Mandy’s heart pounded hard in her chest. “What the hell is this?”

Dante stepped closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

“In this world, wearing a collar means you’re nothing but a toy, a distraction, it tells them you don’t matter.”

He fastened it around her neck.

Her breath caught. “So that’s what I am to you now? A sex toy?”

His fingers lingered at the clasp. “To them? Yes.”

The chain settled cold against her collarbone. Her skin burned.

He didn’t ...