Morning light trickled into the room as birds chirped faintly beyond the tall windows. Elena stirred beneath the soft sheets, blinking slowly. For a moment, she forgot where she was. But the velvet curtains, the carved ceiling, and the faint scent of lavender reminded her—this wasn't home. This was the manor. Darius's manor.
A soft knock at the door pulled her fully awake. A maid stepped in, her head slightly bowed. "My lady, Lord Darius has returned. He will summon you shortly. Please prepare yourself."
Elena blinked. He's back? Her chest tightened with anxiety as she sat up. What does he want from me now?
She bathed quickly and slipped into a long, pale blue gown laid out for her. She brushed her hair and tied it back with a simple silver ribbon. When she glanced at her reflection in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. Her skin glowed with warmth, her eyes clearer than before.
She looked… beautiful.
Fed. Clothed. Cared for.
Not like a pet. Not like a slave.
Why is he being so kind? she wondered, remembering Liam's words. Her heart clenched.
"Liam… where are you?" she whispered to herself.
Another knock sounded. The same maid returned. "Lord Darius summons you now."
Elena swallowed hard and nodded, following her silently down the familiar hallway—the same path she had walked the night she first met him. The guards at the door stepped aside. As the heavy doors creaked open, she saw him, seated once more on his dark throne, one leg lazily crossed over the other, eyes glinting like smoldering embers.
"Why still standing there? Come. Don't be shy," he said, his voice smooth as silk.
Hesitantly, she walked forward until he extended his hand. She froze, unsure whether to take it.
"Still unsure if you should trust me?" he asked, his gaze unreadable. "Did the boy fill your head with doubt?"
Elena's heart dropped. How did he know about Liam?
Suddenly, the silence was pierced by muffled cries.
The doors behind her opened again.
Two guards dragged in a figure, bruised and bloodied. Her breath caught in her throat.
"Liam!" she gasped, running to him.
His face was barely recognizable—swollen, bleeding. Panic surged through her.
"What did you do to him?!" she demanded, kneeling beside him, tears springing to her eyes. Her hands trembled as she touched his face.
The guards moved forward, but Darius lifted a hand, halting them.
Liam groaned softly, unable to meet her gaze.
"You shouldn't just trust anyone, little flame," Darius said, descending the steps with slow, deliberate strides.
Elena looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion and fury.
"What are you talking about?"
Darius stopped behind her. "Because sometimes, the person you think is saving you... is the one selling you out."
She turned back to Liam. "No… That's not true."
"He wasn't just trying to help you escape," Darius said calmly. "He was leading you back to the wolves."
"You're lying!" she cried.
But Liam said nothing.
"We intercepted messages," Darius continued. "He made a deal. A large sum of money, in exchange for delivering you to the highest bidder. Back to the same kind of filth who bought you the first time."
Elena shook her head violently. "Liam… please… tell me he's lying."
She cupped his cheek, desperate.
But Liam flinched away from her touch.
That alone shattered something in her.
"Liam…" she whispered, taking slow steps back. Her shoulder bumped against a firm chest—Darius.
"You see, little flame," he whispered into her ear, his voice soft but cold, "I'm the only one who can protect you."
She turned her face to him, lost and afraid.
"Take him away," Darius ordered.
"NO!" she cried, but the guards dragged Liam from the room.
---
Far below, in the manor's dungeon, Liam sat in silence, the faint torchlight flickering against the damp stone walls. His wounds throbbed, but none of it compared to the ache in his chest.
She'll never forgive me.
Lucien approached again, a set of keys in hand.
"It's done," he said.
Liam looked up, barely nodding.
"She thinks I betrayed her."
Lucien's expression didn't change. "You did what was necessary."
Liam clenched his fists. "Doesn't make it any less painful."
"Pain passes," Lucien replied. "Regret… lingers."
He unlocked the cell.
"Leave," he said. "Now. Before you're seen."
Liam hesitated, one last look at the darkness behind him.
"I'm sorry, Elena," he whispered as he disappeared into the night.
Elena sat in silence long after Liam was dragged away, her heart a tangled storm of anger, betrayal, and disbelief. The echo of his silence still rang in her ears. No matter how many times she replayed his expression—bruised, broken, unreadable—she couldn't make sense of it.
Was it all a lie?
She paced her room restlessly, the flickering candlelight catching the silver lining of her gown. The air felt thick. Suffocating. She opened the window slightly, letting the moonlight spill in like a breath of clarity.
She didn't cry. Not yet. Instead, she just stood there, staring into the distance where darkness swallowed the trees.
A knock.
She turned sharply, startled.
The door creaked open. A maid stepped inside quietly, head bowed. "Lord Darius has requested your presence."
Of course he has.
Elena didn't reply. She turned, closed the window, and followed the maid out.
As they walked down the familiar hallways, her footsteps were slower than usual. Her chest tightened with every step. She didn't know what she would say to him—if she should say anything at all. What was the truth anymore?
When they reached the grand door, the guards stepped aside.
"Go on," the maid whispered.
Elena entered.
He was there, on the throne again, a glass of crimson wine in his hand, his legs casually crossed. As if nothing had happened. As if he hadn't torn her world apart just hours ago.
"You're quieter than usual," he said. "Is it fear? Or disappointment?"
She said nothing.
"Come now. I don't bite—unless asked nicely."
She flinched.
Darius's gaze followed her every move as she hesitantly stepped forward. Her fists were clenched, but her face was unreadable.
"You look lovely today," he said.
Elena didn't answer.
He rose from the throne and descended the stairs slowly, his steps echoing across the chamber.
"I imagine you're wondering what's real… what's not. Who to trust."
"You enjoy this, don't you?" she finally spoke, voice low but laced with venom. "Twisting people. Breaking them. Watching them bleed."
Darius stopped in front of her, his eyes calm—too calm.
"I only reveal what is," he said. "It's not my fault if truth hurts more than lies."
Her jaw tightened.
"Liam… was he really trying to sell me?"
He tilted his head. "Would you believe me if I said yes?"
She looked away.
"I thought not."
Silence.
"You think I'm cruel," he said after a moment. "But the world you came from is far worse, little flame. The only difference is I don't hide behind smiles and soft words."
Elena met his gaze. "You said you could protect me. From what?"
He studied her for a moment, then walked past her toward the fire crackling along the far wall.
"There are things you don't remember," he said. "And others you've been forced to forget."
Her heart skipped.
"You speak in riddles."
"I speak in mercy."
She turned to face him. "Then tell me what I am. Why I'm here."
He swirled the wine in his glass, watching the blood-red liquid catch the firelight.
"You already feel it, don't you?" he said softly. "The pull. The change."
Elena froze.
"The dreams… the whispers… the heat rising beneath your skin when you're angry. It's waking up, whatever it is inside you. And when it fully does…" he looked at her, his expression unreadable, "there will be no going back."
She shook her head. "You make it sound like I'm cursed."
"No," he said. "But the world will see you as such."
He took a step toward her again. "The question is—will you be strong enough to survive it?"
Elena backed up slightly, her breath uneven.
"Why me?" she whispered. "Why not someone else?"
He leaned in slightly. "Because the blood that runs in you… is older than kingdoms. And more dangerous than even you can begin to imagine."
Elena's knees felt weak.
"Don't be afraid of it," he said gently. "Fear is what will kill you."
She looked up at him, heart pounding.
"Sleep," he added. "Tomorrow, we'll begin something new."
She turned without a word and walked out, the chamber doors closing behind her like a sigh.
Far below, in the manor's dungeon, Liam sat in silence, the faint torchlight flickering against the damp stone walls. His wounds throbbed, but none of it compared to the ache in his chest.
She'll never forgive me.
Lucien approached again, a set of keys in hand.
"It's done," he said.
Liam looked up, barely nodding.
"She thinks I betrayed her."
Lucien's expression didn't change. "You did what was necessary."
Liam clenched his fists. "Doesn't make it any less painful."
"Pain passes," Lucien replied. "Regret… lingers."
He unlocked the cell.
"Leave," he said. "Now. Before you're seen."
Liam hesitated, one last look at the darkness behind him.
"I'm sorry, Elena," he whispered as he disappeared into the night.
---
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