I look around the stone-laden walls that are lit by sconces.

Everything about this place is dark and mysterious—and it screams old money.

What else would I expect from a Montague prison?

I have rarely been out of the city, but Tristan’s brought me to what feels like the edge of civilization.

How could I have been so dumb as to kiss a stranger in the hallway? I should’ve known he wasn’t into me. I should’ve known it was all a Montague ploy to steal me away.

People always have alternative motives with me, and Tristan’s no different.

And yet I can’t explain the way my heart is beating uncontrollably fast, not from fear, but from want and desire for him. I try to push the thoughts out of my brain, but it’s difficult.

He’s my captor, and yet I desire him so much. He’s everything I can imagine a man would and should be, but he’ll never be mine. He’s a lie.

And I know it’s dangerous territory to even think these thoughts about Tristan.

The guy named Benny leads me through the hallways, and he’s actually very nice.

“So this place is very old. But it has a lot of history, and I think you’ll be comfortable here. It also has every modern amenity, so as long as you’re a guest here, you won’t have to go without,” he says.

I think that in another life, I might be friends with this guy. But he’s a Montague, and I have to keep that in mind.

“Yeah, thanks. That helps a lot. It’s almost like I’m not being imprisoned,” I say sarcastically.

He doesn’t know what it’s like to have been kept a prisoner all your life. I’m exchanging one cell for another. Granted, this might be better than the Governor’s mansion, but at the end of this ordeal, they might kill me.

That makes my stay here a little bit more unbecoming.

The Montagues have finally done it. They’ve stolen me away. My father’s greatest fear has been realized.

Not because he loves me, but because I’m the heiress to his throne, the only child. He’ll be mad to have been slighted and to have word get out that the Montagues have all the power now.

I shudder when I think of what my father would do to Tristan if he gets his hands on him.

Benny leads me into a room that’s in a tower. It’s circular and has windows that overlook the grounds. Everything’s dark and draped in shadows. Benny turns on a few lights, and I see that the room is well-furnished.

It really does have every modern comfort while still maintaining the character of an old home or rather an estate.

Still, I can’t help feeling frightened of this place. It’s very different from the high-rise that I’m used to.

Benny is showing me around the room. There’s an en-suite bathroom beyond the closet, and the room is pretty big. Huge velvet curtains provide the shelter of darkness that I need.

I feel like drawing the curtains and never coming out again. I just want to hibernate and to be unknown.

The Montagues have stolen me away, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I think of Thelma and how worried she must be. Has she returned home to see that I’m gone?

“So, if you need anything at all, just press this button and someone will help you,” Benny says, pointing to the phone in the room.

“What? Am I staying in a damn hotel?” I ask him.

“No, certainly not. Tristan doesn’t want you to leave this room. There will be guards outside.”

I expected as much.

“Fine, I don’t care. This is just another prison to me,” I tell Benny.

He looks at me with compassion, like he understands. And then he takes his leave, and I’m just alone.

I walk around the room, thinking about what this means. I don’t know what will happen to me here. I don’t know if I’m in grave danger or not.

One thing I do know is that the war has begun. It’s a war that’s been building between two families for decades. There have been battles before, but with me being taken, things are going to catapult to a new level.

And I’ll be right in the middle of it...so will Tristan.

I try to push him out of my mind. I try to tell myself that I don’t care about him. But I can’t fight what my body is craving.

I want him. Despite my best intentions and despite the fact that he’s my enemy, I need Tristan...inside of me, to penetrate my walls.

And then the intensity of my emotions bear down on me all at once. What am I doing?

I can’t be here. I can’t be with him, nor do I trust him.

I have to get out.

Suddenly, I feel like I can’t breathe. Being essentially imprisoned will do that to a girl.

I fling open the doors to the terrace and walk out onto the little stone balcony.

At least Tristan didn’t think it necessary to lock the windows. I definitely need some fucking air.

I stand outside and the rain is falling. I let it just hit my skin so that I can feel alive, and so that I can feel like things are going to be okay. I allow myself to get drenched by the downpour.

I think of Tristan and how he’s not real, a facade of a man that I fell for.

Again, thoughts of death creep into my mind. I can easily jump from here, then this will all be over.

But then, there would be no more Tristan. And somehow a part of me feels like that would be worse than death.