His left arms moved down her body, gripping her waist to pull her closer as his right hand made its way to the back of her neck, pulling her head towards him. "Are you not happy here? Away from that filthy cottage that suffocated you? Do you not want it all, when besides me?" His breath fanned her lips, numbing her. "Power, wealth..." his thumb touched her lips, caressing it, back and forth, "....a voice." He leaned in slowly, capturing her lips with his, then, pulled away slowly when she did not respond to his affection. She watched him in disbelief, then raised her arms to speak. "You would....give me anything?" "Yes, I would." His lips tilted upwards at her question. "More canvas, more paint, brushes.....anything." He kissed the corner of her lips, her skin burning. "I just need you...to stay silent."He whispered against her skin. He placed a hot kiss on the corner of her lips when he pulled back slightly."...to never mention this again." Silence consumed the room as they gazed at one another. He was telling her to be silent, yet she had been silent all her life, and in this silence, the beginning of something terrifying was emerging, for this was not the silence she grew accustomed too. ~~~~~~~~~~ In the kingdom of Kalopsia, rule and order are the factors that have grown the kingdom into wealth in compared to other nations. Yet in the kingdom's beauty and prosperity, a haunting secret is concealed from the surface. Avyanna, a mute individual who bores hatred for the kingdom due to the injustice killings of the innocent and her love ones, has gotten the attention of the king unexpectedly. However, despite her inability to speak, it is her silence that will initiate the secrets of the kingdom to speak. With love, betrayal, lies, and deceit, she will uncover that not only the citizens- but even the king of the kingdom- are all slaves to something, and that she too is a slave to an entity that may destroy her. What are you a slave too?