Slade followed in silence—close, steady. A wall between me and the breaking point rising in my chest.
Behind us, footsteps.
“Ellie, wait—”
I spun. “Don’tEllie me.”
He stopped short, breath catching.
“You knew about this,” I said. “Didn’t you?”
Caelen hesitated. “I did.”
“And you didn’t think it mattered?”
“I wasn’t planning on—”
“What? Asking my permission?”
“No—I mean yes—gods, I wasn’t going toforceanything, okay?” He ran a hand through his hair, flushed with frustration. “But it makes a lot of sense,” he added, voice softer now. “You and me. Doesn’t it?”
“No,” I said honestly. “It doesn’t.”
“Ellie – “
“I don’t feel that way about you, Caelen.”
I kept my voice calm.
But it hit him like a blow.
He winced.
“I know that. But… you could. Youknowyou could.”
“Caelen,” I said, shaking my head.
“Please, just hear me out, okay?”
He stepped closer, reaching for my hands—like he’d forgotten Slade was even in the room.
Slade moved immediately, a low warning in his voice. “Don’t touch her.”
Caelen threw his hands up, startled. “Okay! Okay. Look, Ellie—I know what you went through was brutal—”
“No.” My voice was flat. Sharp. “Youdon’t.”
He opened his mouth.
“No, Caelen.”
I stepped forward. My voice stayed low, almost soft—but it cut clean. “Do youreallywant to know what happened to me?”
He froze.
“What it felt like to be owned? To be locked in a room and dressed like a doll…”
My voice faltered. “…while he tortured my friend—just to keep me quiet.” My throat burned, but I didn’t stop.
