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He pushed me toward the bed, his eyes cold and unyielding. “You’ll stay here,” he said, his voice a dark promise.
I turned to face him, my defiance flaring despite my fear.
“I won’t be your captive,” I spat, my voice trembling with rage.
His gaze hardened, and he took a step closer, towering over me.
“You already are,” he said, his tone icy. “And if you try to defy me, you will find that my patience is not infinite. Your punishment in the throne room will feel like child’s play compared to what will be in store for you then.”
I met his gaze, my heart pounding.
“I’ll find a way to escape,” I vowed, my voice shaking but determined. “You can’t keep me here forever.”
A cruel smile twisted his lips.
“You can try,” he said softly, his fingers brushing my cheek. “But know this: every attempt will only bring you more pain.”
I slapped his hand away, my eyes blazing with anger. “I don’t care what you do to me,” I said, my voice rising. “I’ll never give in.”
His smile faded, replaced by a look of cold determination. “Then you will suffer,” he said in a chilling whisper. “But eventually, you will break.”
I simply glared in his direction. I knew better than to act on it now. I had to bide my time, to wait for the right moment. Fighting him here, in his domain, would be suicide.
But I would find my chance.
I had to.
“Who am I?” he demanded.
I knew what he wanted to hear, and I refused, instead saying nothing at all and turning away. Without warning, he pushed me to the bed, reached for my wrist and before I knew what was happening, he’d clapped an iron cuff around it.
I tugged at it, but the cuff held fast, connected to a chain embedded deep into the stone floor. Panic surged through me as I realized the full extent of my helplessness. I yanked at the chain again, my wrist burning with the effort, but it was useless. The Dark King’s eyes bore into mine, a mix of triumph and indifference gleaming within those inscrutable violet depths.
“This will keep you from making any foolish attempts to escape,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “You will remain here until I decide what to do with you.”
With that, he turned and walked to the door, leaving me alone in the darkness of his room. As the door closed behind him, I felt the full weight of what had happened settle over me. I was trapped in a place of nightmares, under the control of a man who was more monster than human.
But I wouldn’t give up. I wouldn’t let him break me. I would find a way to escape, to fight back. And when I did, he would see that I was not just a pawn in his game.
I was a force to be reckoned with.
I slept like the dead.
I opened my eyes to see the Dark King in bed next to me and I started, but then froze hoping I didn’t wake him. For a long moment, I just watched the light play across his chiseled features, how the glow of the moon caressed his high cheekbones and lit them in shadow, how his dark lashes were stark against his pale skin, how his lips were the perfect shade of pink. I studied everything, knowing that I’d likely never get such a chance again.
He looked almost serene in his sleep. His raven-black hair spilled across the pillow, framing his face in a way that made him appear almost vulnerable. The steady rise and fall of his chest were hypnotic to watch, and for a moment, I found myself captivated by the rhythm, wondering who this man was beneath the monster that was the Dark King.
If there even was a man beneath the monster…
His brows, usually furrowed in menace, were relaxed, giving him an almost peaceful expression. The harsh lines that defined his face in wakefulness softened, and I could see a flicker of humanity, a trace of something almost gentle. It was as if, in sleep, the darkness that consumed him had momentarily released its grip and I found myself consumed by that.
Suddenly, his eyes opened, glittering violet staring directly into mine. I froze, my breath caught in my throat. For an instant, I saw something in those eyes—a glimmer of humanity maybe, or even perhaps a hint of vulnerability that made my heart skip a beat.
It was as if, for that brief moment, he was not a ruthless monster, but just a simple man right here next to me in his bed.
But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by the same unyielding iciness he had shown yesterday. His expression hardened, and that single moment vanished like a wisp of smoke in the wind. I looked away, my fear rolling back in like a cloud of smoke.
“You’re awake,” he said, his voice low and devoid of all softness. “Did you sleep well?”
