Soft light slipped through the curtains.
Morning.
Valentine stirred.
A faint movement of her fingers.
A slow breath.
Then—
clink.
Her eyes opened.
For a moment, she didn't understand.
Then she felt it.
Cold metal around her wrist.
Her body went still.
The memory hit all at once.
The car.The struggle.Him.
Her breath turned uneven.
She turned her head—
And saw him.
Artavius.
On the couch.
Asleep.
Valentine froze.
Her eyes scanned him carefully.
Not softly.
Not curiously.
Cautiously.
Even like this—
he didn't look harmless.
His posture was relaxed, but not careless.
Like someone who could wake up in a second.
Her gaze dropped—
to the chain.
Still connecting them.
Her jaw tightened.
So this was it.
Not a nightmare.
Not temporary.
Real.
Her fingers curled slightly.
Testing the cuff.
It didn't budge.
Of course.
Her eyes flickered back to him.
Why is he sleeping like this…?
The thought came—
but not with softness.
With suspicion.
Is this some kind of act?
She didn't trust it.
Didn't trust him.
The blanket around her shifted slightly as she moved.
She paused.
Noticing it.
It was properly placed.
Her brows pulled together.
…why?
Her eyes snapped back to him.
Sharper now.
No.
That didn't mean anything.
People like him don't just become kind.
The chain moved slightly.
clink.
Artavius stirred.
Valentine stiffened instantly.
He shifted—
brows tightening slightly—
then relaxed again.
But didn't wake up.
She didn't move.
Didn't breathe properly.
Seconds passed.
Heavy ones.
Then—
his eyes opened.
And immediately—
locked onto hers.
Direct.
Cold.
Alert.
Not confused.
Not soft.
Aware.
Valentine's heart skipped.
But she didn't look away.
Not this time.
Silence stretched between them.
Tight.
Uncomfortable.
"…awake," he said.
Voice rough.
Flat.
Not a question.
Valentine's grip tightened slightly on the blanket.
"…yes."
Her tone wasn't soft anymore.
It was guarded.
A pause.
Then—
her eyes hardened.
"Take this off."
Straight.
Demanding.
No hesitation.
Artavius looked at the cuff.
Then back at her.
"No."
Simple.
That was it.
Something in her snapped.
"You don't get to just say 'no'!"
His expression didn't change.
"I just did."
Her breathing grew uneven again—
but this time—
not from fear.
From anger.
"You think this is normal?"
"No."
Again.
Immediate.
That threw her off for a second—
but only for a second.
"Then let me go!"
"No."
Firm.
Final.
Silence.
Valentine let out a sharp, disbelieving breath.
"You're insane."
He didn't react much.
"…maybe."
Her eyes burned now.
"You kidnapped me."
No response.
That silence—
felt worse than any answer.
"You don't even deny it?"
"I don't need to."
That did it.
"I hate you."
The words came out steady.
Clear.
Not emotional.
Not weak.
Certain.
A pause.
Artavius held her gaze.
Unmoved.
"…good."