold.
"Yes, you will. Eventually." He shoved me hard against the wall and growled. “You’re going to learn to obey.”
I spat at his feet and his eyes darkened. He stepped closer. I could see the fury in his face, twisted with something even worse—hunger for power, control. His hands grabbed my arms roughly and pinned them above my head.
“Let go of me!” I kicked out, but he was too strong.
He leaned in, his breath hot and disgusting on my cheek. I struggled, twisting my arms, trying to pull away, but he shoved me harder into the stone. The cold bit through my skin like blades. I screamed, loud and raw, hoping someone—anyone—would hear.
“Go ahead,” he sneered. “No one’s coming.”
“You’re disgusting.”
“And you’re mine now.”
I saw it in his eyes—he was going to try. He wasn’t bluffing. I panicked, thrashed, slammed my knee up. He cursed and stumbled, but didn’t let go.
“I said stop!” he roared, slapping me across the face. Pain exploded through my cheek. My ears rang.
I gasped but didn’t cry. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
He shook me by the shoulders. “Do you still think that cursed prince of yours is coming?”
I blinked through the blur, breathing hard. “Yes. He is. And when he gets here, you’ll wish you were never born.”
He laughed—a low, cruel sound. “That mouth of yours. I’ll fix it. You’ll be quiet soon enough.”
His hands moved to my waist.
“No!” I screamed, twisting with everything I had. “Get away from me!”
I slammed my head forward and hit his nose. He roared in pain, letting go just long enough for me to drop to the floor and crawl.
“YOU STUPID GIRL!”
He grabbed my ankle and yanked me back. I kicked, scratching the stone. My fingers burned from the scrape. “Let go!”
“Make me,” he hissed, flipping me over.
I clawed at his face, drew blood. He slapped me again, harder, and my vision spun. My head cracked against the floor.
“Stop—” I whispered, dizzy. “Please…”
“No more talking,” he snarled.
He pinned me again, his weight crushing me. I screamed and bit down on his arm. He roared and punched me in the stomach. Air whooshed out of me. I coughed, choking.
“You don’t know when to quit, do you?” he growled, slapping me again, and again, till my ears buzzed. My vision also darkened but I still fought.
“I hate you,” I gasped.
“Good,” he whispered. “Hate me. It makes this more fun.”
He punched me in the ribs. I cried out. Pain bloomed everywhere and my hands became weak.
“Still think someone’s coming?” he spat.
I didn’t answer so he grabbed me by the chin, forcing me to look at him. “You’re mine, Ivy. Say it.”
I stared at him, defiant. “Never.”
His hand slammed across my face again. My head snapped to the side. Something cracked in my jaw. I tasted blood. My cheek throbbed, my eye swelled.
“Say it!”
I couldn’t speak. I could barely breathe, and he continued to hit me until everything went silent.
My head fell back, and I saw the stone ceiling blur above me, the edges dimming.
His voice echoed faintly, like from underwater. “That’s more like it.”
I blinked once. My body hurt everywhere. My ribs, my face, my arms… every inch was pain. I was slipping. But even as I collapsed, I thought of Kade. I thought of his face, his voice, and my promise to always be by his side.
‘Please, Kade… come soon’, I pleaded within me and my eyes drifted closed as Darius stood over me, looking victorious.