Lilith didn’t speak as the limo door clicked shut. She remained silent as the car began to move, eyes locked on Iris as if she were assessing her, deciding how to punish her—deciding what to punish her for.

  Iris sat rigid, hands folded in her lap, more tense than she was at the party. Lilith’s cold glare made it worse. She was waiting. As if she expected Iris to make a mistake.

  The silence was suffocating. Making Iris almost wish that Lilith would say something.

  Lilith was furious. That much was clear. But what exactly had made her mad, Iris didn’t know.

  Was it the glass of wine? Was it the fact that she was found talking to a stranger? That she let him sit next to her; she let him take her hand? Or was it the stranger himself?

  Elion.

  Iris noticed how Lilith had looked at him. Distrust in her eyes.

  When others approached Iris, Lilith didn’t seem to care. She allowed the polite greeting, the brief touches, the harmless admiration. But with Elion, everything had changed. Lilith had pulled Iris away from him without hesitation. No formalities. No smiles. Not a single nice word.

  Elion had struck a chord. If Lilith ever learned what they had discussed, her reaction would be justified.

  Iris replayed his words in her head.

  There’s almost always a loophole.

  Although leaving sounded nice, she didn’t plan to escape. She hadn’t been tricked into accepting the deal. This was her decision; she set her pride aside willingly. Cornered, sure, but at the end of the day, she didn’t regret her decision. This was for Ray’s sake.

  Understanding the deal was a different story.

  Knowing how to unlock the cage would give her an advantage. It gave her leverage, protection if Lilith ever threatened Ray. And a way out, if it ever came to that.

  Iris let herself imagine it for just a moment: having the option to leave. Saving what Lilith gave her. Disappearing before anyone could stop her.

  But realistically, she knew what Lilith did for her. Ray’s hospital bills were paid. Iris never skipped a meal. She slept without wondering how she’d make it to tomorrow. Lilith had given her a sense of security she’d never known.

  Freedom came with a price. Iris wasn’t sure she could afford

  Iris wasn’t sure she could trust Elion.

  But he offered hope. It could be dangerous, but it was something.

  “Why are you so deep in thought?”

  Iris flinched as Lilith’s voice cut through the silence.

  “It's…nothing,” Iris said quietly, not looking up.

  “Nothing,” Lilith echoed.

  She shifted closer, fingers lifting Iris’s chin until she was forced to meet her gaze. Lilith’s eyes were steady, searching.

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “You never do. Iris muttered.

  Lilith ignored the jab.

  “What did you two talk about?” Her fingers pressed more firmly into Iris’s chin.

  “Nothing,” Iris repeated.

  “It didn’t look like nothing.”

  “It was small talk,” Iris insisted. “Music. Drinks. The food. He was just keeping me company.”

  “Elion doesn’t do small talk.” She released Iris’s chin. “I don’t like you talking to him. He gets too close to other people’s things.”

  Iris rolled her eyes. She knew the only reason Lilith was upset was because someone had tried to get close to her.

  “I’m serious,” Lilith said evenly.

  “Serious about what? We talked; it’s not a big deal.”

  “Not that big of a deal?” Lilith laughed, short and humorless. “Did you forget your place, pet?”

  The last word felt like a stab to Iris’s gut.

  “I didn’t forget,” Iris snapped before she could stop herself. “You won’t let me forget. You told me not to talk if I wasn’t spoken to. He spoke to me. I was being polite.”

  Silence fell between them.

  Lilith leaned back slightly, studying Iris. “Why can’t you just behave?” she asked calmly. Too calmly. “This arrangement only works if you listen.”

  “I have listened,” Iris said, voice shaking now. “I’ve been listening. I wear what you tell me to wear. I play your girlfriend at school. I came to this stupid party. I walked in these stupid heels. I was nice, I smiled, shook hands, stayed by your side.”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Her breath hitched.

  “I don’t even like parties, I hate being around people even more when I’m surrounded by creatures I don’t understand.”

  Lilith’s jaw tightened. “That’s enough.”

  “Why?” Iris demanded. “I’ve been doing my best since I agreed to this deal. I jump when you say jump. I’ll admit I’m not perfect, but I have tried.”

  “Iris.” Lilith’s voice was cold. A warning.

  But Iris wasn’t listening. Her hands curled into fists.

  “No. I didn’t do anything wrong.” Iris shot back. “I just talked to the wrong person, and suddenly, you drag me out like I’m an embarrassment.”

  She glared.

  “Or are you just mad that he was treating me like an actual person?”

  That did it.

  Lilith surged forward, forcing Iris back against the seat, pinning her there as she straddled her. Her fingers closed around Iris’s wrists, holding her in place.

  “Elion is not your friend.” Her voice was low, dangerous.

  “He gets close to people so he can find their weaknesses. So he can look for soft spots and cut them open.”

  She leaned in, her breath brushing Iris’s cheek.

  “He just wants his claws in you.”

  Iris’s chest heaved. “You’re projecting.” She shot back through clenched teeth, “Not everyone is like you.”

  The limo fell silent.

  Lilith stared at her for a long moment.

  “Tell me what he said to you.” Lilith finally said. Her tone was calm, but that didn’t mask the anger beneath it.

  “I already told you.” Iris held her glare.

  “You’re lying.” Her grip tightened, just enough to hurt. “Why was he holding your hand?”

  Iris’s mouth opened, then closed. How would she reply to that without making things worse? She turned her head away.

  “He said you keep me close.” She mumbled, trying to avoid the question. “And he’s right. I never get a break.”

  Lilith grabbed her chin and forced her head back.

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  She shifted, pinning both of Iris’s wrists above her head with one hand and moving a knee between Iris’s thigh.

  “Why was he holding your hand?

  Fear crept up Iris’s spine. But despite her pounding heart, she didn’t back down. She was tired of being treated like an object.

  “He asked.” She finally said.

  “And you allowed it?”

  “I did.” Iris tried to keep her voice even, but there was an unmistakable quiver.

  “And I liked it.” She said, to provoke her.

  Lilith froze.

  “He was nice to me,” Iris continued, words spilling out before she could stop them. “He treated me like a human. Not just a belonging. And he had the courtesy to ask if he could touch me. If he could be next to me,” her throat tightened. “…I liked it.”

  For a long moment, Lilith said nothing.

  Then she laughed. Soft and humorless.

  “He was nice.” She repeated. “Do you really think he’s nice?”

  She released Iris’s chin and leaned back slightly.

  “You let him touch you because you thought he was nice.” Her hand slid to Iris’s inner thigh, just beneath the hem of her skirt. “And you liked it...”

  Iris squirmed. “I did.” She said, refusing to back down. “He was kind…and gentle. Nothing like you.”

  Lilith leaned in until her lips hovered just short of Iris’s.

  “Do you think he’d still be kind if he got what he wanted?” Her hot breath brushed Iris’s skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Her hand traveled just a bit higher, and Iris’s breath hitched. “Do you think he’d be gentle if you let him sink his teeth into you?”

  “He’d tear you apart.” She dug her nails into Iris’s thigh. “And you would never see it coming.”

  Iris winced.

  “You think I’m bad?” Lilith continued coldly. “You should consider yourself lucky that someone else didn’t get to you before I did.”

  Iris’s heart pounded, fear tangling with anger. She wasn't ready to back down yet. She was getting tired of being pushed around.

  “Maybe I wouldn’t mind if he tore me apart,” she shot back, even as she knew it wasn’t true. “Maybe I’d just let him.”

  That was a mistake.

  Lilith’s lips crashed against hers, rough, desperate, unyielding. Her hand traveled farther up Iris’s thigh, slipping beneath the waistband of Iris’s underwear as her grip locked around Iris’s wrists, pinning them in place.

  Iris squirmed, but Lilith was relentless. She pressed closer, deepening the kiss, forcing her tongue past Iris’s lips.

  Iris froze.

  The fear was settled in fully. Heavy and suffocating. Snuffing out the last of her anger. Iris braced herself for what was coming. She had known this was a possibility when she made the deal. But knowing it could happen didn’t make her ready.

  Her skin burned where it was touched. It felt like a warning of what was to come.

  Lilith's knee pressed between her thighs.

  Iris squeezed her eyes shut and let her mind slip away like she’d done many times during uncles’ beatings. Retreating to the back of her mind. Where she wouldn’t feel the pain.

  When Lilith finally pulled back, it was abrupt.

  Iris lay still beneath her. No resistance. No struggle. As if she had already given up. Only the faint tremor in her body reminded Liltih that she was still conscious.

  Lilith stilled.

  Slowly, she released Iris’s wrists and leaned back. Her expression was unreadable as she looked down at her.

  “I didn’t…” Lilith started but stopped herself, clearing her throat. She shifted back into her seat, giving Iris space.

  Iris didn’t. move. Her eyes were open now, unfocused, staring up where Lilith had just been.

  Lilith looked away.

  “I’m not in the habit of taking people by force.” She said quietly.

  Silence.

  Iris remained still; the only sign that she was alive was the slow rise and fall of her chest. Lilith glanced at her again and opened her mouth to say something else, but stopped herself.

  “Iris,” she finally said after a long silence.

  No response.

  That unsettled her. Iris’s usual defiance was gone.

  After another long stretch of silence, the limo came to a stop. Iris still didn’t move. After a few seconds passed, it was clear that Lilith would have to guide her.

  So she did.

  She helped her out of the limo, into the house, and up the stairs. Iris didn’t speak. She followed without resistance, allowing Lilith to lead her into her room. The door was shut softly behind them.

  Iris remained standing where she was left. The heels that she wanted to take off so badly remained on her feet. Her dress was disheveled, her hair out of place.

  Lilith hesitated, then stepped closer.

  “You can’t sleep in that,” she said quietly.

  Iris didn’t respond.

  Lilith exhaled through her nose and reached for the zipper at the back of the dress. She was careful as she undid it, her hands light as she guided the fabric down Iris’s body.

  When Iris swayed, Lilith steadied her and led her to the bed, lowering her onto the edge before leaning down to remove her shoes. Then she turned toward the closet. She didn’t trust leaving Iris alone long enough to retrieve clothing from another room.

  She found a soft nightgown and returned. Iris didn’t protest as Lilith dressed her, took down her hair, and washed her face. Each movement was gentle, deliberate. Careful not to linger. Careful not to frighten her further.

  When Lilith finally stepped back, Iris remained still.

  “You’re staying with me tonight,” Lilith said after a moment.

  “I don’t like you going quiet like this,” she added, almost to herself.

  She pulled back the covers and helped Iris lie down, gentle as she tucked them around her. Then she moved to her side of the bed and settled in, switching off the bedside lamp.

  She left space between them.

  Iris curled in on herself at the edge of the mattress, silent and unmoving.

  Lilith sighed softly.

  “Sorry.” She finally said, barely audible, then turned to go to sleep.