Fifteen-year-old Ruby was the victim of cruel 'ugly duck' jokes until a boy humiliated the jokers.

He didn't just humiliate them...he obliterated and destroyed their lives...leaving them only one way out of the endless torment.

Ethan was in many ways the saviour Ruby needed. Strong, protective, charming and reliable. However, he didn't just care for her, he was obsessed with her. Every minute of his life was devoted to protecting her.

Ruby's hands were shredded by the stone wall that guided her through the ominous, dim lit cage. Tendrils of trepidation threatened to tether and tug at her racing heart. She shrunk into the solid barrier that barred her from her freedom. Her eyes flitted around the dark, dungeon and gazed at her small opening to the outside world.

Why me? she thought Why is it always me?

An eerie voice reached her ears and she desperately scurried to the back of her prison. Her captor opened the heavy door. He smiled and slid over a plate, it stopped in the middle of the large cell. She looked at the plate with dried meat and vegetables. Ruby shuddered as the clang of the door rang in her ears. 

"It's better to eat." 

Ruby almost screamed when she heard that voice. A scrawny teenager emerged from the dark. Her face pale and thin dark hair fell over her face almost obscuring her dazzling green eyes. "I'm Maria. He says he's protecting me too."

Maria pushed the plate over to her. "Eat." Ruby's gaze flitted to the food and back to Maria. She sighed and pulled out a bracelet and held it to the light. Ruby's lip quivered, eyes brimming with tears...She moved the sleeve of her shirt to reveal the very same bracelet. 

Mon amour