The bed felt more like an altar than just a piece of furniture. As Caspian pushed me back, the impact stole my breath, and the cool silk duvet felt like ice against my feverish skin.

I tried to scramble backward, my damp hair sticking to the pillows, but Caspian was faster. He loomed over me, a powerful shadow that engulfed the room.

“Where are you going, little bird?” he whispered, his voice vibrating through the mattress and into my spine. “The cage door is already locked.”

He didn’t just touch me; he pinned me. His knees landed on either side of my hips, and his hands caught my wrists, slamming...