I wanted to hate Thorn with every cell in my body, yet it seemed to be an impossible task.

There was something running through my veins, an undercurrent that was desperate for me to submit to him. My body was eager under his touch, ready to give him everything he wanted and ready to make every one of his demands come true. I didn’t understand it, and I wasn’t sure I ever would. But the undeniable truth was that even when my mind fought it, my body belonged to Thorn completely, and I held no power over myself when he was close to me.

I was in my room that day, after practice with Amber and after eating lunch with Thorn. He hadn’t fucked me yet, but I was restless and needy. It was a bad day, and I longed for a friend who would understand what I was going through. I still hadn’t told Amber the whole truth, and I often wondered if she knew what lay in store for her.

That night, I was occupied with thoughts of escaping, getting away from the life I didn’t choose for myself, even if it meant tearing my soul in half and leaving Thorn behind. But I’d tried so hard to find out more about him, to see through his intentions and understand why he’d taken my life away from me. I feared I would never be able to forgive him if he didn’t reveal his true intentions, which was killing me.

I was supposed to have dinner with him that night, and I knew the day would end as it usually did - with shameful, trembling orgasms elicited from his mouth, hands and cock. I hated myself for craving it.

Walking over to my closet, I started going through my clothes to try and pick something out for dinner. As Pia had promised, my clothes had been replenished, and I had a wardrobe any woman would have been jealous of. I could just imagine Carina going through my new things, eyes sparkling brightly as she uncovered layer after layer of beautiful fabrics, expensive brands and designers I didn’t even know how to pronounce. But it didn’t mean anything to me. All it signified was another aspect of my captivity, and it made me feel like a bird in an opulent cage, a bird that had stopped singing a long time ago.

I filed through my dresses trying to find the right one that would fit our dinner together. My closet was filled to the brim with beautiful clothes, from gowns to short summer dresses and sundresses to wear during the day. But for that evening, I chose a luxurious long cocktail dress that clung to my body in rich, shimmering gold sequins, leaving nothing to the imagination. I matched the dress with a pair of metallic sandals that laced up my shins, and I pinned my hair up to show off the subtle makeup I had applied.

Sometimes I wondered why I still tried, why I made an effort for the man who had kidnapped me and hadn’t shown me mercy. Maybe it was my inner need to submit, or maybe I believed he would finally let me go if I obeyed long enough.

I was ready to leave when there was a knock on the door, and Pia waltzed in, her cloud of perfume following her like an obedient lap dog. She gave me a cool smile, which I returned, and looked almost giddy, so I knew she was sent to deliver bad news.

“Thorn says he’s ever so sorry,” she purred. “But he won’t have time for you today after all. Such a shame, isn’t it?”

I glared at her, feeling like my whole world had been shattered into pieces. I didn’t understand why he wouldn’t spend time with me - as far as I knew he had no trips planned; he usually told me about those days in advance. I wasn’t sure whether I could trust Pia, either, but what other choice did I have? I would have to take her word for it and wait in my room like a good girl.

“Fine,” I said icily, moving to take off my earrings while she sauntered into the room uninvited, pulling out the chair from my vanity and leering at me. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve finally developed a personality, little girl,” she said coldly, her smile as icy as my previous remark had been. “I thought you would remain a spineless little pushover forever.”

“It’s hard to rival the main bitch,” I said with a smile just as cold, knowing full well what my words implied. “I prefer to be the favorite.”

“You think you’re the favorite?” she laughed out loud, throwing her head back while I placed my beautiful stud earrings - real diamonds as Pia had assured me before - on my bedside table. “You have another thing coming, Rose. You’re just the flavor of the month.”

I knew she was taunting me. Since Amber had come to stay at the Mansion, and especially since Ellis’s death, Pia had become nastier than ever. It was now plainly obvious she disliked me, not only that but probably full-on hated me. I didn’t know whether she was jealous of me or if there was another reason for her constant nagging and rudeness, but I wasn’t about to question it. I assumed she was envious about my relationship with Thorn, and I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of addressing those concerns.

“I don’t know why you insist on visiting me if you hate me so much,” I told her plainly, giving her a long, searing gaze. “Wouldn’t your time be better spent elsewhere? With someone you actually enjoy being around?”

“Who says I’m not enjoying this?” she asked in her accented, sweet voice, and we stared at one another for a long time in a never-ending battle of wits.

She was a stunning woman; there was no doubt about it. Her beauty was exotic and wild, and I was sure she’d been the envy of many women in the Mansion. However, while I could appreciate how stunning she was, I wasn’t jealous of her looks. I was comfortable enough in my own skin and even more so with my relationship with Thorn. I didn’t need to worry about Pia - he’d told me himself on numerous occasions - so why was the bitter taste in my mouth back? I was gearing up for an argument with her, even though I’d done nothing wrong. Pia was out to get me - that much I was sure of. She hadn’t shown the same animosity toward Amber, who seemed to bore her, but with me, the claws came out. I could only assume it wa,s because of the man we were both after - Thorn.

“I think you should leave,” I told Pia, and she smirked at me, getting up from her seat.

“I think you should mind your manners,” she hissed at me. “And remember who you are speaking to. Don’t forget I can have you punished if you don’t obey me, Rose.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, saying, “The only one I accept a punishment from is Master. And you’re not him. You’re just a pretty woman with a goddess complex, and I don’t need to listen to you.”

“We’ll see about that,” she said coldly then stormed out of the room.

I stared after her, wondering for the umpteenth time what her problem was but coming up empty. If I was being truthful with myself, I was upset about Thorn canceling our dinner plans. I realized I’d been excited, even eager to see him that night, but now the evening stretched ahead with no promise of leaving my room. I felt claustrophobic, so I walked over to the window, staring at the beach like I had many times before. Would I ever feel those waves lapping at my feet and the sand sifting between my toes? Thorn had given no indication of it, so I could only dream of what it would feel like.

I felt angry then, angry and betrayed, because he’d left me to my own devices. It wasn’t like him.

I walked to the giant vase of roses in the middle of the room. Thorn had fresh ones sent up every day, and I loved their scent and the way they looked in my room. Lush, thick and swollen rosebuds filled my nose with their fragrant smell. He’d chosen white ones that day - a departure from his usual red and pink.

I touched my fingers to one of the buds and felt more anger coursing through my body. I had so many unanswered questions swimming through my head, and I was getting tired of never getting the answers I wanted so badly. Soon, it would be time to face Thorn with every question I had.

Anger wasn’t subsiding. Instead, it was getting worse.

I thought about everything that had been taken away from me: my father, my dancing, Madame. It was all in my past now, and Thorn had led me to believe they were all staying there, too. I would never dance for a crowd again. I would never be able to tell my father I forgave him. And Madame… she was lost to me forever.

Feeling a sudden surge of rage, I lifted the heavy bouquet on an impulse, and with a desperate cry, I threw it against the wall. It shattered, shards of broken glass flying everywhere and roses lying on the floor in a puddle of water.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I dropped to my knees in the middle of the carnage I’d caused, sobbing for everything I had already lost and all the things that would still be taken away from me. I didn’t want to understand. I wanted my life back, and I wanted Thorn to accept I was my own person.

I felt a presence in the room and turned over my shoulder, ready to tell Pia to fuck off, but my eyes connected with my lover’s instead.

“I thought you’d left,” I said brokenly, my voice heavy with emotion.

“Pia told me you were feeling unwell,” he explained, reaching me in two quick, long steps.

I was seething with anger. It was just another one of Pia’s wicked little games. I still didn’t understand why she hated me as much as she did, but I wanted her gone, out of our lives. She was constantly trying to sabotage us and get in the damn way.

“You’re hurt,” Thorn muttered, easing me into his arms. “We need to take care of that cut.”

It was only then that I noticed a small cut on my knee from when I’d dropped down earlier. It was bleeding, and the pain hit me full force as I curled up in Thorn’s arms, whimpering in a desperate attempt to show him how much it was all hurting me.

“I’m going to take care of you,” he murmured softly, and I hid my face under his arm.

He took me to the bathroom, got a first aid kit and patched up my knee while I watched silently. Part of me wondered why he refused to punish Pia, and the other was desperate for him to make amends. I wanted to hate him, but my feelings let me down time and time again. I was addicted to the kind of pleasure with pain he doled out on me, and I wasn’t sure whether I’d ever be able to walk away from it.

“We need to talk,” I whispered, and his eyes shot up to meet mine. “I need to understand you. I need to know who you are.”

“You know enough,” he replied roughly, and I felt my eyes welling up with tears again.

I snatched my leg away from him and glared, saying, “You’re keeping me in the dark. It’s unfair. I need you to trust me.”

“Do you trust me?” he asked, his burning eyes meeting mine.

I pondered the question. He was a monster, a kidnapper and a rough lover, but despite all of it, I knew I would place my life in his hands. I already had so many times before.

“Yes,” I whispered.

He stared at me, contemplating my answer, and finally, I saw his shoulders sag as he slid down the marble wall and faced me.

“Ask,” he ordered. “Ask me anything you want to know.”