Chapter 42: CHAINS & STRIP POLES

CELESTE

I didn’t know where to begin. I sighed as I sipped on the glass of water, the warm liquid swirling down my throat.

The words felt like glass in my throat—sharp, dangerous, impossible to swallow as we sat on one of the sofas. But Mona’s wide, worried eyes were searching mine, waiting.

And after finding out Mona was from the Mond bloodline just like me, I had no other choice but to confide in her. She was my safest, most stable option at this point. So, with another gulp, finishing the glass's content, I started talking.

“Elijah,” I started, “he took me.” My voice was quiet, barely sounding like it was mine.

It was hollow, half-choked with the weight of unshed tears threatening to break the dam and come pouring down. I went on, as Mona listened, to tell her everything about how Elijah kidnapped me, and about the curse.

Mona stared at me like I’d grown horns. She didn’t speak. Just sat there, mouth slightly open, the weight of it all sinking in. I could see the questions forming behind her eyes, and how she weighed her options—to ask, or not to ask.

“You know—” she started, but was interrupted by the sound of the door exploding with a bang that made us both flinch. The door shook on its hinges as the sound echoed through the house, to reveal Phillip standing in the doorway like a statue carved from storm clouds.

He was cold. Heavy. Chains hung from his hands like serpents wrangling in his hold.

I stood up fast, pulling Mona behind me instinctively. I took a step backward before speaking. “What's going on, Phillip?”

“What madness has Elijah put you up to, now?” I snapped, completely fed up with the entire situation. Phillip didn't flinch.

His voice was flat as he spoke. “It'll be in your best interest to come with me quietly.”

I felt Mona tense behind me, about to say something. I reached back, touched her hand. A silent warning for her not to step in. I shook my head when she stared at me.

Phillip stepped into the room, his eyes fixed on me. “You know I don’t make threats, Celeste,” he said lowly. “But Elijah? He’s in one of his moods. He won’t hesitate to kill your little friend just to make a point.”

The breath rushed out of me. My hands curled into fists. I hated how calm he sounded. How easy it would be for him to follow orders and ruin lives.

I nodded. “Fine. Don’t touch her.”

He didn’t respond. Just moved forward and clasped the chains around my wrists like it was nothing. Like I was nothing. I stayed quiet throughout.

Then came the blindfold—tight, suffocating—and I was led outside until I was shoved into the back of a car. The car started moving slowly, then it picked up speed. I counted turns. Felt bumps in the road. Every second stretched out, twisting around my throat.

By the time the car stopped, I’d chewed a line into my lip.

The second the blindfold came off, I struggled to keep my eyes open against the new brightness of the light. The room was warm, too warm, with golden wood-paneled walls and the scent of cigars hanging heavy in the air.

And at the center of it all—Elijah. Standing like a king in his own twisted court.

I didn't even need to look at him to feel his presence in the room. Anger, and a hint of fear began to rise within me.

Beside him, three men lounged like they owned the world. I didn’t know their names, didn’t need to. I could feel what they were.

Alphas.

The energy coming off them was overwhelming. Heavy. Hungry. And right in front of them stood a gleaming metal strip pole like a crown jewel in a nightmare.

I took a step back.

“No,” I said instantly.

Elijah stepped forward. His face was calm, but his eyes were as dark as coal. “You know how this works, Celeste. Either you dance, or I squash that pride of yours in front of an audience.”

The Alphas chuckled, like this was some kind of joke.

“She’s a pretty one,” one of them said. “Bet she dances better angrily.”

“Don’t be shy, sweetheart,” said another. “We just want a little show.”

I turned to them, snarling. “Go to hell.”

More laughter. My stomach churned.

Elijah didn’t laugh. He moved faster than I could brace for, grabbed the front of my dress, and ripped it.

The fabric tore down the middle, falling away like wet paper. I stood there in just my underwear, heart thundering, rage clawing its way up my throat.

The Alphas let out crude whistles, snickering like vultures circling something dying.

Elijah stepped back and gestured toward me like I was a painting he’d mounted. “Look closely,” he said coldly. “This is the foolish woman who thought she could take my life. Look what pride gets you.”

They laughed louder.

But I didn’t cower. I didn’t move to cover myself.

I stood taller.

I stared right at Elijah, burning the sight of his face into my memory. I let the humiliation seep into my bones—not to make me weak, but to harden me.

“You should’ve let me kill you when I had the chance,” I hissed. “Because next time, I won’t fail.”

The room went still for a heartbeat.

Then Elijah stepped close again, lowering his voice like he was speaking to a child. “You’ll dance,” he said, deadly soft. “Not for them—for me. And if you even think about running again… the next show ends in blood.”

I said nothing.

Didn’t move.

I let the fury simmer under my skin, let it become a promise to myself. A quiet vow.

I wasn’t going to dance. Not now. Not ever.

But one day soon, I’d be the one standing over him.

And he’d regret not letting me die in chains.