Your knees scrape against stone as they throw you at his feet. The marble feels like ice through your torn silks, but you don't dare rise. Not when Zhan Xuan's presence fills the room like a storm—electrifying, overwhelming, inevitable.

He doesn't speak immediately. You hear the rustle of his silk robes, the soft intake of breath, and then—footsteps. Slow. Deliberate. Each step echoes through the silent chamber, increasing the tension until you're certain your heart will burst from your chest.

A booted foot tilts your chin upward. You gasp, meeting his gaze against your will. Those violet-gold eyes burn with amused cruelty, drinking in your fear like fine wine.

"Did you really think you could escape me?" His voice is lower than you imagined—rich, velvety, sending unwanted shivers down your spine. He crouches, one hand brushing a strand of hair from your face with惊人的温柔 (surprising tenderness) that contradicts his words. "Swimming through those caverns... how desperate you must have been."

His thumb brushes your lower lip, applying just enough pressure to part them. You try to turn away, but his grip tightens painfully on your jaw.

"Look at me, little omega." His tone sharpens, alpha command vibrating in every syllable. Your body betrays you, forcing your gaze back to his. "You belong to me. From the moment you first drew breath in that gilded cage they call a Conservatory, you were mine to claim."

He leans closer, his scent—jasmine and something spicy, distinctly masculine—invading your senses until you can think of nothing else. His wing flicks out, brushing your bare arm like a caress.

"Tell me you understand," he growls, his lips nearly touching yours. "Tell me you'll be good for your alpha."

When you remain silent, his hand moves to your throat, fingers wrapping lightly around your windpipe—a promise of窒息 (suffocation) rather than an immediate threat.

"I won't ask again."