I Escaped the Cage, but the Yandere Women Found Me

CyrusCalderwasneversupposedtoescape.AsamaleFrostborn,heisrarerthanrare,valuableenoughtobeprotected,studied,hunted,andlockedawaybypeoplewhocalltheirobsessionlove.Afteryearsinsideacagebuiltfromconcern,duty,andbloodlinesecrets,Cyrusfinallyruns.NowhelivesinGrayhaven,aquietcoastalcitywheretheseafeelscloseenoughtopromisefreedom.Byday,hehidesbehindmessyhairandaforgettableacademyuniform,justanothertiredfinal-yearstudentsleepingthroughmathclass.Bynight,heworksatTheFullMoonLounge,earningtips,savingeverydollar,andtastingalltheordinarypleasureshewasoncedenied.Cheapfood.Asmallapartment.Apaycheck.Awalkbythewater.ToCyrus,thatisparadise.Butfreedomisfragilewhentoomanywomenknowwhatheis.Hiscomposedclassmatebeginswatchinghimlikeamysterysheintendstosolve.Hiselegantcoworkertreatskindnesslikesomethingthatcanbecomeownership.Histeacher-landlord’sconcernreachestooclosetohisdoor.Apolicedetectivesayssheonlywantstoprotecthim,yetsomehowalwaysknowswherehehasbeen.Andsomewherebehindallofthemwaitsthewomanwhoputaringonhisfinger,aringhecannotremove.Cyrushasonereliabledefense.“Ilostmymemory.”Itisacleanlie.Ausefullie.Aliethatkeepsquestionsaway.Untilthewrongwordmakeshimflinch.Untilthewomenrealizehiscold,harmlessactisfullofcracks.UntiltherunawayFrostbornlearnsthatescapingthecagewasonlythebeginning.Becausethewomenwhofoundhimdonotwantrevenge.Theywanthimback.Andthistime,theyplantomakesureheneverrunsagain.