Feather: Gilded Cage

By Fawn Bailey

The story of Gilded Cage begins with mafia princess Ophelia and twins out to own her... But there's a villain preying in the darkness, and he's almost ready to strike.
Ophelia Sokolov. Innocent, beautiful and spoiled. The daughter of a Russian mafia kingpin, I get everything I want with the click of my fingers. Except for him.
I've been in love with Ryker for years, but I'm supposed to marry his brother, Max. Until that one fateful day, celebrating my eighteenth birthday when everything changes. There's evil lurking in the shadows, just like Papa said. And this time, I won't be able to hide...

Fawn Bailey is the pen name of USA Today bestselling author Isabella Starling. Feather is the prequel to the Gilded Cage trilogy.

Reading Order: 
Feather (Gilded Cage prequel)
Wings (Gilded Cage book 1)
Flight (Gilded Cage book 2)
Nightbird (Gilded Cage book 3)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fawn Bailey
• Release date: Apr 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386946403

Book preview

Chapter One

Ophelia

Let me tell you the story of a girl and her bird.

I fell in love with my husband’s best friend when I was only a little girl.

My family, the Sokolovs, were Russian royalty.

I was a pampered little princess, used to being around money my whole life. I never wanted for anything—I got it all in abundance, and before I even wished for it, it was presented to me tied up with a big bow.

My papa called me Princess Ophelia, and the nickname stuck. Everyone called me Princess after that, but nobody dared to mock me using that name. Even though I wore pretty pink dresses and liked to play with Mamochka’s makeup, I still got my feet dirty and made all the other kids respect me. I ruled the playground and my papa ruled the Bratva.

I met the Marino brothers when I was five years old. I had porcelain skin and waist-length black hair, wore a tutu, and was covered in mud up to my knees.

Sometimes I wonder if I would have still fallen in love with Ryker if I’d seen Max first.

They were identical twins, tall for their age, with dark hair and chests that had already broadened. My poor five-year-old heart went all fluttery when I saw the tall boy that strode into the party first. Instantly, it got a reaction out of me. My knees felt weird and my legs were all kinds of wobbly and I had no idea what on earth was going on. Little girls aren’t supposed to feel love as intensely as I did that afternoon, but I was sure nonetheless that was exactly what it was.

I trailed after the boy unnoticed. Or so I thought.

He turned around when I was least expecting it, his eyes blazing with unfriendly fire as his gaze zeroed in on me. He looked like he was about to shout, but as he drank in my appearance, his features softened, and he looked at me with something closer to curiosity in his eyes.

Who are you? he asked in heavily accented English, and I couldn’t believe his dumbness.

I’m Ophelia, I said proudly, my little chin raised defiantly in the air.

How could he not know who I was? Everybody in the world knew my daddy, and also knew me by default. That this boy dared to forget infuriated me, but at the same time, made me think he was special… different to anyone else.

Well, I’m Ryker, he said with a boyish smile, reaching out formally to shake my hand. Ryker Marino.

Hesitantly, I reached out too and took his hand in mine, cocking my head to the side and watching him with unabashed curiosity.

Pleased to meet you, I said, and