Chapter 3 RULES OF THE CAGE

Zaya awoke to silence. No city noise. No shouting neighbors. No police sirens. Just a soft hum of the morning outside the tall glass windows of a bedroom far too expensive to belong to her reality. She sat up quickly. The sheets were silk. The room, massive. Minimalist. Cold. Everything smelled like luxury and danger. She was still in Kael Donovan's home. Or cage. Her heart pounded with the memory of last night: the auction, his threat, the car ride, and finally, her exhausted collapse into the unfamiliar bed. She hadn't been touched. Not harmed.

But the psychological weight of being here owned, bargained for, watched was already heavier than chains. As she moved to stand, the door opened. Kael. Of course. He entered in dark slacks and a fitted black shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to show strong forearms and veins. Power clung to him like a scent. "You're awake." "No thanks to you," she muttered. He smirked faintly and tossed a folded paper on the bed. "Your contract." Zaya blinked. "You're joking.""Read it. You'll find my terms are clear. No escape. No lies. No touching without permission. I'm not interested in breaking you, Zaya. I'm interested in watching you bend." Her spine stiffened. "And if I refuse?" "You can. But I'll make life outside this house... impossible."