Chapter 4 THE DINNER AND THE DEVIL

Zaya sat at the edge of the long mahogany dining table like she might flee at any moment. The table stretched endlessly, like something out of a royal mansion. Yet only two plates were set hers and Kael Donovan's. The room was dim, lit mostly by candlelight and the soft flicker of gold chandeliers overhead. Shadows curled around the corners like secrets waiting to be whispered. He sat at the opposite end, perfectly still. She hadn't spoken since she was led in by Marla, dressed in a black silk gown that hugged her curves too tightly. She'd wanted to wear jeans. Kael had sent this instead.

Control. Always control. "You're not eating," he said at last, slicing into his steak. "I'm not hungry." "You should be. I've gone to the trouble of feeding you." "I'm not a stray dog." Kael lifted his gaze slowly, calmly. "No. Dogs are loyal." Zaya's hands clenched around her fork. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you? Keeping me here. Playing your sick game." "This isn't a game, Zaya. It's debt. And payment. Simple as that." "I didn't steal from you. My brother did." "And he ran. You didn't." Zaya's voice was icy. "Because I had nowhere to run." Kael leaned back in his chair, studying her like she was something under glass. "That's where you're wrong. You ran straight into my world." Zaya's grip on the silverware tightened. Her palms itched with the urge to throw the wine in his face, to scream and demand to be taken seriously-but what would that solve? Nothing. Kael thrived on reactions. Control was his oxygen. She forced her voice to steady. "You want me here to punish me for something I didn't do?" "I want you here," Kael said smoothly, "because you interest me." She blinked. "Excuse me?" He rose from his chair and walked toward her slowly. Each step deliberate. Powerful. The click of his shoes on marble echoed like a countdown. She stood, backing up instinctively as he stopped just inches away. "I don't need to lie, Zaya," he said. "If I wanted a plaything, I'd have one. If I wanted revenge, your brother would already be in a box." Her voice dropped. "Then what do you want?" Kael's eyes held hers, cold but not cruel. "I want to see what happens when you stop pretending to be unbreakable." A chill ran down her spine. His gaze dropped to her lips, then slowly climbed back up. She swallowed hard. "You won't get that from me." "We'll see." He turned and left her standing in the candlelight, shaken but defiant. This wasn't love. It was war. And he has just fire the first bullet.