Pain. That's the first thing that hit me like a punch to the gut. The kind of ache that just settles deep in your bones and won't let go. It felt like my whole body was wrapped up tight, squeezed by something I couldn't even see. My head was pounding, my lungs felt like they were on fire, and my arms and legs? Totally dead weight, like they belonged to someone else. I choked, gasping for air, and sat straight up in bed, my chest heaving like I'd just run a marathon.
Okay, something was seriously wrong. 'Big', big-time wrong.
That bedroom wasn't mine. Not even close.
I blinked, trying to get my eyes to focus on the dim light from a few candles. What I could see was huge – way too fancy to be my style. Dark red curtains hung down from these giant windows, and the walls had all this swirly gold stuff all over them. A chandelier was hanging from the ceiling, and it made weird shadows dance around the room. Everything screamed money, power, and, yeah, danger. Seriously creepy.
And then I saw *her*.
Actually, no, it was *me*.
I sucked in a breath when I turned and saw this massive mirror on the other side of the room. The person looking back wasn't me. At least, not *my* me. This girl had long, silver-blonde hair framing a super pale face. Delicate features, high cheekbones, and full lips. And eyes that were as bright as the moon. Not my look at all.
Panic shot through me. Shaking, I reached up and touched my face, feeling the smooth skin, tracing the shape of my cheekbones. It wasn't *my* face. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest, and my mind was racing, trying to make sense of it.
And then it all came crashing down, like someone opened a floodgate in my brain.
Seraphina Devereaux.
A noblewoman. A *villain*. And, oh yeah, King Lucian Duskbane's fiancée.
The same King Lucian Duskbane who, if I remembered the story right, was going to have my head on a platter.
It hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew this world. I'd freaking *read* this book. This wasn't some fluffy romance with a happy ending. This was dark fantasy, full of backstabbing, power plays, and seriously messed-up obsessions. And Seraphina? She was basically dead meat.
I stumbled backward, my ears ringing. No way. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. I had a life before all this. I wasn't Seraphina. I was not supposed to be here.
Suddenly, I felt this chill run down my back. I wasn't alone. I could feel it.
The room, even though it was quiet, felt like it was closing in around me, like something – or someone – was watching me. I took tiny, shallow breaths and turned toward the feeling of being watched.
And that's when I saw him.
A dark figure was standing near the door, tall and scary. He was just *there*, like a threat you couldn't even name. The air around him felt heavy, the temperature dropped, and the mood was just…dark. He stepped forward just a bit, and the dim light caught his face, and my blood turned to ice.
King Lucian Duskbane.
He was beautiful in a terrifying way. Dark hair, just messy enough to look like he didn't care. Sharp, perfect features and an expression I couldn't read. But his eyes… those were the worst. Deep, sharp, and filled with something dangerous.
He looked right at me and didn't look away.
You're awake.
His voice was smooth as silk, but there was something sharp underneath. A hint of danger. My stomach flipped. I knew how this was supposed to go. Seraphina Devereaux was going to die by his hand. The evil, sneaky villain who tried to run away from him.
And now I was her. Great.
I started breathing faster and took a step back without even thinking. Lucian's eyes flickered like he was amused by my fear.
Running won't save you, Seraphina, he said, his voice soft, as he took another step closer. You belong to me.
My heart slammed in my chest. I knew this story. The obsession. The way he had to own everything. The way Lucian Duskbane always got what he wanted.
And right now, he wanted me.
I swallowed hard, my mind spinning, trying to find some opening, some way out. But there was nothing. I'd been dropped into this world without a single clue, and now I was at the mercy of the most dangerous man in the kingdom.
A villain.
My villain.
And I had no idea how I was going to survive.