Chapter 9 · The Price: Flesh and Secrets

"One month," Cain whispered. His breath was hot, hitting the shell of my ear. "Absolute obedience. No saying no. No thinking twice. You belong to me—body and soul—until I decide the debt's paid."

I jerked back. He didn't let me. His hand clamped onto my jaw, forcing my gaze up. His eyes weren't just dark. They were hungry.

"And in exchange?" I managed to grit out.

"The truth about your mother," he said. His voice dropped, a low, dangerous vibration that I felt in my marrow. "Every letter. Every name. Every lie she told before she vanished. I have it all, Ivy. All you have to do is stop fighting me."

My pulse hammered against his thumb. Right there, on the thin skin of my throat. Inside me, that strange, humming catalyst stirred. It felt like a live wire under my skin, reacting to him. I hated it. I hated how my body wanted to lean into the man treating me like property.

"You're insane," I spat. My voice trembled. "You think I'd just... hand myself over to a monster?"

Cain let out a short, dry laugh. He didn't loosen his grip. "Monster? Maybe.