Chapter 6. Burn The World

The single word rang in Althea’s ears like a command she couldn’t escape.

Her teeth caught her lower lip, trembling hands rising as if to obey. But instead of pulling the dress from her shoulders, her fingers tightened around the fabric, clutching it desperately as though the cloth itself could shield her.

Gavriel’s gaze was calm, unreadable and yet it carried the weight of a predator watching its prey, patient and merciless.

This wasn’t how she had imagined her first intimacy with a man. Not like this. Not stripped of choice. But her will had never truly been her own, not since the moment he had claimed her.

Her chest tightened, panic rushing through her veins. ‘I need something, anything…’

Her eyes darted around the room until they landed on the bottle of wine resting on the table. Desperation pushed her forward. She snatched it up, pulled the cork free with shaky hands, and drank straight from the bottle.

The liquid burned