"Their Queen, Their Captive"

Chapter 4: The First Dinner

Dinner.

The first time we were all together in the same room, sitting at the same table, and it felt like I was being dissected—piece by piece—under their gaze. Leo sat at the head, commanding and cold. Adrian lounged on my left, smirking like he was waiting for me to mess up. And Nico was to my right, silent but no less imposing.

They were like wolves, and I was the lamb.

The clink of silverware was the only sound at first. No one spoke. It was suffocating. My fingers curled in my lap, nails digging into my palms hard enough to leave crescent marks.

"Eat," Leo said suddenly, breaking the silence. His voice cut through the room like a blade.

I looked down at the food—perfect, expensive, and carefully arranged—but I couldn't stomach it. Not with all of them staring at me.

"I'm not hungry," I murmured.

"You will eat," Leo snapped, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Adrian chuckled, low and cruel. "Oh, look at that. Our little bride's already trying to defy us."

I glanced at him. He was leaning back in his chair, a fork spinning lazily in his fingers. His storm-gray eyes sparkled with amusement as if this was all some big joke to him.

"Leave her alone, Adrian," Nico muttered, not bothering to look up from his plate.

"Why? It's entertaining." Adrian's grin widened. "I mean, look at her. All quiet and obedient now, but I wonder how long that'll last."

Leo slammed his glass down on the table, the sharp sound echoing through the room. "Enough."

For a moment, no one moved. Adrian smirked but said nothing more.

Leo's piercing blue eyes turned back to me. "Eat."

I didn't have a choice. My hand shook as I lifted the fork to my mouth, but I forced myself to take a bite.

Their Control

Halfway through the meal, I dropped the fork. It clattered against the plate, the noise much too loud. My heart raced as all three men turned their attention to me.

"What's wrong now?" Adrian drawled, propping his chin on his hand as he stared at me.

"Nothing," I said quickly, but I could feel the tears threatening to burn my eyes.

"Nothing?" Leo repeated, his voice sharp. "That's not an answer, Sophia."

Nico's voice broke through, low and calm. "You're trembling."

I froze, heat crawling up my neck. I hated that he'd noticed. I hated that any of them noticed.

"Is this too much for you?" Leo asked, his tone mockingly gentle, but the threat underneath was unmistakable. "Is sitting here, eating food we provided, too much for our new bride?"

"It's fine," I whispered.

Adrian scoffed, a cruel laugh that made my skin crawl. "Poor little thing. She's already breaking."

Leo shot him a glare but said nothing. I swallowed hard and tried to pick up the fork again, but my fingers were shaking too much.

"Enough of this," Leo snapped suddenly, rising from his chair. His sharp blue eyes pinned me to the spot. "Come here."

I stared at him, uncomprehending. "What?"

"Come here," he repeated, his voice like ice.

I didn't move at first. I couldn't. But then Leo rounded the table, and instinct took over. I stumbled to my feet, my heart pounding in my ears.

He grabbed my wrist, his grip unyielding as he pulled me forward. "Look at me."

I kept my eyes on the floor, refusing to meet his gaze.

"Look. At. Me," he repeated, each word biting into me like a lash.

Slowly, I looked up. His expression was unreadable—cold and controlled—but his eyes burned with something else. Anger. Frustration. Power.

"You will learn," he said softly, his voice more terrifying for its calm. "You will eat when you're told. You will obey when we speak. Do you understand me?"

I nodded, my throat tight.

"I can't hear you."

"Yes," I whispered.

Leo released my wrist, and the moment his hand was gone, I stumbled back, pressing against the table for support.

Adrian's Game

Adrian clapped his hands mockingly. "Well, that was a show. Maybe she's learning after all."

"Shut up, Adrian," Nico said quietly, his tone flat.

Adrian ignored him. He turned his attention back to me, his gray eyes glinting with mischief and cruelty. "You know, sweetheart, it's a good thing you're so pretty. Makes up for the fact that you're utterly useless."

"Enough," Leo growled, returning to his seat.

But Adrian wasn't finished. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. "You don't talk much, do you, Sophia? Not that it matters. You're not here to talk."

His words were like acid, each one sinking deep into my skin. I looked at Nico, hoping for something—anything—but he said nothing, his gaze focused on the glass in his hand.

Nico's Silence

Dinner ended in tense silence. I stood when they dismissed me, but before I could leave, Nico's voice stopped me.

"Sophia."

I turned to face him, my pulse quickening. His emerald-green eyes were focused on mine, unblinking and unreadable.

"You should be careful," he said softly.

"Careful?" I echoed.

"Leo will test you," he said. "Adrian will push you. And I... I won't help you."

His words hit me harder than I expected. I didn't know what I'd hoped for—that he would be the kinder one? That maybe, just maybe, there was some humanity buried in him?

"But if you're smart," he continued, "you'll learn how to survive us."

He stood, tucking his hands into his pockets as he left the room, his footsteps soft against the marble floor.

The Night

When I returned to my room, my body ached—like every muscle had been wrung out and left to dry. I collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, at the faint cracks in the plaster that seemed to stretch endlessly.

Their voices echoed in my head.

You belong to us now.

You're useless.

You'll learn how to survive us.

Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to cry. Not now. Not yet.

Because no matter what they did, no matter how hard they pushed, I wouldn't let them break me.

They think I'm weak.

They're wrong.