Morning light came soft through the sheer curtains, casting pale gold streaks on the marble floor of Dante Harlan's mansion. Avery woke up slowly, feeling a little comfort from Ethan curled beside her. But peace didn't last long here.
She pushed her messy hair back and looked out at the endless grounds. Last night kept playing in her mind—the way Dante's fingers had grabbed her wrist, his low voice asking if she wanted a bedtime story, and that cold look when he warned her not to wander.
He knew she'd disobeyed. And yet… no punishment. Not yet.
A soft knock pulled her back. It was quiet, but firm.
Her heart started pounding. When she opened the door, a maid in black and white bowed slightly.
"Mr. Harlan wants you in the west wing. Breakfast is ready."
A polite way to say it was an order.
She glanced at Ethan, still half-asleep. "Stay here," she whispered, covering him with the blanket before leaving.
The west wing was quiet and a little scary, with high ceilings and dark shadows. She found Dante sitting at the long glass table, dressed in black like always, his hair still damp like he just showered. He didn't look up when she came in.
"Sit," he said flat.
She did.
The silence stretched out.
He poured black coffee into a white cup and slid it over to her. Then his eyes locked on hers.
"Do you make a habit of sneaking into men's rooms at night?"
Avery swallowed. "I… I just wanted answers."
"You disobeyed me," he said coldly. "I told you not to wander."
Her fingers curled around the cup for courage. "I needed to know."
He leaned back, watching her like she was some kind of puzzle. "Curiosity has a price here."
"And what's the price?"
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Obedience."
The silence felt heavier.
Then he stood.
"You want power. Protection. Wealth. Those things come with a cost. And it starts with knowing your place. You live under my roof. That means my rules."
Avery's voice was soft but steady. "And if I say no?"
Dante stepped closer, shadows wrapped around him like they belonged there. "Then you leave the same way you came—broken, desperate, alone."
He brushed past her, but not before his fingers grazed the edge of her collarbone on purpose.
"And next time you sneak into my room… bring something worth my attention."
He left her standing there, breathless.
What did that even mean?
Her mind raced as she walked back, the mansion swallowing the sound of her bare feet. The hallway seemed longer, the shadows twisting her thoughts. Was he testing her? Warning her?
When she closed her door behind her, her heart was pounding.
She didn't really sleep.
She lay awake tangled in moonlight and thoughts of him—his eyes, the way he looked at her like she was something wild that needed taming. Or breaking.
---
Morning came dressed in gold, but there was no warmth.
Downstairs, Dante was already seated at the head of the dining table. His sleeves were rolled up, tattoos dark and sharp on his forearms. He didn't look up when she walked in, but his presence filled the room anyway.
She sat opposite him.
He finally met her eyes. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not really," she said.
"No?" He tilted his head. "Then maybe next time, stay out of rooms where you don't belong."
His tone stung more than it should have.
"I wasn't trying to—"
"I don't care," he cut her off, setting down his coffee with a soft clink. "Since you want to know what it takes to get my attention…"
He leaned forward, eyes dark and fixed on her. "Let's begin your obedience training."
Avery tensed. "Obedience training?"
His smile was cold, like a threat disguised as a smile. "You offered yourself. I accepted. Now you're mine."
His words hit her hard—sharp and humiliating.
But… wasn't that what she wanted?
"Rule one," he said, sipping his coffee, "you don't touch what's mine. My things. My space. My silence."
"And what am I?" she asked, voice shaking a little.
He looked back at her, calm and deadly. "A girl who better learn fast, or burn trying."
Her breath caught. The room seemed to fade under the weight of his words.
"You live under my roof. You play by my rules," he said, voice smooth but biting like steel wrapped in silk. "First rule is obedience."
She gripped the chair tight. "What does that mean exactly?"
He leaned back, tilting his head. "No lies. No secrets. No disobedience. You come into my room without permission again—there won't be another warning."
Her heart hammered. "I wasn't trying to—"
"You were trying to see me," he interrupted, sharper now. "To understand me. But you won't. Not yet."
Silence stretched. Ethan ate quietly, unaware.
"Why call me down?" Avery asked.
He motioned to the plate. "Eat. Then you'll start."
"Start what?"
"Your training."
Her fingers clenched around the fork. "I'm not—"
"You are," he said low. "You bargained for protection. That comes with a price. It starts with learning this world. My world. Where survival means how fast you learn."
She looked up, caught in the dark behind his eyes. Like marble carved with fire.
"You'll shadow me today. Watch. Listen. Speak only when spoken to. One slip, this deal ends. And if it ends, so does his protection."
Her stomach twisted.
He stood. "You wanted power. Let's see if you can handle it."
He walked away, his coat trailing behind him like smoke.
She whispered after him, jaw tight, "What the hell did I get myself into?"