The trip to my room was brief. After I got what I came for, Pan led me down a long hallway. There were so many of them, it was difficult to keep track of them all. I tried to ignore the mixture of trepidation and curiosity as I followed Pan through the winding corridors of the Fae palace. The decision to become his mortal pet weighed heavily on my mind, but I knew that it was the only way to get closer to the truth about my brothers.
As we reached the door to his private quarters, Pan turned to me, his emerald eyes locking onto mine. "This is where you'll be staying now," he said, his voice low and inviting.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded, trying to steady my nerves. I was stepping into uncharted territory, unsure of what lay ahead. But I couldn't afford to show weakness now.
"It's beautiful," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Despite my initial reservations, I couldn't deny the allure of the room, especially since I wasn’t looking for a weapon this time.
Pan's eyes widened, as if he was surprised I complimented him in the first place. "I don’t particularly care what you think," he replied, his voice gentle.
As I stepped further into the room, I noticed a vanity adorned with delicate crystal bottles and an ornate mirror. A sense of intimacy filled the space, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of vulnerability and trepidation.
"This will be your space now," Pan said, his gaze holding mine. "You are welcome to make yourself at home."
I nodded, appreciating the gesture. "Thank you," I replied, my voice tinged with gratitude.
“Fool,” he said. “Why thank me? You’re a pet now.”
I took a deep breath, ignoring his sudden change in demeanor. One minute he was on top of me, flirting, and now, he was standoffish, almost antagonistic, like he regretted making me his pet in the first place.
But I needed to get used to it. This was just the beginning of a precarious dance with Pan, a dance that held the promise of answers and danger. One I still wasn’t sure I wanted to dance.
And how are you going to explain to Robin you couldn’t kill him?
I ignored the voice in my head. I’d figure it out later.
“One more thing,” he said, flicking his wrist. He conjured a delicate collar with his initial on a gold heart. The soft, black leather seemed to shine with an ethereal light, and my breath caught at the implications of his actions.
"What's that?" I asked, my voice filled with shock. I tried to mask my emotions, but it was difficult to do.
Pan held the collar in his hand, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "It's a symbol," he said, his tone casual yet filled with an underlying possessiveness. "A symbol that you belong to me."
My blood ran cold at his words, and I took a step back, my hand instinctively reaching for my throat as if to protect it from the impending claim.
"I don't belong to anyone," I said, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. "I agreed to be your pet, not your possession."
Pan's lips curled into a smug smile, as if he knew that his words were unsettling me. "You're my mortal pet," he said, his voice dripping with condescending silk. "And as such, it's only fitting that you wear this collar to show everyone your place in my court."
The collar dangled before me, and I blanched at the thought of wearing such a symbol. It felt like a chain, a tether that would forever bind me to him, stripping away the little agency I had left.
"I won't wear it," I said firmly, my voice stronger this time. "I won't be paraded around like some trophy for you to show off."
Pan's demeanor shifted, his eyes narrowing as he assessed my resistance. "You're being stubborn, mortal," he said, his voice taking on a harder edge. "This is a privilege that others would kill for. Don't squander it."
My heart raced as I struggled to maintain my composure. "I didn't agree to be your possession," I repeated, my voice rising. "I won’t be paraded around as some trinket in your court."
Pan's face darkened, and for a moment, I saw a flash of anger in his eyes. "You don't understand," he said, his voice clipped. "You're a mortal in the realm of the Fae, and appearances matter. This collar is not just about possession; it's about protection. But, of course, your mortal ignorance won’t let you think critically.”
His words grated on my nerves, and I couldn't help but lash out. "Protection from what?" I challenged, my voice sharp. "Your court? Your family? Or is it protection from you?"
The room fell into a tense silence, and I held my ground, refusing to back down. The collar dangled before me, a silent reminder of the choice I had to make.
"I won't wear it," I repeated, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "I won't let a piece of jewelry define who I am."
Without warning, he reached out and grabbed my face with a firm grip, forcing me to meet his intense gaze. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened, making it clear that resistance was futile.
"You chose this," he said, his voice low, a warning. "You agreed to be my mortal pet, and that means wearing this collar. Do you truly think you get a say in what happens to you?”
His words felt like a weight on my shoulders, a reminder of the choices I had made and the consequences I now faced. I thought that I could navigate this world, that I could find the truth about my brothers without compromising my principles. But now, it seemed that I was cornered, forced to make a difficult decision.
"I won't wear it," I said, my voice defiant, though I couldn't deny the fear that gnawed at the edges of my resolve.
Pan's eyes darkened, and he leaned in closer, his face inches from mine. "You don't have a choice," he said, his breath warm against my skin. "You made your decision, and now you'll face the consequences."
The sense of helplessness washed over me, and hot tears pricked my eyes. I didn't want to wear the collar, to be marked as his possession, but I also knew that I couldn't go back on my word now.
"You'll wear the collar," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. "You made a choice, and now you'll live with it."
I stood before Pan, my emotions boiling over, fueled by the feeling of being trapped in this world of Fae politics and power dynamics. His presence alone was enough to set me on edge, and the sight of him standing there, his arrogance and control evident in every line of his form, pushed me to my breaking point.
I spat on his perfect face.
I didn’t even think about it.
My defiance took over in that split second. The spittle landed on his cheek, a small act of rebellion that felt like a tiny victory amidst the chaos that had become my reality.
His eyes darkened with fury, and I could almost feel the crackling energy in the air as his temper flared. For a moment, I braced myself for whatever retaliation might come. I knew that I had just crossed a line that few dared to cross, and while victory had been sweet, it had also come with a high price.
"You insolent little mortal," he hissed, his voice laced with venom as he took a threatening step toward me.
My heart raced, and I braced myself for the consequences of my actions. I wasn’t going to back down. Whatever he wanted to throw at me, I would take.
But then something unexpected happened. Pan stopped, his anger morphing into a chilling calmness that was somehow more terrifying. His eyes narrowed to slits, his glare a weapon unto itself. How I still had the capacity to breathe, I had no idea.
"You're lucky," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Lucky that I need you alive and undamaged. Lucky that your usefulness outweighs the urge to teach you a lesson."
The implication of his words hung heavy in the air. He was telling me that if it weren't for his need for information on who was trying to kill him – besides me – he would have no qualms about punishing me for my defiance. I wondered how he defined punishment, but then again, maybe it was best if I didn’t know.
His fingers curled into fists at his sides, and for a moment, I saw the glint of something dark in his eyes. It was a stark reminder that Pan was not to be underestimated, that beneath his charismatic facade lay a dangerous and unpredictable creature who loathed mortals and hungered for power.
"Make no mistake," he continued, his voice cold and calculated. "You will face consequences for your actions. Just because I need you doesn't mean I won't find a way to ensure you understand your place."
A shudder ran down my spine as his words settled over me. I had expected anger, perhaps even retaliation, but the calculated way in which he spoke made it clear that he was in control, that he relished the power he held over me.
I stood my ground, my anger still smoldering despite the fear that gripped me. This dance with Pan was becoming more treacherous with each passing moment, and I knew that I had to tread carefully if I wanted to survive, if I wanted to uncover the truth about my brothers.
"Turn around," he barked, his voice commanding and laced with a dangerous edge.
I hesitated for a moment, my resolve warring with the unease that gnawed at my insides. But I knew that ignoring him would only lead to more trouble, that I had already pushed the boundaries of his patience.
With a reluctant nod, I turned around, my back facing him. The room seemed to close in on me, the air thick with anticipation as I waited for his next move.
And then I felt his fingers on my skin, cool and sure as they brushed against the back of my neck. A shiver raced down my spine, fear and something I didn't want to acknowledge. His touch was electrifying, sending a jolt of sensation through me that I struggled to control.
I could sense him behind me, his proximity suffocating as he worked to fasten the delicate leather of the collar around my throat. The cold material brushed against my skin, a stark contrast to the heat that seemed to pulse between us.
"Stay still," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent a wave of heat through me.
I clenched my fists at my sides, the conflicting emotions within me a whirlwind that threatened to consume me. The collar tightened around my throat, like he wanted me to know of the power he held over me, the vulnerability of my position.
And then it was done. The collar was in place, a symbol of my submission to this world, to the Fae Prince who held more secrets than I could fathom. I turned back to face him, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that left me breathless.
The room was charged with a tension that I couldn't quite escape, a mixture of fear and desire that swirled between us. The memory of our earlier confrontation lingered, the weight of his threat and the danger he represented ever present.
But there was something else too, something that whispered of a connection I didn't want to acknowledge. The way he looked at me, the way his fingers had brushed against my skin, it stirred something within me that I struggled to comprehend.
"You chose this, mortal," he said, his voice a low murmur that seemed to echo through the space between us. "Remember that."
I nodded, my voice caught in my throat as I tried to hold onto my composure. The collar gleamed against my skin, and I hated it. His eyes locked onto me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. The way he looked at me was different, possessive, as if the collar around my neck marked me as his in a way that went beyond mere ownership.
He moved even closer to me, something I hadn’t thought was possible. His gaze never left mine as he approached. The air between us was charged, thick with unspoken tension, and I couldn't help but feel a mixture of unease and a strange sort of vulnerability.
"Enjoying the feel of it?" he asked, his voice a low murmur that sent a jolt of awareness through me.
I swallowed hard, trying to maintain my composure despite the conflicting emotions that raged within me. "It's just a collar," I replied, my voice steady even as my heart raced.
Pan's lips curled into a knowing smile, as if he could sense the turmoil I was trying to hide. "Is it, now?" he said, his tone teasing, his eyes locked onto the collar as if it held some secret he was privy to.
The way he looked at me made my skin tingle, as if his gaze had the power to strip away the walls I had built. It was raw, reminding me that I was under his control, that I had willingly stepped into this world where power and desire were intertwined.
"I wear it because I have to," I said, my voice a little more defiant than I intended.
Pan's smile deepened, his gaze never leaving mine. "But do you really?" he mused, his tone contemplative. "Or perhaps there's a part of you that enjoys the idea of being marked as mine."
The words hung in the air between us, a tantalizing challenge that set my heart racing even faster. I didn't want to admit it, even to myself, but there was a certain truth in what he said. The collar represented a connection, a bond, and as much as I resisted, I couldn't deny the strange pull I felt toward him.
"I'm not yours," I retorted, though the words lacked the conviction I had hoped for.
Pan's gaze held mine, his eyes smoldering with a combination of amusement and something deeper, something that made me question everything I thought I knew.
"Perhaps not," he conceded, his voice a velvety whisper, "but you wear my collar. And that speaks volumes. Come. It’s time to make you useful.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, hurrying to catch up to him.
“We’re going to find out who murdered…What was her name? The duchess?”
“Seraphina?”
“Yes, that’s right.” He grinned, white teeth flashing as we left his room. “We’re going to solve her murder.”