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“Coward,” he says, shaking his head. “You don’t want freedom, do you?”

He’s right, and I hate him for it.

I love him for it.

I’m confused as fuck.

But I know what Idon’twant.

“Was that for me, Matvei? What you did in the alley? Are you in trouble with Rafail?” I lower my voice, having fun. “Are you going to get a spanking for being a bad boy?” I sigh. “You cut the man’s hand off. How romantic. Tell me something.” I lean in closer to him. “Would you have done that if he’d just looked at me wrong? Or was it thetouch?”

His hand grabs my jaw, fingers pressing just enough to hurt. “You think this is a game?” His voice is low, almost amused.

My eyes have gotten adjusted to the darkness. I blink and smile up at him in the dark. “Isn’t it?”

Maybe he wants me to break. I know he wants me to beg.

Instead, I tilt my chin up, exposing my throat to him. If he were a vampire right now, he could sink his teeth into my skin and never look back. "You like hurting people, don’t you? But I think you like it more when they deserve it.”

His thumb presses against my neck. My pulse beats faster. In the dark, his lips curl as he shakes his head. “You’re not scared, are you?”

The tension between us snaps, burning.

Hate.

Fascination.

Lust.

He shakes his head with a sigh. “You’re going to be so much fucking fun to break.”

That’s what he thinks.

You can’t break someone who’s already broken.

In seconds, he has my wrists wrapped in one of his while he ties them with rope.

“Hey—”

“Patience, little brat,” he says as he stalks away and leaves me.

I shake my head, and my heart beats faster. I can’t predict what he’s going to do or when, but I know this game is only just beginning.

I’m not trapped. I’m playing the long game.

He thinks he’s in control.

ButI’mjust getting started.

* * *

Chapter10

MATVEI

Every fucking timeshe fights me, I want her more.

Every time she outsmarts me, Ineedher.