Ezra Kane's boots resounded against the sleek black marble floor as he distanced himself from Kael Voss, the air still crackling from their nearly intimate contact. The executive office felt like a trap, its rune-etched walls pulsating in sync with the curse thrumming in his veins. The vibrant crimson skyline of New Avalon spilled through the windows, casting a dangerous glow on Kael's sharp features—part angel, part demon.
"You're engaging in a game you can't possibly win," Ezra proclaimed, his voice steady despite the simmering heat in his chest. The cold weight of his athame pressed against his spine, a reassuring presence against the irresistible pull urging him to step closer into Kael's orbit.
Kael tilted his head, his amber eyes gleaming like those of a predator in shadow. "Winning isn't the goal, Ezra. It's about claiming." He advanced deliberately, inching closer with each step. The wards on the door flickered ominously, a silent alert that this room held more than just secrets—more like a cage. "You sense it, don't you? The abyss is calling for you."
Ezra felt a hitch in his breath. The curse resonated within him, a low hum vibrating in his bones, luring him with promises of power and surrender. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms. "I won't be your pawn, Voss."
"Pawn?" Kael's smile was both wicked and intimate. "You're so much more than that. A flicker in the darkness, yearning to ignite." His hand hovered near Ezra's chest, tantalizingly close, sending electric sparks through the air. "Tell me, half-shadow... what does it feel like to long for what terrifies you?"
The question cut deeper than it should have. Ezra's mind raced back to the nights spent grappling with the curse's insatiable hunger—claws scratching at his skull, dreams filled with blood, neon lights, and a throne he'd never laid eyes on yet somehow recognized. Kael's presence magnified it, amplifying static to a deafening scream.
"I don't desire you," Ezra lied, edging sideways toward the door. But the wards flared again, drawing him back, ensnaring him.
Kael followed, unhurried, his voice lowering to a whisper. "Liar. I can taste it—your blood calls out for me." He reached out, his fingers brushing against Ezra's wrist, igniting a charge that pierced through his defenses. Images flashed through Ezra's mind: Kael's true form, shadows and ash forming wings, a crown of thorns, eyes that promised both ruin and ecstasy.
Ezra yanked his arm away, heart racing. "Stay out of my mind."
Kael's grin widened, unapologetic. "I'm not in your mind, Ezra. That's all you—your curse, your reality, rising." He leaned closer, breath warm against Ezra's ear. "You can run, but it won't let you go. I won't let go."
The door hissed open behind Ezra, the wards parting like curtains. He stumbled into the hallway, the oppressive pull still gnawing at him, Kael's laughter trailing behind him. The elevator ride down was a blur, the neon lights of New Avalon streaking past the glass.
But the curse wouldn't release him. And neither, Ezra realized, would Kael.