"I'm not going to let you die in this room," Kieran said, his voice firm, golden red eyes glinting in the dim light. "Not while you're still my servant. Not while you still belong to me."
The words sent a strange chill down my spine.... not of fear, but something else entirely. Something I didn't want to name.
I shook my head, snapping myself out of the trance his voice always seemed to pull me into. No. I needed to stay grounded. To think clearly.
"I do not belong to you," I said, my voice quieter than I meant, but still steady.
Kieran's gaze snapped to mine, like I'd just spoken a language he didn't understand. He blinked, once, slowly.
"I might be serving you for one month," I continued, "but I do not belong to you. I belong to myself. And myself alone."
He didn't move at first. Just stared, like no one had ever dared say something like that to him. Then he took a step forward. And another.
I took a step back. And another
