Page 38 of A Debt of Darkness

Matt edges back and Henry takes his place, staring at me with unadulterated disdain. He’s using his height to his advantage and he towers over me, leaning forward exactly far enough to make me deeply uncomfortable.

“I’ve been patient, Ivy. I thought you needed time to settle and stop fighting me. I was mistaken. You’ve been petulant. You’ve been downright rude. You've hurt me but worse than that, you've hurt yourself. This must end. I warned you I'd be forced to act and you've left me no choice.”

My lip trembles and he sees it. He doesn't flinch, doesn't respond.

It’s cruel and cold. It’s everything he hasn’t been until now. My core is shaken and in a single moment, everything that was true no longer holds. He’s ripped away my reality and I’m adrift, panicking, as nothing makes sense anymore.

“You need to accept your place. Accept what you are and what I am to you.” Henry runs his hands through his dark blond hair. “Come with me, pet.”

He offers me his hand and I stare at it, confused as to why he wants me to take it. Adrenaline pours into my veins and tells me not to do it, screaming I need to fight or fly. I’ve already tried both and I’m too damn tired while he’s too damn fast. Maybe there isn’t any point in fighting the inevitable. Maybe going with this current is better than fighting against it.

My hand shakes as it slowly slides into his. Henry smiles and thanks me, carefully pulling me onto my feet after his fingers take a forceful grip. He pulls me behind him and I'm left with no choice but to follow him through the castle. He leads me to the basement and I freeze.

“Henry...”

“Are you fighting, pet?”

I shudder and my feet refuse to move. I can't move. I can't do anything. I stare at Henry, pleading for understanding and unsure if I find it.

I don’t know how to tell him all the thoughts racing through my head. I don’t know if I’d trust him to know them. But I’m certain I don’t want to go down there and my legs won’t work, refusing to obey even if I somehow convinced myself to force them to move forward.

Henry moves closer and tuts.

“My pet finally understands. I decide what you need and what you get, Ivy. About everything. All you had to do was accept this, accept me as your Master. But you wouldn't and now I have to be sure. I need to know you won't hurt yourself, pet. That you've learned, and we won't be back here again.”

He moves so fast I barely see him and I'm flung into the air. Henry carries me through the basement and down another staircase where the air is heavy with the smell of rot and damp. Darkness wraps itself around me and I whimper, afraid of whatever lies ahead.

“I will never harm you, pet. Never.”

A door creaks open and Henry walks through it, lowering me onto the floor of a cell. Straw covers the small floor and a small pile of blankets lies stacked in one corner.

Panic ignites and I thrash, screaming as Henry holds me on the floor. I’m punching and kicking again, fighting as hard as I can—and it’s doing nothing whatsoever. Henry’s too strong and I’m too tired, and even though he knows I don’t want this, he’s decided this is the way forward.

“No. No, no, no, no, no.”

“I will not harm you.”

“You’re locking me in a fucking cell,” I snarl back.

“You need to learn, pet. You need to understand. I amsorry. I thought I could teach you by being gentle. I’ve indulged your temper tantrums and sulks and all it’s taught you is to be rude and rebellious. I’ve pampered you far too much and now I must correct my error.”

The dusty straw doesn’t cover the smell of damp, and the nasty smell of urine and death catches in my nostrils. My eyes search for a way out and Henry holds me firm, insisting I understand my predicament.

“Eyes on me, pet,” he says, stiffening. “You stay in here until you acknowledge me as your Master. I don’t expect perfection but I do expect acceptance and effort. You have straw and blankets, and your water will be changed every morning. You’ll get a bowl of soup at lunch.”

My face twists in disgust and Henry stares at me, checking I’ve understood the conditions of my confinement.

“If you want anything else, you will ask me for it. I will visit when I choose, and the choice to ask for more is yours. Accept that anything more than this is in my gift and trust me, and I will let you out.”

He releases me and I surge forward, lashing out at him.

Henry grabs my wrist and twists it, sending another burst of pain down my arm as he renders my attack completely useless. I’m under his control and much more pressure will snap my wrist. I’ve never felt so helpless. So weak.

And that’s exactly what the asshole wants.

He wants me to give up. He wants me to believe there is no other way. Henry wants to break me and he dares to look at me with pity. I don’t need it. I don’t want it. And I won’t tolerate it. Not from him.

“You can't do this,” I snarl. “I’ll never forgive you.”

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