THE KIDNAPThird person POVKylie faced the mirror, the wedding dress clinging to her form like a second skin. The veil flowed down her back, its intricate lace serving as a fragile shield from the outside world. Her reflection revealed a stark contrast to the tempest of feelings raging inside her. Anxiety tightened around her heart, and her eyes betrayed the fear she desperately tried to conceal.Beside her stood Ava, her younger sister, a silent source of strength.“I’d do it for you,” Ava finally murmured, her voice a gentle affirmation of support.Kylie’s breath caught as she stepped away from the mirror, her facade beginning to crack. “You’re still my little sister. I should be the one looking out for you.”Ava’s eyes sparked with resolve. “We’ll look out for each other. Our connection is far more powerful than their foolish oaths, the Omerta, or their blood ties.”A heavy sigh escaped Kylie. “I don’t want to leave you. It pains me to think of moving to New York.”“I’ll come to s
ABDUCT Darkness. That's all I could feel at first—just pure, suffocating darkness. My body feels heavy and weighed down, and my limbs refuse to move. I’m stuck in this in-between, not quite awake but no longer fully unconscious. Slowly, I started to come to—first the pain in my head, a dull throbbing like someone hit me over and over. Then there’s the cold. I’m lying on something hard, something rough and unwelcoming. Concrete maybe? The air feels thick and stale. It smells like damp stone, and my throat feels dry. I try to move, but my body doesn’t respond right away. Everything feels distant, like I’m underwater. My arms, my legs—they're sluggish like I’m still fighting off whatever sedative they gave me. The memory of being drugged rushes back in small, panicked bursts. The drink. The room. The faces… Then darkness. I blink slowly, my eyes trying to adjust, but everything’s a blur. Shapes blend into shadows, and nothing makes sense. Where am I? I can’t see anything, just hazy ou
BETRAYAL Miranda notices me looking, and she lets out another laugh, this one darker, more dangerous.“No one’s coming to save you, darling,” she says, almost like she’s enjoying my desperation. “This warehouse is in the middle of nowhere. No cell reception, no prying eyes. It’s just you… and me.”The way she says it sends a shiver down my spine. I can feel the power she has over me, the way she relishes it. She’s in control here, and she knows it.But then something shifts in her expression, like she’s just remembered something. Her gaze flicks to the shadows, and I freeze. There’s someone else here. A figure steps forward from the darkness—a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with cold, calculating eyes. He doesn’t say anything, but the sight of him sends another wave of panic crashing over me. Dante!I recognized him immediately. He’s one of Lysander’s most trusted guards. Or he was. What is he doing here? Why is he with her?Miranda saunters over to him, leaning against his arm li
GREATEST NIGHTMARE"I sank deeper into the comfy chaise lounge, loving the feel of the velvety cushions against my skin. The only sounds were the quiet rustle of pages and the tick-tock of the old grandfather clock in the corner. It was so peaceful in the library, almost like my own heartbeat.The reading lamp next to me creates lengthy shadows across the dark wooden furniture, enveloping my younger sister Ava in a personal cocoon of light. The walls were lined in rows of unspoiled volumes with leather-bound spines glinting in the faint light. I'd always connected the musty smell of old paper and polished wood - which permeated the air — with safety and comfort.Ava's head rested cozily on my lap; her eyes closed, and her breathing was regular. I looked down at her calm face and started to smile a little. Her long lashes created soft shadows on her cheeks, and some black hair strands had dropped across her forehead. Our home lacked these quiet times; hence, I valued every second.Runni
UNWANTED ENGAGEMENTYou know that feeling when your stomach starts churning right before you're about to go on a rollercoaster? That's exactly how I felt outside Dad's study. I could barely even grab the doorknob because my hand was so sweaty. It was never a good sign to be called to the study, but this time? It felt different, like something was off.I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "It's okay, Kylie," I muttered to myself. "You probably forgot to do something minor; no big deal." I pushed the door open and walked in, trying to pep talk myself into feeling better."Man, was this room always this stuffy?" I quizzed, Dad's cigar made the place smell like a truck, and I swear the walls were closing in on me. Dad looked all broody and serious behind his desk. He motioned toward the chair across from him and said, "Sit down, Kylie."As I perched on the edge of the seat, I felt like a little kid in the principal's office. "What's up, Dad?" I tried to sound casual, but I thi
A THREAT?The café should provide a small haven from the whirlwind of the past several days, I hoped. Though the scent of new coffee and the gentle buzz of conversation were meant to be calming, they appeared to accentuate my thoughts instead. Trying to ignore the chill still clinging to my bones from the early morning drizzle, I put my hands around the steaming mug.My phone broke the silence on the table by buzzing on top of it, and I looked at the screen. Still another reminder of the engagement announcement from my dad. I sighed, unable to help, but it felt like every communication stacked on additional pressure, not like I would have forgotten.Letting my thoughts wander, I watched the rain-slicked streets out the window. The café was cozy, but outside the dark sky and consistent rain pattern reflected the uncertainty developing in my head. Was this exactly what I yearned for? Was I really about to wed a man I hardly knew, someone who lived a life of shadows and power?I observed
THE COUNTDOWN TO ENGAGEMENTTwice a day. Just two meager days till my presence formally runs down the toilet. Like a gloomy cloud hovering over me, the engagement party loomed large and I couldn't get rid of the sense of approaching disaster. Who, at seventeen, has an engagement party? For loud screaming out, this was not the 1800s.Sitting on my bed, I watched the pale pink frock hanging on my closet door. Mom had picked it out naturally. Heaven forbid I show up for my own engagement party sporting something I truly like. I moaned and flopped back onto my cushions. Perhaps if I desired really hard, this would all simply vanish."kylie! Kylie! Join me at my pity party." The sound of small feet stomping down the hall burst through. My door opened to show my younger brother, Kael, his dark hair standing in every direction and his eyes glittering with mischief."I want to play!" he declared, throwing himself into my bed with the elegance of a young elephant.I started to grin and ruffle
MINEThe booming sound of the grandfather clock in the corridor echoed across the huge manor as midnight approached. I lay wide awake in bed, feeling as though my head was spinning with ideas and emotions. Instead of being comforting, the silk sheets now felt suffocating against my skin. The memory of dinner lingered in my mind, with the tension, loaded looks, and barely veiled threats hidden beneath polite conversation. It replayed in my thoughts, each iteration deepening the pit of fear in my stomach.I turned onto my side and looked at the elaborate vanity across the room. In the low moonlight streaming through the heavy draperies, I could just see my reflection — a pallid ghost with wide, troubled eyes. Looking back at me, I hardly recognized myself. Was I the cleaned-up daughter of a criminal lord? The future bride of an even more dangerous man?Muttering "Screw this," I slung my legs over the side of the bed. As I padded across the room in near-darkness, fumbling for my bathrobe