"Their Queen, Their Captive"

Chapter 5: Cracks in the Foundation

The second morning in the mansion was colder than the first. The sun bled faint light through the heavy curtains, but it didn't touch the chill that sat deep in my bones. My arms ached, my wrist still marked where Leo's hand had held me too tightly.

I spent the night replaying every word, every look, every threat.

You'll learn to obey.

You're not here to talk.

You'll learn how to survive us.

I pulled my knees to my chest, staring at the gilded walls. The mansion was beautiful, but beauty meant nothing when you were a prisoner. It was a façade—just like them. Leo's calm cruelty. Adrian's mocking fire. Nico's distant silence.

But I knew this much already: They would break me, piece by piece, if I let them.

A New Rule

I forced myself out of bed, my body stiff and my mind heavy. There was no time to wallow. In a house like this, you had to stay ahead of them—or at least pretend you could. I pulled on one of the dresses Leo had provided—a midnight-blue silk that made me feel like I was wearing someone else's skin—and stepped out into the hallway.

Voices drifted down the corridor, sharp and biting. I followed the sound to the dining room, where the three of them were gathered.

Leo was seated at the head of the table, as always, a newspaper open in front of him. Adrian leaned against the bar, swirling a glass of orange juice like it was whiskey. Nico stood by the window, his back to them, staring out over the frost-covered gardens.

They looked like kings, untouchable and imposing.

"Good morning," I said softly, my voice barely carrying.

Adrian turned first, his storm-gray eyes lighting up with cruel amusement. "Look who decided to join us."

Leo's gaze snapped to me, his expression unreadable. "You're late."

"I didn't realize there was a schedule," I replied, keeping my tone steady.

"There is now," Leo said. He folded the newspaper carefully, setting it down with deliberate precision. "Breakfast is served at eight. You will be here. You will eat. You will not make us wait."

I gritted my teeth, biting back a retort. It wasn't worth it.

Adrian chuckled, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Better get used to it, sweetheart. Leo loves his rules."

"Because they work," Leo snapped. He turned his cold blue gaze back to me. "Sit."

Nico's Silence Breaks

I sat at the table, the weight of their eyes suffocating me. I picked at the food—eggs, toast, and fruit—all perfectly arranged, but I couldn't stomach more than a few bites.

"You should eat more," Nico said suddenly, his deep voice cutting through the silence.

I looked up, surprised. Nico rarely spoke, and when he did, it was rarely directed at me. His emerald-green eyes met mine, unreadable as always.

"I'm not hungry," I said.

"Doesn't matter," he replied. "You'll need your strength."

"Strength for what?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Nico's gaze narrowed slightly, like he was debating whether to answer.

"For us," Adrian said, smirking as he leaned forward on his elbows. "Strength to survive us, sweetheart."

Leo shot Adrian a look but said nothing.

The Command

After breakfast, Leo pulled me aside.

"We'll be out for the day," he said, his tone leaving no room for questions. "You will stay in the mansion. You will not go outside. You will not touch anything that doesn't belong to you."

"And what does belong to me?" I asked bitterly.

Leo's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Nothing."

He turned to leave, but paused at the door, his voice soft but deadly. "Don't test me, Sophia."

The warning hung in the air long after he was gone.

A Moment Alone—Or So I Thought

I wandered the mansion after they left, my footsteps echoing in the vast, empty halls. Every room was immaculate, carefully curated to project power and wealth. But there was no life here. It was like walking through a mausoleum.

I found myself back in the library. The scent of old books and leather wrapped around me, offering the only comfort I'd felt since arriving. I ran my fingers along the spines of the books, stopping when I reached a particularly old one—its cover cracked and faded, its title long worn away.

I pulled it from the shelf, opening it carefully, but I barely made it through the first page before a voice cut through the quiet.

"What are you doing?"

I turned sharply to find Nico standing in the doorway. His gaze was sharp, his expression unreadable. I hadn't even heard him come in.

"I was just... reading," I said quickly, holding up the book.

Nico's eyes flicked to the cover before returning to me. "Put it back."

"It's just a book," I argued, my voice trembling slightly.

"It's my book," he said, stepping closer.

I swallowed hard, my fingers curling around the edges of the worn cover. "I didn't know."

"You don't touch what isn't yours," Nico said, his voice low but dangerous. "That's the rule."

Before I could respond, he snatched the book from my hands, his fingers brushing against mine. His touch was brief but enough to make my skin prickle.

"You shouldn't be in here," he said, his gaze holding mine for a long, tense moment.

"Why do you all hate me so much?" I blurted, the words escaping before I could stop them.

For a second, Nico's expression flickered—something softer, something almost human. But it was gone just as quickly.

"Because you ruined everything," he said quietly.

He turned and walked away, leaving me alone with nothing but the echoes of his words.

Punishment

The day dragged on, the silence growing heavier with every hour. By the time evening came, I was restless, desperate for something—anything—to distract me. I stepped outside into the garden, ignoring Leo's earlier warning.

The air was sharp and cold, biting at my skin as I walked along the lantern-lit path. I didn't go far, just enough to feel like I could breathe again.

I wasn't gone more than fifteen minutes when I returned to the mansion, only to find Leo waiting in the hallway.

"Where were you?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.

"I just needed air," I said quickly, my heart pounding.

Leo stepped closer, his cold blue eyes pinning me in place. "Did I not tell you to stay inside?"

"I didn't go far—"

"That's not the point," he snapped, his voice like ice. "When I give you a rule, you follow it. Or you face the consequences."

I barely had time to react before his hand closed around my arm, pulling me toward him.

"Leo—" I started, but he wasn't listening.

"You want to disobey me?" he said softly, his voice dripping with menace. "Then you'll learn what happens when you do."

I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened painfully. I bit my lip to keep from crying out, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

"Do you understand me?" Leo growled, his face inches from mine.

"Yes," I whispered, my voice shaking.

He released me abruptly, and I stumbled back, cradling my arm.

"Good," he said coldly. "Next time, I won't be so forgiving."

The Night

By the time I reached my room, my arm ached, bruises already beginning to bloom beneath my skin. I curled up on the bed, pulling the blankets tightly around me as if they could shield me from the truth.

They'll break me, I thought bitterly. But not yet.

I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts of escape. But how do you escape three men who never let their guard down? Three men who already saw me as nothing more than a possession?

Sleep didn't come easily. And when it did, it brought no peace.