The leather was cold against her skin.
Her wrists burned where the straps cut too tight.
She could hear his footsteps.
Slow. Controlled. Calm.
"Why am I tied up?" Eden's voice cracked under the tape.
Cassian's breath ghosted her cheek.
"To teach you what silence feels like."
He Pulled the Tape Away
She gasped.
Then spat, "Untie me."
"No."
"Cassian!"
"You want to be strong, Eden?"
"Yes."
"Then stop asking for mercy."
She thrashed in the chair.
His hand gripped her throat.
"Do not scream," he said softly.
"I'm not afraid of you."
"You should be."
He Untied the Blindfold
Her eyes adjusted slowly.
They weren't on the plane anymore.
They were in a room with black walls.
Chains. Mirrors. A velvet cross.
"What is this place?"
"My Paris sanctuary."
"You drugged me."
"No. You surrendered."
"I didn't consent."
"You did when you came back."
Her chest rose hard and fell harder.
He kissed her.
She bit his lip.
He bled and smiled.
He Walked Behind her, circling her like a predator deciding where to bite first.
"You want to know who I really am?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Then I need to strip you of everything that makes you feel safe."
"Why?"
"Because the version of you hiding under all that fear… she's the one I want."
"And if I say no?"
He smiled.
"Then you'll stay broken."
He Reached Into a Drawer
Pulled out a sleek, black box.
Opened it.
Revealed a custom collar.
Thin. Elegant. Black glass stone at the center.
He held it up.
"This belonged to her," he said.
"Tereza?"
He nodded.
"You're sick."
"You're curious."
He stepped closer.
Pressed it against her throat.
"Wear it."
"No."
"Try again."
"No."
He gripped her chin.
"Wear. It."
She stared him down.
Then whispered
"Put it on me yourself."
He Fastened It Slowly
The stone pressed against her throat.
Cool. Heavy and Symbolic.
"You want me to be her?" Eden asked.
"I want you to survive her."
She swallowed, then stood up.
"You want my obedience?"
He stepped back and waited.
"Earn it."
Eden Moved First
She dropped to her knees.
Opened his belt with trembling fingers.
But her eyes didn't hesitate.
"I'm not afraid of what you'll do to me," she said. "I'm afraid I'll like it."
"You will."
She pulled him out.
Ran her tongue along his dick without blinking.
He moaned.
Fist tightening in her hair.
"Good girl."
He Didn't Last Long
Not when she looked up like that.
Not when her mouth was a weapon wrapped in silk.
When he cummed, she didn't flinch.
Didn't stop.
Took it all.
Then wiped her mouth and said, "Still think I'm weak?"
His chest rose.
"No. Now I think you're dangerous."
"Good."
"Because I plan to use you."
"And I plan to survive you."
He Offered His Hand
Helped her to her feet. His eyes didn't leave hers.
"I brought you here to test you," he said.
"And?"
"You passed."
She laughed.
It was soft and bitter.
"You're full of shit."
He didn't deny it.
"You have until morning," he said. "Then I'll show you the estate. The parts you're not supposed to see."
That Night
He left her in a guest room with red sheets and locked drawers.
She didn't sleep.
She found her phone was gone.
Her clothes were replaced with soft silk things that didn't feel like her.
She stared at herself in the mirror.
The collar shimmered in the dim light.
Tereza wore this.
And now she did too.
Eden Touched the Stone
It pulsed against her throat.
And she whispered, "Why did you die?"
At 3AM, She Heard Voices
She cracked the door open.
Listened.
It was Cassian, on a call.
"She's not like the others," he said. "No, I'm not sure if that's good or bad yet."
Then there was silence.
"I'll keep her close. You worry about the next shipment."
There was a pause.
Then, "No. Rowan's still sniffing around. Handle it."
He hung up.
Turned and saw her.
He Didn't React
Didn't raise his voice.
Didn't flinch. Just stared.
"You heard that?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"Who were you talking to?"
"You don't get to ask questions."
"I will eventually."
He stepped closer.
"So you think."
She Walked Back to the Bed
Climbed onto it without looking away from him.
"Are you going to kill me?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because monsters don't kill what they admire."
Her lips parted.
And he left.
The Next Morning
He took her down a long hall.
Everything was white now.
Cold marble. Art framed in black glass and gold.
At the end was a door.
He opened it.
Inside was a room full of tapes.
Labeled.
Sorted.
Names she didn't recognize.
Women she didn't want to imagine.
She swallowed hard.
"What is this?"
"My regrets."
"And I'm next?"
He touched her face.
"No. You're the ending."
He Pointed to a Box
"Watch that one."
She opened it.
Slipped in the tape.
Tereza appeared on screen.
Bound, Crying and Begging.
"Stop," Eden whispered.
"She said the safe word," Cassian said.
"And?"
"I stopped."
"But she still disappeared."
"She ran."
"And you didn't chase her?"
"I didn't have to. Someone else did."
Eden Turned to Him
"What do you mean?"
"She died three weeks later. Car crash. Not me."
"You swear?"
"I swear."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Then why did Rowan say you killed her?"
Cassian didn't blink.
"Because he's the one who loved her."
The Floor Tilted
Eden staggered back.
"Rowan lied?"
"He was obsessed with her."
"So you both were."
Cassian looked away.
"No. I loved her. He wanted her to love him."
"And when she didn't?"
"He blamed me."
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Because I wanted to see who you'd believe."
Eden Backed Away
But he grabbed her wrist.
"Where are you going?"
"To think."
"There's more you need to see."
"No. There's more I need to decide."
He let go of her.
But his tone sank, deep and deliberate.
"You won't like where this path takes you."
"I never liked the path."
She Returned to Her Room
Locked the door.
Paced.
Cried.
Then opened her laptop.
There was only one person who could confirm the truth.
She emailed the journalist who covered Tereza's death.
Signed it anonymously.
Attached the photos Rowan gave her.
And hit send.
An Hour Later
A reply landed in her inbox.
Tge subject was: You're Not Safe
Miss Whitmore,
You were right to question this. But you're in danger now. Tereza's death was not random.
And the last person she contacted was a man named Rowan Vance.
Get out while you can.
.. M.
Eden Read It Twice
Then a knock came at her door.
She closed the laptop fast.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"Room service," a man said.
She didn't order food.
Her heart pounded.
She opened it
And Rowan stood there.
Smiling.
Holding a gun.