Chapter 17

• Ariana
• I woke up, memories of last night swirling in my mind. It felt like I had been drugged. I was made a vulnerable captive, yet I felt an unsettling sense of safety and warmth in the arms of the very man who took away my freedom.
• Why had I let my guard down? I was frustrated and very confused. But I recalled his gentle touch, his soft voice, and the sound of his heartbeat. The war my heart fluttered; it was a sensation I’d never experienced before.