ARIA’s POV

The soft jingle of metal rang out in the darkness, snapping me from my sleep with a jarring jolt of adrenaline. Through blurry eyes, I found Matteo looming above me, his hands deftly working at my cuffs. The sight of him sent a surge of terror coursing through me, freezing me in place like a deer in headlights. His features, caught in the dim light, contorted into a mask of frustration as he realized I was awake.

 “We have a guest, so be good”. That was all he said to me.

He pulled me into his arms and carried me all the way to the dining room. There,...