Suffering Part 6: No Longer

Chapter 49

The evening sun is fading, casting deep shadows across the room as you stand before the mirror, slipping into the outfit Lucius and Severus had laid out for you. The dress is sleek, black, and far more revealing than you would have chosen on your own—every curve accentuated, leaving little to the imagination. 

It clings to your skin in all the right places, a reminder of the control they hold, even in this small detail. Tonight, it's not about choice—it's about obedience, about reminding you who you belong to.

You can feel their eyes on you before you even turn around. Severus stands in the doorway, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable but his dark eyes full of possession. Lucius, leaning casually against the wall, watches you with a lazy grin, but there's a tension in his stance, an edge to his calm exterior.

"You look perfect," Severus says, his voice low, but there's an unmistakable authority in it. "But don't forget what we discussed. Tonight, you belong to us. No one else."

His words hang heavy in the air, a warning wrapped in admiration. The boundary has been set, and it's firm. They aren't going to share you again. Not like last time.

You nod, slipping into your heels, but as you stand and adjust the dress, you can't help but let your curiosity bubble up again. "I know," you say, smoothing your hands down the front of the fabric. "But I still can't help wondering about Anna. Does she have any freedom at all? Does she even get to make her own choices?"

Severus steps forward, his presence overwhelming as he reaches for your arm, pulling you around to face him. "That's not your concern," he says firmly, his grip tightening just enough to make his point. "We're not here to fix her life. We're here to ensure you remember your place."

You shiver under his touch, the firmness of his words stirring something deep inside you. His eyes bore into yours, leaving no room for defiance. "We stay out of their dynamic," he continues. "It's none of our business how they live."

Lucius pushes off the wall, walking over with that confident swagger you've grown used to. He takes your chin in his hand, tilting your face up toward his, forcing you to meet his gaze. "Don't go looking for trouble, love. You might not like what you find. Tonight, the only thing that matters is us." His thumb brushes over your bottom lip, lingering for a moment before he lets go, but the message is clear: You're ours.

Your heart pounds in your chest, the tension between the three of you tightening like a wire. You know they're right, but something in you still can't let go of the curiosity, the need to understand Anna's life. "I'm not going to interfere," you say, your voice soft but steady. "Not unless I think it's what she wants."

Severus releases you, his fingers grazing your jaw in a final reminder of his control before he steps back. "You don't get to decide that," he says, his voice a low growl. "She's not your concern. Don't forget that."

Lucius watches you for a moment longer, his eyes raking over your body in the dress they picked. "If you're good tonight," he murmurs, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips, "maybe you'll be rewarded." The promise lingers in his voice, a tease of what could come later—if you behave.

The weight of their dominance settles over you, grounding you in the present. You know they mean it—tonight, they won't be sharing. Whatever happens at the party, you're theirs and theirs alone. There's no room for negotiation, no wiggle room in the boundaries they've set. And part of you revels in that knowledge, in the certainty that no one else will touch you tonight.

"Let's go," Severus commands, stepping toward the door. Lucius follows, his hand resting possessively on the small of your back as they lead you out of the room. The night feels charged, the air thick with tension and unspoken promises.