𝓯𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 30𝓽𝓱, 𝓙𝓾𝓵𝓮𝓼 Cassian's strong arms lifted me effortlessly from Alexander's lap, my breath catching in my throat. My body stiffened, fear coursing through me. I instinctively locked my legs around his waist, clinging to his soft, beige knit sweater

"No need to be scared birdie, mhm" one of his hands ruffled my hair, pressing my face further in his chest in the process. We walked out of the greenhouse to a large swimming pool with sun beds lining the ground. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the scent of jasmine and freshly cut grass. If I closed my eyes and pretended hard enough, I could almost believe I was somewhere else—somewhere safe. Cassian had sat down on a sun bed, he had me tucked between his legs keeping me caged. "Alexander and Nico, have some work to do. Alex told me you like classics" he put the copy of pride and prejudice in my hands that I had seen when I tried to escape.

"Cassian..." I started, trying to steady my voice, trying to make it sound stronger than the fear curling in my stomach.

"Mhm?" His deep hum vibrated through his chest as he reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered, sweeping the rest of my bangs to the side. It's felt comforting, he smelled nice too. Pine. He shifted me effortlessly, turning me so I was now straddling his lap, caged in by his strong arms. I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into the soft fabric of his sweater. "Will you ever let me go?" My voice wavered despite my best efforts. His gaze darkened instantly, the warmth vanishing from his expression. His grip tightened, fingers finding my chin, forcing my face up. He squeezed just hard enough to make my lips part, molding them into a pout.

"Birdie," he murmured, voice dripping with something both cruel and amused. "You still don't understand, do you?" He leaned in, his breath fanning over my skin. "We will never let you go. You're ours now."

Something inside me snapped. Before I could think, before I could stop myself, my hand flew up, striking him across the face. Cassian barely moved from my hit, but his face turned angry .His jaw tightened, his tongue swiping over the inside of his cheek as he turned his gaze back to me.

"I-m sorry" I muttered. His fingers twitched, then, in a blur of movement, he switched our positions. My back hit the cushioned sunbed, the book slipping from my grasp and landing on the stone patio with a dull thud. "Cassian—" I barely got his name out before his hand wrapped around my wrists, pinning them above my head. His other hand covered my mouth, muffling my panicked gasp. "Birdie," he tsked, shaking his head.

His sweater had slipped slightly, revealing the ink crawling up his throat. His tattoos, the ones I had never gotten the chance to really study, stood out stark against his tanned skin. I thrashed beneath him, twisting, kicking—but it was useless. He was stronger, faster, and he knew it. His grip on my wrists tightened just enough to remind me of that. Then, without warning, he kissed me. It was possessive, claiming, nothing gentle about it. He groaned lowly, the sound reverberating through my chest. I jerked my head to the side, trying to break free, but his hand on my jaw tightened, forcing me to stay still. His lips lingered for a second longer before he pulled back, his forehead resting against mine. His breath was uneven, but his grip on me never wavered.

I turned my head away, glaring at the trees swaying in the afternoon breeze. My cheeks burned—not just from anger but from the humiliation of how the kiss had made me feel.

"Are you going to behave now, birdie?" Cassian asked, his voice deceptively soft.

I didn't answer. His hand went around my neck, squeezing my air pipes. I weezed for air, i coughed when he let go. Trying to get so much air in as possible. "You understand Jules?" His voice had grown stern.

"I understand" my voice sounded scratchy, Cassian nodded before positioning us like before. Me in the middle of his legs, his arms around my waist. I adjusted the hoodie to cover my stomach before I slouched down. Cassian handed me the fallen book, Pride and Prejudice, its pages slightly bent from the impact against the stone patio. "Read, birdie," he instructed, his tone light but leaving no room for argument.

I hesitated before taking it from him. He smirked at my reluctance. I turned my attention to the book, forcing myself to focus on the words rather than the way Cassian was watching me. The afternoon sun was warm against my skin, the scent of jasmine drifting through the air. If I ignored the circumstances, ignored him, I could almost pretend I was somewhere else.

Minutes passed, then an hour. My eyelids grew heavier as I tried to concentrate. Cassian shifted beneath me, his warmth seeping into my back. His presence should have kept me on edge, but exhaustion weighed me down. Before I realized it, the words on the page blurred, my head tilting slightly against his chest. I felt the book being grabbed from my hands.

I was asleep before I could fight it.