Page 16 of Claimed In Darkness

I trail a single finger up the line of her throat, feeling the rage shudder through her.

“You will learn how to make men weak with just a look.”

She jerks her head to the side, teeth bared. “I will kill you in your sleep.”

I laugh, letting her go. The absence of my touch is almost as sharp as the presence of it.

“Try,” I say. “But for now—kneel.”

She doesn’t move.

A long, tense silence.

Her jaw tightens. Her breath comes out too fast.

I lift a brow. “Did you not hear me?”

Her hands curl into fists. “Go fuck yourself.”

Defiant. Stubborn. Exactly what I expected.

I reach for her again, gripping the back of her neck, pressing just hard enough to make her gasp.

She is so small under my hands.

So fragile.

And yet, she bites like a wolf with nothing to lose.

I drag her down, forcing her onto her knees. “Try again.”

She trembles—not in fear.

In fury.

“I hope you choke on your own arrogance,” she spits.

I grin.

“I won’t. But you might.”

I step back, giving her space. Letting her sit there, on the ground, wearing nothing but her hate.

And gods, she looks beautiful like this.

Her body is coiled tight, her face burning with humiliation and fury. Her knees press against the cold marble floor, her chin high despite the position.

She refuses to look weak.

I love that.

She is not broken yet.

But she will be.

She will be something new. Something sharp. Something of mine.

“Good,” I say, my voice smooth. “Let’s begin.”

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