CHAPTER 8X
It had been a week.!!
Seven days trapped in this golden prison, suffocating under Ivan’s rule. Seven days with no news of Damon. I had asked, pleaded, demanded to know where they had taken him. Each time, Ivan simply smirked, his golden eyes gleaming with victory.!!
“They took him far away from you.” Helena had whispered in my ear one morning, her breath hot and malicious. “You’ll never see him again.”
The words haunted me. They festered inside me, curdling into fury. But I could do nothing. Not yet.”
The only small mercy was that Ivan had forbidden Helena from laying a hand on me. He had made it very clear–my child was to remain unharmed. And for that, I was begrudgingly grateful. But it only made Helena’s hatred burn brighter
She found other ways to torment me.X
She flaunted her position, walking through the halls as if she already wore the crown of Luna. She had the servants remove my belongings from our bedroom, replacing them with hers. She paraded around in expensive gowns, in jewelry that had once been mine, and worst of all–she made sure I saw the way she curled into Ivan’s side, her lips ghosting over his skin, whispering things that made him chuckle darkly.
I despised them both.
Tonight, I was forced to endure dinner with them.
The long dining table stretched between us, the chandelier above casting a golden glow over the lavish feast before us. My appetite was nonexistent, but I forced myself to sit straight, to remain composed. I would not let them see me break.
Ivan carved into his steak, sipping his wine leisurely. Helena, ever the performer, twirled her spoon through her soup, eyeing me with amusement. “You barely eat these days, Cynthia,” she mused. “Are you that devastated over losing your pet?“)
I dug my nails into my palm beneath the table. “You mean Damon?” I said, forcing my voice to remain even. “The man you’re so desperate to erase?!
Her smile twitched. “Oh, sweetie. He was never a real threat. He was just another distraction, and now, he’s gone.”
I refused to flinch. I would not give her satisfaction.
Ivan set down his fork and leaned back in his chair, observing me like I was an amusing puzzle. “You should be grateful, Cynthia,” he sald smoothly. “You’ve been given a second chance. A chance to embrace your role properly.”
וי
I met his gaze, my hatred searing through me like wildfire. “My role?” I repeated. “As your prisoner?“}
Helena laughed, the sound sharp and cruel. “As my entertainment.”2
I gritted my teeth. “You’re nothing but a parasite clinging to his scraps, Helena, Do you honestly believe he loves you?”
Her face twisted, just for a second, before she masked it with a smirk. “I don’t need love,” she said, reaching for Ivan’s hand, stroking her fingers over his knuckles. “I only need power. And unlike you, I know how to keep it.
Ivan allowed it, but his gaze never left mine. “Enough,” he said, his voice carrying that quiet authority that sent shivers down my spine. He ulted his head. “I’ll ask you again, Cynthia, Will you stop fighting me?”
The air grew thick with tension. My hands curled into fists, but I forced my expression to remain blank. I wanted to fight. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to fight!
But I thought of Damon. I thought of my unborn child.
I took a breath and exhaled slowly. “I already made my choice,” I said. “I stay.”
Helena scoffed. “Not like you had much of a choice.“X
I ignored her. Instead, I focused on Ivan. “But don’t mistake my silence for obedience, I murmured. 1 may be here. Ivan, but I w never be yours.“)
Something dark flickered in his gaze, something dangerous. But then, he smiled. “We’ll see ”
The rest of the dinner passed in silence, but the battle was far from over. I may have been coged, but the fire inside me still burned.!! And one day, I would make them pay &
After dinner, I retreated to my room, my mind racing with unspoken rage. Helena’s voice still echoed in my ears, her laughter grating against my nerves. My hands trembled as I ran them over my stomach.!!
The only thing keeping me alive in this nightmare was the child growing within me. Ivan might have caged me, but even he had limits. That was the one power I still held–he needed the child unharmed, and that meant he needed me.
But how long would that last?
A sharp knock on the door snapped me from my thoughts. The door creaked open, and a servant entered, carrying a folded note. “For you, Luna,” she whispered before scurrying away!
age was short
short, hurried X
I frowned, my pulse quickening as I unfolded the paper. The message Damon is alive. Do not give up.
My breath hitched. My fingers tightened around the parchment, my heart pounding in my chest. Damon was alive.!!
A new fire ignited within me. The war wasn’t over yet. And I was just getting started.
