Chapter 16

Arielle’s POV  

I had lost count of how many hours had passed since I was locked in this room, but the sun had set at least once already so I was certain I had been here at least for a day. 

The walls of the bedroom felt like they were closing in on me and trying to and succeeding in suffocating me with every second that ticked past me. The door was locked like it had been since Damian left me here and the windows were bolted shut too. 

At first, I had shouted until my voice was raw. I had kicked at the door until my legs ached. 

Nothing.  

But no matter how many times I had screamed or pounded on the door, no one came in or paid me any attention. It's like they thought I was throwing a big tantrum there was no response to me or my shouting, not even from Damian.

Just silence. 

I stopped screaming after a while, by then my throat was burning and my fists were bruised, I was tired so I walked back to the bed and fell over it. I really didn't want to be here, the door finally creaked open, I was on my feet immediately, the door surged open even further and I had threw myself toward it, hope surging in my chest. I just needed to make it to the door,slip through the opening and I almost did —only to be met by two of Damian’s guards.  

“Step back into the room,” one of them ordered, his voice as cold as ice, so I stilled, looking away from him, over his shoulders to the other man there. I didn't know either of them. I glared but did as he said, the door opened wider and a woman in a simple uniform entered with fresh sheets and clothes.  

“I want to see Damian,” I said making my voice into as much of a demand as I could it was hoarse and a little bit tired my best to do it still. 

None of them answered me, they just stood aside to the door as the woman worked quickly stripping the bed, dressing it up with clean sheets, while also placing a stack of clean clothes on the chair. She walked out of the room with the dirty things and then came back in with a tray of food that she dropped on the table, replacing the stale food tray from earlier with a fresh meal.  

I wouldn't eat it but I didn't bother saying anything about it because it was likely they wouldn't listen to me. As soon as she was done, she hurried out, and the guards made to shut the door, I lunged for it again but they closed it in my face. I slammed my fists against the wood.  

“Let me out!” I screamed. But I already knew they wouldn’t, they never did not in all the time I had spent screaming at them anyway but I couldn't stop fighting because I needed to get out of here. That became the pattern over the next few days, they brought me clean clothes, they brought food to the room and I refused to touch it. By the third, the hunger gnawed at me, but I still didn’t eat.  

If Damian thought he could lock me away like some prisoner and expect me to just accept it, he was wrong. I would fight in any way I could. Even if that meant refusing to eat.  

Today's meal came in immediately, and it smelled good,my stomach grumbled slightly, my mouth watering at the smell of it. I ignored it and sat on the bed, arms crossed, glaring at the untouched tray like it had personally offended me and maybe it had.

By the fourth day, I was lightheaded, my stomach twisting in pain, this time when the door opened,y stomach twisted in fear, but this time it wasn't the guards that walked through the door. I turned my head slowly as it creaked open  and had to stop myself from showing any surprise at seeing Damian standing in the doorway, holding a tray.  

His expression was unreadable and  his sharp eyes assessed me in that calculating way of his.  I refused to look away.  

"Take that back with you" I muttered and he sighed.

“You’re being childish,” he said flatly, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him. I didn’t reply I just turned my head and stared at the wall instead. 

Damian exhaled sharply. I heard his boots scrape against the floor as he walked towards me. The scent of roasted meat and bread hit my nose strongly, and my stomach betrayed me tightening with a soft growl.  

I clenched my jaw.  

“You really do need to eat.”  I turned away, stubborn.

“I’m not hungry so take it back" I cried out.

“You’re being childish.”  I laughed, bitterly.

“Childish? You kidnapped me and locked me in a room, and I’m the one being childish?” Damian set the tray on the table, crossing his arms. 

"Eat.” I laughed dryly. 

“Go to hell.” he huffed.

"You asked to see me and now I'm here " he mumbled and I shrugged.

"I wanted to see you five hours ago, it's over now "

His jaw tightened as he glared at me.

“Arielle.”  I lifted my chin defiantly.

“You don’t get to order me around. Not now and definitely not ever anymore.”  His gaze darkened. 

"You’re being reckless. Weakening yourself like this won’t change anything" I shot to my feet. 

“Then let me go!”  His lips parted slightly, but then again he said nothing he just stared at me—his golden eyes flickering over me to the tray and then the door.  

He looked sad, like he wanted to give up and it touched something in me, made me want to hold him and comfort him I hated how my body reacted to him, hated the way my heart still ached for him, even after everything. I wrapped my arms around myself.

"Why are you doing this, Damian?” “First, you reject me. Then, you mark me. Now, you lock me up like a prisoner.” I shook my head. 

“ I just can't understand it.” He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. 

“It’s not that simple for me either.” he muttered.

“Then explain it to me,” I snapped. 

“Because all I see is a coward who can’t make up his damn mind.”  

Damian’s entire body tensed and for a moment, I thought he was going to yell, to fight back, but he didn’t instead he turned away, running a hand down his face. He stood there just watching for a long time before he finally spoke, his voice was low.  

“Eat, Arielle.”  That was all he said, I clenched my fists, but I knew that was the only answer I was going to get.  

For now. I glared at the tray one last time. Then I kicked it across the room. Damian sighed.  

" I'll send someone to clean that up" he muttered and I laughed.

"Just let me leave and you don't have to worry about it.” he turned and left, locking the door behind him. I collapsed onto the bed, silent tears burning my eyes.  

I knew Damian was keeping secrets, things that were tied to those rogues that had attacked me and why he kept me locked up in here  I needed to  find out what they were. For the first time since he locked me in this room, I felt something other than anger.  

I felt fear.  

And I hated that it was for him.