Chapter 7: Claimed

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I slowly woke up, the disorienting haze of sleep still clinging to me.

 As my eyes fluttered open, my breath caught in my throat. The bed was a mess of tangled sheets, and there, beside me, was Thorne. His chest rose and fell with a deep, steady breath, but his eyes were wide open, fixed on me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. He was watching me—studying me—as if I were the most precious thing he'd ever seen.

His gaze was magnetic, almost obsessive, and I could feel a twinge of panic deep inside me. There was no denying it—Thorne had a power over me, a charisma that I could barely withstand. His eyes, dark and full of secrets, seemed to melt my resolve, threatening to unravel everything I’d worked so hard to build.

"Good morning," he murmured, his voice rough but low, as though it carried more weight than I could grasp. "Did you enjoy last night?" His lips curled into a half-smile, the kind that could disarm anyone—anyone but me.

I had to stay composed. I couldn’t let him see how unsettled I felt. I couldn’t afford to be vulnerable—not now. Not when I was so close to getting what I needed. My heart raced, but I forced my face to remain indifferent, my voice cool as I replied, "It was fine."

I hoped it sounded convincing.

Thorne chuckled softly, a deep, throaty sound that seemed to vibrate through me. He reached for my hand, his fingers trailing over it with a slow, deliberate motion.

"I can’t believe it," he said with an amused tone.

"At your age, still a virgin. I thought you'd be like all the others, but I was wrong. And now, well, now I have you... all of you."

My stomach twisted painfully. Deep inside, a part of me hated myself for what I had done. I had let him in, let myself slip into a moment of weakness, and now I was paying the price. But I couldn’t let him see that. I couldn’t let him see how much I despised myself for my foolishness. I had a mission, and nothing—nothing—could get in the way of that.

I pulled my hand back, forcing my voice to remain steady. "Don’t get ahead of yourself," I said, keeping my tone as casual as I could. "We both know this was a one-time thing."

But Thorne wasn’t easily dismissed. His smile widened, and he leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, "You’re mine now, Emma. All of you. Your body... your heart... everything. I’ll make sure you never forget that."

His words hit me like a physical blow. They were possessive, dangerous, and they wrapped around me like chains I couldn’t break. Thorne wasn’t just confident—he was obsessive. The realization that he saw me as his now, in a way that went beyond the physical, was enough to make my skin crawl. But I had to stay calm. I couldn’t let him know how rattled I was.

I needed him to trust me, to believe I was one of his own. I wasn’t here for him. I was here for the job. This was about bringing him down, about gaining access to his world so I could gather the evidence I needed. It wasn’t about him. It was never about him. It was about justice.

I pushed the guilt deep down, as far away as I could. There was no time for self-doubt. I had to stay focused.

"Of course, Thorne," I said, my voice smooth, detached. "Whatever you say. But I’m not one to be controlled."

Thorne laughed softly, his gaze never leaving me. There was something in his eyes—admiration, hunger, but also an unsettling certainty. "We’ll see about that," he said, his smile curling with dark promise.

I tried to ignore the unease crawling through my veins. This was only the beginning. I had to keep playing the game, keep acting like I belonged. Because the truth was, I had no choice. If I wanted to take Thorne down, I had to become part of his world. I had to seduce him, gain his trust, and get close enough to destroy everything he had built.

Even if it meant pretending to be his. Pretending to belong to him.

The thought made my stomach churn, but I shoved it aside. I was in too deep now. There was no turning back.

Thorne’s voice broke through my thoughts, his words taking me by surprise. "Come with me, Nora," he said, his tone firm, as though there was no room for argument. "Live with me. I’ll take care of everything. You’ll be mine."

The weight of his words settled heavily over me, and for a moment, I hesitated. What did he mean by "take care of everything"? Was this some kind of possession? What would living with him truly mean?

I couldn’t let myself be just another trophy—someone for his bed, his amusement. I had to know where this was headed, what he expected of me. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, trying to sound unaffected, though my heart raced in my chest. "Living with you… what are your expectations?"

Thorne’s gaze never wavered, his smile curling into something predatory. He leaned in, his breath warm against my skin as he whispered, "I expect you to be mine, in every way. I’ll make sure of it."

The air around me thickened, my pulse quickening. What did that even mean? Was I supposed to become just another possession in his world of control and dominance?

I gathered every ounce of composure I had, not allowing my fear to show. "But… will it just be that?" I asked, my voice carefully controlled. "Just me and you… in that way?" I needed clarity. I needed to understand what he wanted from me.

Thorne’s smile deepened, almost like he was enjoying my uncertainty. He placed a hand on my chin, tilting my face up to meet his eyes, and I couldn’t escape his gaze. "No, Nora," he said softly, but with a certainty that made my stomach drop. "You’re going to be my queen."

His words reverberated in the quiet room, and I froze. His queen? The implication of it settled over me like a heavy weight, suffocating me. The idea was shocking, unsettling, but somehow… real. He wasn’t asking me to be just another woman in his life—he was claiming me. And worse, he expected me to accept it.

I tried to swallow the knot in my throat. "Your queen?" I repeated, barely able to form the words. Was he serious? He couldn’t be… could he?

Thorne nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Yes. You’re mine. All of you. And I’ll make sure you never forget it."

A chill ran down my spine as his words settled in my mind. I wasn’t sure how to respond. How could I?