"Selene," Fabien begins as he plops down beside Toby. He shuffles closer to make room for me on the end. "I believe there's something you failed to mention to our new initiate."

Toby turns on the princess. "You didn't tell her about our Circle?"

"What?" She shrugs. "She's not planning on staying. Her home is in Lyria."

Our eyes meet in a question. What cover story am I going to tell? How am I going to present my situation? Is her claim fact or fiction?

"I'll be here for a short while." I wave a hand dismissively, being purposefully vague on the timeline. I take a sip of my drink. The fruity flavours dance along my tongue, energised by the hint of a burn.

"Life outside the dark realm, huh? How do you get your kicks?" Toby asks.

"There's a booming black market." I reply. The best lies are mixed with truth. "Although I definitely live a different lifestyle to the one you've got here."

"We'll show you how to have a good time."

I sincerely hope he means the best party spots and not something more sinister. But then again, if these people get me out of the house, it could be the perfect opportunity to make a break for my freedom. Another possibility laid out on the table.

Until Selene bursts my bubble. "You'd have to clear it with Ayden, first. She's under his protection."

Toby whistles. "You must be one special girl. Or did you slip a love potion into his food?" He earns himself a playful slap on the leg from Fabien.

"What my boyfriend is trying to say is that Ayden has never extended his protection to anyone outside the Circle before."

If only they knew that Ayden's protection is actually to keep me locked in here, I'm not sure they'd be so impressed.

The group gathered around the gambling table disperses, giving me a direct view of the monster himself. Our eyes meet. His expression is a blank canvas I can't read. We haven't spoken since our encounter in the library and the air is weirdly charged.

"I don't know about you lot, but I'm in the mood for a game." Toby announces. "Kora?"

"I... don't have any money on me." I'm forced to admit. It's also a good excuse to keep my distance from Ayden.

Selene chuckles. "We don't bet in coins among the Midnight Circle. You can stake anything you want in the game. A drink. A favour. You name it, we'll take it. Although sometimes we don't bet anything beyond casino chips."

"Toby once bet his underwear. I won." Fabien says with a wink, standing and offering me his hand.

I reluctantly let him help me up and lead us to the gambling table. Other than the four of us, it's only Ayden at the table. I feel his eyes on me the entire time as we settle into our seats.

Toby nudges him. "I've heard you have someone new under your protection. Care to tell us how that happened?"

Ayden distributes everyone a stack of casino chips. "Did Kora not tell you herself?"

"I didn't ask her. I asked you. You're not usually one to tie yourself down after a good night."

He ignores the angel. "Everyone happy with poker?" We all nod. He deals the cards.

"You are sleeping together, right?" Toby asks, glancing between us.

"We did." I reply airily. "He lost that privilege."

Toby and Fabien howl with laughter.

"You just got burned." Fabien jeers.

"Rejected." Toby sneers.

"Scolded."

"And this is the woman you chose?" The angel's laugh fades with a sigh. "Boy. You're gonna have to work for something for the first time in your life. She's not gonna make it easy for you."

"I'm aware." His tone. And the look in his eyes when he glances my way... The sincerity of his statement takes me aback.

I snort to cover up my shock. "You'd have better luck riding a dragon than climbing back into my bed." And considering dragons have been extinct for millennia, that's a tricky challenge to complete.

"Make him rub your feet all day." Fabien suggests with a smirk.

"Make him crawl over hot coals for you." Toby advises.

"Make him spend a night in the dungeons." Selene winks.

"Two nights." Toby adds.

"A week."

"A month." Fabien counters.

"You're all a bunch of villains." Ayden grumbles.

"And that's why you love us so much." Selene quips, laying down a winning hand of cards. She scoops all the casino chips from the middle of the table down to her end.

We all still have chips remaining, so Ayden deals us a second round. Fabien wins this time. Before Ayden can deal again, another man appears at the table to drag Selene away for a dance. Toby and Fabien slink away to one of the sofas. I watch as Toby kneels over the satyr's lap and their lips meet hungrily.

"I meant it." Ayden murmurs in my ear, making me jump. My pulse quickens at his nearness. When did he sneak up so close? "When I said I would put in the work to earn you, I meant it."

"There's no earning me as long as I'm your prisoner." I argue.

"Then why are you entertaining this conversation instead of pushing me away?" I gulp. He's right, of course. But isn't that what I want him to believe? So why do I feel so nervous? "Tell me what it will take."

"You could start by allowing me some weapons." I answer slyly.

"Is the steak knife not enough for you?" I freeze. "Oh yes, Kora. I knew the moment you took it. I have to commend your intellect, but your sleight of hand could use some work."

"Then why haven't you taken it back from me? You must know I could stab you at any moment."

"You could. But you won't. A kitchen utensil in the hands of a light-sider is hardly of any consequence to me."

He's right. Again. I was taught to use weapons in self-defence; not to attack. I don't have the heart to stab him. But I don't need to admit it. I fold my arms. "You don't know what I'm capable of."

"You don't know either." He counters. "But I'm giving you a chance to learn. Meet me in the training room at nine tomorrow morning. I'll put real weapons into your hands, but they stay in that room only. Don't make me regret it."

A little more freedom and access to weapons? Yes please. I'll find a way to sneak those weapons back to my room and I'll fight my way out of this prison. Ayden won't see it coming beneath my steadily growing wall of compliance.

"I'll think about it." I reply, swaying my hipsas I head over to the bar to refill my empty glass.