Chapter 27

Natalie felt as if the floor had dropped out from beneath her feet. Sell her soul, her freedom, and her entire life to Ace. The notion was so perverse, so utterly devoid of humanity, that she could scarcely process it. "You're...you're insane," she stammered, unable to fully mask the tremor in her voice. "You can't be serious." Ace's features remained coldly impassive. "I can assure you, I've never been more lucid." He rose from his seat and began slowly circling her like a predator evaluating its prey. "Think of it more as...an extremely specialized form of indentured service. One where the length and terms are indefinite." "This is madness!" Natalie knew her voice had taken on a shrill, desperate edge, but she was powerless to temper it. "You're talking about enslaving me!" Ace tsked softly. "Such an unrefined term. I prefer to think of it as bringing your potential into my dedicated service." He stopped, holding her with an intense stare that seemed to burn straight through her. "Yo