Chapter Six: A Caged Flame

Flora's POV

The room seemed to close in around me the moment he said those words. The air was getting stiffer and I could feel sweat beads forming on my forehead. The Lucian in front of me was polished, every inch the gentleman in his dark suit and perfectly combed hair. But his eyes—they betrayed a storm within, a pull I couldn't deny, even as I fought to regain my balance in this strange new reality.

"Don't you recognize me?" he asked again, his voice smooth as velvet, yet laced with something darker, something dangerous.

I stared at him, trying to bridge the gap between this Lucian and the man I had known just hours ago. Could he be Marcus? My thoughts spun. There were similarities—the sharpness of his jawline, the smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes—but the aura surrounding him was different. He was refined, calculated, and yet...

My feet moved forward, almost of their own accord, my heart pounding in my chest. I reached up hesitantly, brushing my fingers against his face as if searching for a ghost. “You remind me of someone,” I murmured, my voice trembling.

Lucian’s smirk deepened, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he stepped closer, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. “Is that so?” His breath ghosted over my lips.

Before I could respond, his hand cupped my face with a surprising gentleness, his thumb brushing against my cheek. The touch sent a jolt through me. I got scared instantly, and seeing the look in his eyes, I had cause to. It held something far more treacherous.

“Stop...” I whispered, though my voice lacked conviction.

But he didn’t stop. Instead, his lips crashed against mine, demanding and all-consuming. It wasn’t a kiss—it was a claim, a wildfire that burned through my defenses. I gasped against him, my hands pushing weakly at his chest, but he didn’t yield.

Lucian’s hand slid down to my waist, pulling me flush against him as his lips left mine, trailing down to my neck. “You’ll never escape me,” he murmured against my skin, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down my spine.

He pulled back slightly, his hands pinning my wrists against the wall behind me. His eyes burned into mine, dark and unrelenting. “For as long as I live, you’ll remain mine,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “You’ll serve no other. Your life before this moment ends here.”

I froze, my heart racing with fear and disbelief. The weight of his words pressed down on me, suffocating. His grip was firm but not painful, yet it was his intensity that left me paralyzed.

“You can’t do this,” I said, my voice shaking. “I’m not—”

“You’re not what?” he interrupted, his voice softening, though it held an edge that promised no mercy. “Not mine? Not meant to be here?” His lips curved into a dark smile. “You belong to me now, Dahlia. Accept it.”

The name struck me like a slap. He wasn’t speaking to me—he was speaking to the woman whose body I now inhabited. But his words resonated deeper, stirring something primal within me.

Dahlia’s fear bubbled up to the surface, raw and unrelenting. I could feel it like a second heartbeat, her memories of being treated as nothing more than a possession flashing through my mind. Man after man had claimed her, used her, and discarded her when they were done. Was this to be my fate now too?

I cannot allow it. I understood my purpose here in this life now. But how could I work this through? Lucian was a serious man. A very serious man.

Lucian tilted his head, his gaze narrowing as if he could see the war raging inside me. “You’re trembling,” he observed, his voice soft but far from kind. “You don’t need to be afraid. You’ll enjoy me, Dahlia. I’ll make sure of it.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “You’re insane,” I managed, though the words lacked the bite I’d intended.

He leaned closer, his lips brushing against my ear. “Perhaps,” he murmured. “But you’ll learn to love it. To love me.”

I wanted to scream, to fight, but my body betrayed me, frozen under the weight of his presence. He released my wrists suddenly, stepping back with an air of confidence that only made me feel smaller.

“But not yet,” he said, his eyes raking over me. “You must be starving. I’ll get us something to eat. Wine, perhaps?”

I stared at him, confused by the sudden shift in his demeanor. He turned away, walking toward the door with a languid grace that made my stomach twist.

As he opened the door, he glanced over his shoulder. “Don’t move,” he ordered, his tone calm but commanding. “I’ll be back soon.”

He stepped outside, leaving the door slightly ajar. I heard him speaking to someone, his voice low but firm. “Stand guard,” he said. “No one goes in or out.”

Panic surged through me. He was serious. He intended to keep me here, trapped in this gilded cage he’d constructed.

I paced the room, my mind racing for a way out. The walls felt like they were closing in, the opulence around me a stark contrast to the despair I felt. I couldn’t stay here. I wouldn’t stay here.

My eyes darted to the window, its heavy curtains drawn shut. An idea sparked, wild and desperate.

I approached it cautiously, pulling the curtains aside. The window was large, its glass gleaming in the moonlight. Beyond it, the night stretched out, vast and inviting.

Freedom.

My heart pounded as I weighed my options. The drop wasn’t far—if I could just reach the ground, I might have a chance. I could disappear into the night, find a way to escape this nightmare.

But time was running out. Lucian would return any moment, and if he caught me... I didn’t want to think about what would happen.

Steeling myself, I took a deep breath and reached for the latch. The night air beckoned, a promise of hope amidst the chaos.

I had to act quickly. Before it was too late.