Waking up was difficult. My mind had long since crashed from the high of Liam's bite, but exhaustion had replaced it. Evening sunlight streamed through the windows as if proving the point that I shouldn't be awake yet. I threw my arm over my eyes and rolled over, or tried to anyway. I was trapped in a pair of strong arms that held me tightly to the owner's chest. I looked up and was immediately horrified: the man holding me was Liam. Bolting out of his arms, I sat as far away from him on the bed as I could without falling off. At the sudden movement, Liam's eyes had opened and now he regarded me with amusement. When I looked down at myself, I realized why. I drew the covers up to my neck, hiding my entire body. Liam chuckled.

"Why am I naked?" I asked him, horrified of the answer.

"Because you want to be, dear." He said simply.

"I most certainly do not," I exclaimed, then demanded. "Where are my clothes?"

Liam flicked his hand. "Not important." He folded his hands behind his head, using them as a pillow. The movement showed his bare biceps which were surprisingly muscular for a Moroi, not that I was admiring them.

I glared at him then realized that the upper half of his chest showing was bare, not just his arms. "Where are your clothes?" I exclaimed.

Liam nodded to the foot of the bed. "In a pile over there." His voice was bored, but I could see his amusement in the smile he bore.

I scowled. "Go put them on," I said, then added for emphasis. "right now."

Liam shrugged. "You didn't seem to mind them being off last night," He checked his watch. "or I should say a couple of hours ago."

"Well I mind now." I ground out. Stark realization hit me, making me go cold all over as I relayed his words. I stared at the blankets for a few moments, then looked around the room. Finally my eyes returned to Liam's. His eyebrow was quirked and he was wearing a very satisfied smile. I wanted to hit him, but was afraid to touch him. I couldn't speak for several minutes, but when I finally did: my voice was a whisper. "You don't mean…"

The smile spread into a grin. "You finally figured it out. I was wondering how long it would take you." He kept talking, but I had stopped listening.

"You. Raped. Me." I cried, interrupting him.

He looked at me like I was stupid. "Of course not. I would never hurt you. I love you." He reached for me, but I pulled back as if his hands were dripping with poison.

"You bit me, knowing that I would pass out." I exclaimed accusingly at him.

Liam shook his head. "The bite only made you more cooperative. I assure you that you were awake through everything we did."

I glared. "Then how come I don't remember anything?"

Liam shrugged. "I don't know, but that's not my fault, I assure you."

I pulled back from him further. "All of this is your fault," I cried. "You kidnapped me, force me to live here, if you can even call this living, threaten the people I love and then you rape me. I hate you." I was slightly hysteric.

Liam's eyes went hard. "How dare you…" He began, reaching out quickly to grab my hair and tug me to him. I yelped at his aggressiveness. My face was inches from his. "I have given you a home, and this is how you treat me?" He growled, pulling me out of bed with him by my hair. I cried out in pain as he threw me to the ground. He gripped my hair tighter and pulled me onto my knees. I clawed at his hand, but it didn't release Liam's hold. Liam drew back his other hand and hit me. Simultaneously, he released my hair, so that I crumpled back to the ground. I screamed as the blow from his hand reverberated through the side of my cheek. It faded slightly, but only the initial blow. After Liam hit me, he did it again, and again. He kept striking me, my cries growing louder with each blow. I could feel the side of my face swelling, and blood trailing down my face and neck. I brought my hands up to shield my face, but suddenly Liam stopped. Tears soaked my cheeks, and I was breathing heavily. Liam sighed, turning away to shove on his pants. Moving over to the door, he opened it to reveal Vic. "Take her to her room." Liam's voice was bored. He moved back into the room, his back to both Vic and me, to the bathroom where he shut the door.

Vic walked over and pulled me up by my arms and dragged me out of the room. I didn't resist as he guided me down the hallway. A figure turned onto the hallway, moving leisurely in our direction; until he noticed us. Michael's face transformed as he noticed my face, and he was pissed. "What the hell?" He stormed up to us, ripping me out of Vic's grip. Michael drew me up against his chest, taking off his outer plaid shirt and draping it over my shoulders.

"Lord Szelsky, my apologies. You were not meant to see this." Vic said stoically, not soundly the least bit apologetic.

Michael ground out. "Go to hell, Vic." I heard Vic's retreating footsteps. When they were gone, Michael tilted my face to his, holding my face in his hands. "Are you okay, Michelle?" he asked. When I shook my head, he drew me back up against his chest.

Footsteps sounded at the end of the hall. "Michael." Liam said grandly. "I didn't expect you to be up this early."

Michael held me tightly, and it was calming. "Liam, did you do this to her?"

Liam scoffed. "That's none of your business. And even if it were, I would never hurt her; she's my fiancé."

"It is my business if you're hurting an innocent girl." I almost flinched when he said girl, but I was barely listening to the exchange. I could only focus on the fact that I was in Michael's arms again.

"Let it go, Michael. Come Michelle." Michael stepped back, most likely to get me out of Liam's reach. "Stop being a pest, Michael, and give her to me."

Michael's voice was defiant. "I won't."

"Boys," The sharpness in the voice made Michael and Liam turn towards the speaker: their father. I hid my face against Michael's chest lest Mr. Szelsky see. I heard his footsteps as he approached loudly. "What is all this shouting all about?" The older man raged.

"Nothing, father, Michelle had a panic attack in our room. Before I could stop her, she ran out and fell." Liam added emphasis on the "our" for Michael's benefit or mine, I couldn't tell.

I peeked a look at Mr. Szelsky through a thick curtain of my hair. He had finally noticed my state and did a double take. "For god's sake, Liam, get her some real clothes and make sure she's okay. I don't want your mother knowing about this." Michael hesitated for several moments before his tight hold around me loosened. I whimpered nearly inaudibly as he passed me over to Liam, who hugged me against his chest tightly which I noticed was still bare.

"Don't do that, dear, you scared me." His hand in my hair placed just enough pressure to keep my head against his chest.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly, playing along with his game. When I shot a look back at Michael, his eyebrows were scrunched together, obviously not believing the bullshit story Liam had just coughed up.

"Let's go get you dressed." My eyes didn't leave Michael's, even as Liam pulled me away and led me back down the hall to his room.