Arianna's breath trembled as the weight of Damien's words crashed down on her.
A deal made centuries ago. A bloodline cursed. A fate she never chose.
Her heart pounded so violently she could hear it in her ears. Every instinct in her body screamed to fight, to resist, to run—but deep down, she knew.
There was no running from him.
Damien's silver eyes remained locked onto hers, his expression one of cruel amusement, as if he enjoyed watching her struggle against the chains she couldn't even see.
Her nails dug into her palms as she forced herself to speak. "You said there's no escape. That the contract is bound to my soul." Her voice was steady despite the storm raging inside her. "But every contract has loopholes."
Something flickered in Damien's gaze. Interest.
She continued, her mind racing. "What if I find a way to break it?"
The amusement in his expression didn't fade. Instead, he took a slow step forward, the air around him shifting—as if the very room responded to his presence. "You're welcome to try," he murmured.
Arianna's muscles tensed as he moved closer, until there was barely any space between them. The heat of his body was suffocating, overwhelming. She could feel the power radiating from him, curling in the air like an invisible force pressing against her skin.
His voice dropped to a whisper. "But know this, little wife—" His fingers ghosted over her wrist, barely touching her, yet she felt it like a brand. "Every attempt to defy the contract will come at a price."
Arianna swallowed hard. "And what exactly is that price?"
His smirk widened, wicked and taunting. "You'll find out soon enough."
Her skin prickled. What the hell does that mean?
She yanked her arm away from his touch, glaring up at him. "I don't belong to you."
Damien chuckled, low and dark. "You say that as if it matters."
A sharp burst of anger flared through her, momentarily overpowering the fear that coiled in her gut. "I don't care what deal my ancestors made—I never agreed to this."
His expression didn't change. "Your agreement was never required."
Arianna clenched her fists. "And what if I fight you?"
Damien exhaled, as if she were a stubborn child refusing to accept reality. Then, in the blink of an eye, he moved.
Fast. Too fast.
Before she could react, he was behind her. His fingers brushed over her bare shoulder, feather-light yet scorching. Arianna's entire body went rigid.
A whisper in her ear. "You already are."
Her breath hitched. She spun around, swinging at him out of pure instinct—but he wasn't there.
A cruel chuckle echoed through the room.
She whirled around—only to find him standing across the room once more, leaning lazily against the fireplace, as if he had never moved at all.
Arianna's pulse pounded as she stared at him, heart slamming against her ribs. What the hell is he?
Damien met her gaze, smirking. "Finished?"
Her hands trembled, but she forced herself to remain still. Don't let him see you're afraid. Don't let him win.
He exhaled, pushing away from the fireplace, his gaze darkening. "Since you're so curious about loopholes," he murmured, "let me teach you the first rule of this contract."
Arianna braced herself as he stepped closer again.
"This bond is not just written in ink," he said. "It's woven into your very existence."
Her throat tightened. "What does that mean?"
Damien's smirk faded slightly. "It means that you cannot simply leave me, Arianna. The contract ensures that. The further you try to run, the more it will pull you back."
Arianna stiffened. "You're lying."
His silver eyes gleamed. "Am I?"
The air shifted.
Arianna suddenly felt a strange pressure settle over her chest—a weight, unseen but crushing, as if invisible chains wrapped around her ribs.
It wasn't painful.
Not yet.
But it was there—a presence deep in her soul, tying her to something else.
To him.
Panic flared in her chest. She stepped back, shaking her head. "No. No, this isn't real—"
Damien remained still, watching her with an unreadable expression. "Close your eyes," he said.
She hesitated.
"Do it."
Arianna swallowed hard. Slowly, she obeyed.
The moment her eyes shut, a pull surged through her—a sharp, suffocating yank, as if something inside her was tethered to another force.
She gasped, eyes flying open.
And she knew.
She could feel him.
Not just in front of her, but inside her very being.
It was faint, but it was there—a thread of connection, unseen yet unbreakable, binding her to Damien in a way that made her stomach churn.
Arianna stumbled back, gripping her chest. "What—what the hell did you do to me?"
Damien's smirk was slow, satisfied. "I didn't do anything. This is simply the truth of our bond."
"No," she whispered. "This isn't—this isn't possible."
His silver eyes darkened, and his next words sent ice through her veins.
"It is. And it will only grow stronger."
Arianna shook her head violently. "I won't let this happen. I don't care how powerful you are—I will find a way to break this."
Damien studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he smiled, but it wasn't amusement this time.
It was something else.
Something dangerous.
"Then by all means, try," he murmured.
Arianna clenched her fists, her mind racing. She had to get away. Had to find answers.
But first, she had to survive this night.
Before she could say another word, Damien turned toward the door. "Get some rest, little wife," he said. "You'll need it."
The doors opened on their own, the shadows curling like living things around the edges.
Arianna remained frozen as he stepped through them, vanishing into the darkness beyond.
Then, just as suddenly, the doors slammed shut.
She was alone.
But the bond?
She could still feel it.
Pulsing. Wrapping around her soul like invisible chains.
Her hands trembled as she collapsed onto the bed, her mind spinning.
There had to be a way out of this.
She just had to find it before it was too late.