“Stand and slowly turn around.” Earl Larsen gave him a faint smile. “I want to see all of you.” Ian became a prostitute to make ends meet. When he’s kicked out of the whorehouse in the middle of winter with nowhere to go and no money, Earl Isak Larsen makes an offer: Ian can live in the Castle where he’ll have food, security, and warmth. All Ian has to do is agree to be the Earl’s slave, which means cooking, cleaning, and submission. Ian already prefers men and being a submissive, so why not? If he has to get on his knees to ensure he’s fed and safe, it’s a small price to pay. He’s pretty sure Earl Larsen doesn’t think of his “Kitten” as much more than a slave, but Ian slowly starts to see the other side of him. The Earl might not show much emotion, but he’s not cruel, and he still treats his slave with more affection than anyone ever has before. Despite that, Earl Larsen has dangerous secrets hidden in his past, and someone is willing to use them even if it means hurting Ian. This is intended for mature readers only. Please heed author note.

“I learned a long time ago that I can’t fully trust anyone,” Earl Larsen said quietly. Ian knows he should simply walk away and leave everything behind. If the Earl won’t do anything to help himself, what can Ian do? He can’t fight, he’s not rich, and he has no connections. The Earl won’t directly admit or deny the accusations made against him. After Ian learns something from an unexpected source, doubt and guilt fuel him. There’s no denying that he was used, but at the same time, the Earl treated him like a treasured pet. He refused to go through with a prior agreement and risked his own safety instead of Ian. If Earl Larsen is actually innocent and the victim of a greedy man, how can Ian go away? He allowed his lack of trust to get in the way at first, but now he’ll have to make a leap of faith and find a way to get to the truth even if it means going to Relluck. If his plan fails, Ian might find himself in an escapable situation at the hands of monsters who will gladly hurt him if it means keeping the Earl compliant.