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I shake my head, so fucking sad.

And I know when I tell him the truth, he won’t have any use for me anymore.

All this time, I’ve been wondering how to get away.

And now, my greatest fear is that he’llwantto get rid of me.

I’m so fucked up.

The pain subsides enough that I can think again, and when I do, I force myself to speak.

"I need to use the bathroom," I whisper.

My body is tight, aching from holding onto the pain.

Matvei helps me sit up.

"Of course," he says gently. "Let me know if you need anything."

I hesitate.

Then, “Thank you.”

When I open the bathroom door, I draw in a short breath.

He's got all my supplies in a little basket, neatly arranged next to Epsom salts, scented bath oils, and lotions. High-end, luxury items I wouldn't buy before now because it always seemed like such a waste. He has half a dozen hot water bottles on a shelf, numerous vials of pain meds, and other supplements too—iron, pain relievers, homeopathic remedies I’ve never seen before. Essential oils, roller balls, everything.

I come back to the room a few minutes later, shaking my head. "Did you go on a little shopping spree?"

"I picked up a few things," he says with a shrug. "We're having steak for dinner too. Supposedly, liver is really good for you, but that sounds disgusting."

I nod in agreement. "I’d rather be in pain than eat that. But I don’t want to stay in bed all day.”

"Just for today," he says softly but firmly. "After today, I'll consider letting you out of bed again. But for now, you stay here."

Frustration wells in my chest, and I cross my arms, staring him down.

"But I don’t want to."

I barely refrain from stomping my foot like a damn brat. "What if I get out of bed anyway?"

He gives me a look and quirks an eyebrow.

"Do you know exactly what will happen if you get your little ass out of bed?"

"Don'tpatronizeme."

"Don'tdisobeyme."

I throw my hands up in the air. "I don't need to stay in bed all day!"

"And if you step foot out of bed, you won't sit for a fucking week. So maybe make a choice."

A little thrill runs through me.

Why do I like this?

I’m not going to unpack that right now. I’m still trying to sort out the whole cage thing.