Chapter Ten - I Must Survive - Maya's POV

His words hang in the air between us. There is a sense of unspoken truths that I'm not ready to hear, and I still don't trust him. I also don't know what he truly wants from me or what I'm supposed to do now that I am here. Instead of turning to speak to him face to face, I force myself to stay quiet and keep my back turned to him. I'm not ready for this conversation or any of this. Not yet. I can't help but notice the way he says those words. There's a weight in his voice, almost like the faintest edge of vulnerability buried beneath the coldness. It makes me wonder if he ever really wanted to buy me in the first place. But even if he didn't, it doesn't change anything. Because he did, anyway. The questions churn in my mind, but I refuse to give them a voice. Asking him won't change my fate. The silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating, and I fight to hold my ground. But it's too much. Eventually, I cave. 'I can't do this," I whisper. For a moment, there's nothing. There's no movement, no sound. A sharp panic coils in my chest. Did he leave while I wasn't looking? But then his voice cuts through the quiet. 'You don't have a choice," he says, softer than before. "Honestly, neither of us do. You're here, and this is where you will stay." I squeeze my eyes shut and lean forward, gripping the windowsill for support. His words hit hard, even though I don't want to admit he's right. My father sold me off like a piece of property. There's no way back home. But that doesn't mean I have to accept this. A distant howl slices through the night, and my body tenses. I lift my head, drawn to the window, searching for something to prove I'm not losing my mind. 'The wolves are rather loud tonight, aren't they?" His voice is calm, almost too casual. 'There are all kinds of things in the woods you wouldn't want to mess with. If you're thinking about running away, I suggest you don't. Some like to chase. Some like to bite. And you never know what you might come across." A shaky breath escapes me. My hands tighten against the windowsill. 'Then tell me what I'm supposed to do here. What do you want from me? You paid my father for me, and I still don't know why. Why bother saving him and buying me?" The air thickens between us. He doesn't answer right away, and I feel his presence behind me, looming like a storm cloud about to break. The weight of it is unbearable. When he finally speaks, his voice is still unnervingly calm. 'Though I'm sure it makes no sense to you, you're here because you're necessary. There are things coming. Things I will need you for. You're part of it now, whether you want to be or not." Dread slithers down my spine. I force myself to turn my head, just enough to glimpse him over my shoulder. His face is shadowed, unreadable. 'What if I refuse?" My voice trembles, despite my best efforts to keep it steady. "What if I tell you to send me home?" He steps closer. The air between us crackles, and my whole body begins to shake. 'You can't refuse." His voice is quieter now, but no less dangerous. 'You're mine now, remember? The moment the money changed hands is the moment you became mine. And I won't let you put everyone at risk just because you won't cooperate." A shiver rips through me, and I hate that my body reacts this way. I turn to face him fully, lifting my chin in defiance, even as my heart slams against my ribs. 'You might have bought me, and you might control my circumstances, but you don't own me. That is one thing you can never do." For the first time since I arrived, I catch a flicker of something in his expression. I think it's amusement, maybe. But it vanishes as quickly as it comes. 'We'll see about that, little lady," he murmurs, his voice laced with something unreadable. 'We'll definitely see. I think in time you might change your mind." Without another word, he spins on his heel and strides out of the room, leaving me alone, still trembling. Another howl rises outside, but I don't turn to look. I'm too focused on what just happened. Damian is dangerous, and I have no idea what he's capable of. If he has enough money to pay off my father's debts and still live like this, then his wealth runs deep. There's no telling what kind of power he holds. Or what else he can do and buy. And yet, underneath all the fear, another thought lingers, one that unsettles me even more. I don't know if I fear him completely or if I just want to understand him. The door clicks shut, and I finally take a deep breath. My legs feel weak as I drag myself to the bed and collapse onto it. His words echo in my mind. I am necessary. But for what? What could I be necessary for? My gaze drifts toward the door as more thoughts creep in. What could a man like that possibly need me for? What is he hiding? I rub my hands over my face, willing the questions away. No. Surely it's nothing. Maybe he just plans to use me as another maid. But hiring a maid would have been much cheaper than buying me. Focus, Maya. Survive. Another howl splits the air, sending a fresh chill through me. Shadows stretch across the walls, creeping closer as if they, too, are watching. I glance at the food near the fireplace, my stomach twisting with nausea. But if I want to survive, I need my strength. With a sigh, I push myself up and walk to the table. I sit down, picking up the bread and soup. The taste is bland, but I force myself to eat. Because no matter what Damian has planned, I have to be ready.