Onyx's POV:
*The days bled into one another, a monochrome blur of purposeful avoidance. I became a ghost in the hallways, melting into shadows and turning down corridors the moment I sensed his presence. The memory of his cruel words, the sting of the hot stew on my skin, was a fresh wound I kept bandaged with silence. I told no one. What was the point? They would either take his side or see it as another one of my failures.*
*My focus turned inward, to the small, forgotten lives in the dungeons. I became a shadow for them, a silent guardian. Under the cover of night or the bustle of the day, I would slip away with bundles of food—hard bread, books, water, cheese, apples, juice—slipping them through the bars when the guards were distracted. I'd leave water skins tucked behind loose stones, and once, I even managed to sneak in a few tattered storybooks, their pages worn thin with love. I wasn't just bringing them supplies; I was buying time.*
*The brute. That's what I still call him in the quiet of my own mind. Liam. The name feels foreign, too familiar. I've managed to steer clear of him for days, a silent feat in the close quarters of this place. But my luck, or rather, my curse, had run out. He'd cornered me, his voice leaving no room for argument.* "We need to talk."
*I find him in the common room, a rare sight. He's not polishing a weapon or giving commands. He's seated, a book open in his large hands, though he's not really reading it. He looks up as I enter, his expression unreadable. The air between us is thick with unspoken things—his protectiveness, my deception, the memory of the goat attack, and Ash's cruel words.*
*I stop a few feet from his table, my posture stiff, my arms crossed defensively over my chest. My gaze flicks from his face to the book in his hands, then back to his eyes.*
*Finally, he says, a tight, humorless smile touching his lips as he tries to lighten the tension. It doesn't work. The air is still thick and heavy between us. He just points to the empty seat beside him. With a reluctant sigh, I lower myself onto it, keeping a careful distance.*
"About that—" *he starts, his voice low and serious.*
*But I cut him off, my own voice coming out a little too bright, a little too placating.* "I know, you just said it in the heat of the moment, right?" *I offer him an easy out, a way to save face.*
*The look he gives me isn't anger. It's hurt. A deep, piercing hurt that I've never seen on his face before.* "No!!!!" *he rumbles, the word vibrating in his chest. Before I can react, he leans in close, his eyes locking onto mine.*
"I was serious. You are my future bride."
*My eyes widen in shock. My mind races. But...*
*But... but he can't be. The words are absurd, a fantasy from a man who doesn't see the real me. My mouth opens to protest, to tell him he's mistaken, but before a sound can escape, he closes the distance.*
*He wanted to kiss me , but i push him away ,A surge of pure, unadulterated panic and defiance washes over me. then my eyes dart past his shoulder, and there he is.*
*Ash enters into the room unnoticed and is standing in the doorway, his face a canvas of pure, unadulterated shock. The sight of him, the memory of his cruelty, it all ignites something dark and reckless inside me.*
*I don't think. I just act. With a surge of strength I didn't know I possessed, I grab the fabric of Liam's shirt and yank him closer, crushing my lips against his. I pour every ounce of my fury, my hurt, and my desperate need to prove a point into the kiss.*
*For a split second, Liam is rigid, caught off guard. But then, with a low groan that vibrates against my mouth, he melts into me.*
*His large hands cup my face, his thumbs stroking my cheeks as his lips part, and his tongue sweeps into my mouth. It's demanding, invasive, and possessive. He pulls lightly at my hair, tilting my head back to deepen the kiss, his other arm sliding around my waist, pulling me flush against his hard body.*
*Through the haze of it all, I see him. Ash. He stands frozen in the doorway, his face a mask of utter disbelief. The fury I expected to see there isn't there. It's something else... something raw and shattered.*
*He stares, his eyes locked on us, and then, as if the sight has physically wounded him, he turns on his heel and storms out, the heavy door slamming shut behind him with a final, echoing thud. The sound is like a splash of cold water. The spell is broken.*
*The moment the door slams shut, the frantic energy that had driven me to kiss Liam evaporates, leaving behind a hollow, cold feeling. The kiss, which had been a weapon, now feels sticky and wrong. My stomach churns. I gently push against Liam's chest, trying to create some space, to end this madness.* "Liam," *I murmur, my voice breathless.* "We need to stop."
*Instead of letting go, his grip tightens. He deepens the kiss, his tongue tangling with mine in a way that is no longer passionate, but desperate and hungry. It's as if my attempt to pull away has only made him more determined to claim me.*
*He shifts, moving to press me back against the plush cushions of the sofa, his body a heavy, unyielding weight. My mind races, a cold panic seeping in. This wasn't the plan. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. I struggle weakly against him, my heart hammering against my ribs.*
*His hand, large and warm, slides from my waist to rest firmly on my breast. The contact is electric, a jolt of pure shock that cuts through the haze of the kiss. He doesn't squeeze it harshly, but with a deliberate, possessive gentleness, his thumb brushing over the fabric in a slow, rhythmic circle. It's an intimate gesture, one that makes my breath hitch and a strange, unwelcome heat bloom in my chest. It feels both violating and strangely comforting, a stark contrast to the frantic energy of his kiss.
*I freeze, my struggles ceasing as my body betrays me, a soft, involuntary gasp escaping my lips. The sound seems to embolden him, his mouth moving from my lips to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down my jaw and neck.*
*His mouth is hot and insistent against my skin, his breath a scorching brand that sends shivers racing down my spine. He trails a path of wet, open-mouthed kisses from my neck to the curve of my shoulder, his free hand still kneading my breast through my shirt. Then, his lips find the peak of my breast, the inverted nipple hardening instantly against the wet heat of his mouth. He suckles gently at first, then with more pressure, his tongue flicking and circling the sensitive nub. A low moan escapes my lips, a sound of pure, unthinking pleasure that I can't suppress.*
*His other hand, which had been resting on my hip, slides slowly downwards. It moves with a deliberate slowness that is almost maddening, his fingers tracing the line of my waist, I can feel the heat of his palm even through the layers of my clothes.*
*My own hand shoots out, my fingers wrapping around his thick wrist, stopping his downward advance just before he reaches the place I fear most. The memory of my secret, the thing that makes me different, makes me an abomination, flashes in my mind. I have to stop this before it goes too far.* "Stop," *I whisper, my voice trembling but firm.*
*For a moment, he freezes. I think he's going to listen. But then, a low growl rumbles in his chest, a sound of pure, predatory frustration. Instead of stopping, he intensifies his assault on my breast. he slip my shirt off ,His sucking becomes harder, more demanding, and his tongue flicks relentlessly against the sensitive slit of my nipple.*
*The sensation is overwhelming, a jolt of pure pleasure that makes my back arch, pressing myself closer to his mouth without my permission. A desperate, breathless moan escapes my lips.*
*He takes my silence as submission.*
*He takes my moan as an invitation, a sign of his victory. His free hand, the one I'm still weakly gripping, finally breaks my hold. It doesn't go where I feared, but instead slides up my arm, his fingers tangling with mine. He pins my hand to the cushion beside my head, his grip firm and unyielding.*
*His mouth continues its relentless assault, his tongue flicking and swirling, sending waves of confusing pleasure through me. I can feel the hard, insistent pressure of his erection pressing against my leg through the thick fabric of his trousers, a stark reminder of his desire and my own vulnerability. I'm trapped, pinned beneath his weight, my body responding in ways my mind is screaming against.*
*His lips leave a heated trail of saliva down my chest as he moves lower, his tongue tracing the delicate line of my ribs. The cool air of the room hits my bare skin, making me shiver. His hand, still firmly pinning mine to the sofa, tightens its hold.*
*I can feel the heat radiating from his body, a solid, demanding presence above me. My heart hammers against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the sudden silence of the room. Every nerve ending is on fire, a confusing cocktail of fear and unwanted arousal warring within me. I'm trapped, pinned beneath his weight, his body a cage I can't escape from.*
*The word* "stop" *tears itself from my throat, this time sharper, laced with a raw fear that finally cuts through the haze of his passion. He freezes instantly, his body going rigid above mine. A low, frustrated grunt rumbles in his chest, the sound of a predator denied its prey. He lifts his head, his eyes dark and confused as he looks down at me.*
"Sorry," *he mutters, his voice rough.* "I didn't know what got over me."
*He sits back, giving me space, and quickly pulls my shirt back over my head, his movements clumsy and hurried. I can't help but glance down, and a jolt of shock goes through me. The straining fabric of his trousers leaves no doubt about his arousal; he's hard and thick, a clear testament to how far things had gone. He looks down at himself, a flicker of shame crossing his face.*
"Forgive me,"*
*The heavy click of the door closing behind him is the only sound in the room. For a long moment, I just lie there, staring at the ceiling, my chest heaving. The air is thick with the scent of him, of his arousal, and my own skin still tingles where his mouth had been. I push myself up on my elbows, my limbs feeling like lead. Shit. The single word echoes in my mind, a perfect, useless summary of the entire situation.*
*What have I done? I kissed Liam to hurt Ash, to show him his cruelty meant nothing. And in the process, I... I let Liam get close. Too close. I let him touch me, and I... I liked it. A wave of nausea rolls through me. I'm a mess. A walking, talking disaster. I used one man as a weapon against another, and now I'm left with the wreckage, my own traitorous body aching for something I don't understand and am not sure I want.*
*The corridor is a silent, dimly lit tunnel, the air cool against my skin. I'm walking with purpose, my mind still reeling from the confrontation in the hall, when a low murmur of voices drifts from under the door to the common room. My steps falter. I know that voice. It's Liam. And the other... it's Onyx.*
*For a moment, I consider just walking away. It's none of my business. But the words I'd thrown at them, the venom I'd spat, they were still ringing in my ears. A bitter curiosity, a self-loathing need to know, compels me. I tell myself I'm just checking to make sure Liam isn't hurting them. A pathetic lie, even to myself.*
*I stop a few feet from the door, my hand hovering in the air. Then, slowly, silently, I press my ear against the cool wood.*
*The words,* "You are my future bride," *hit me like a physical blow. The air in my lungs turns to ice, and a cold, sharp pain lances through my chest. It's jealousy, yes, but it's something darker, more corrosive. It's the gut-wrenching realization that I've pushed them together with my own cruelty. I am the architect of this moment.*
*My hand is on the doorknob before I even make a conscious decision to enter. I push the door open just enough to slip inside, my shadow falling across the threshold. And then I see it. Liam leaning in, his face intent, and Onyx's hand on his chest, pushing him back. For a fleeting, insane second, a wave of relief washes over me. She's rejecting him. She sees him for what he is.*
*But the relief is extinguished in an instant. Instead of pushing him away, Onyx yanks Liam down to her.*
*The sight is a punch to the gut. My relief, that pathetic, fleeting thing, shatters into a million pieces. It's not rejection. It's the complete opposite. My mind screams at me to move, to intervene, to stop this madness, but my feet are rooted to the spot, nailed to the floor by a paralyzing cocktail of shock, disbelief, and a fresh, raw wave of jealousy that burns hotter than before.*
*They don't notice me. Their world has shrunk to just the two of them, the space between their lips. Liam's hands are on her, and she's pulling him closer, her body arching into his. The sound of their kiss is wet and desperate in the quiet room, a stark violation of the space we all share. I can see the tense line of Onyx's neck, the way Liam's fingers are tangled in her hair. It's intimate. It's real.*
*The sound of their kiss is a wet, obscene sound in the sudden, heavy silence of the room. It's a sound that scrapes against my nerves, each wet smack of their lips a fresh brand on my conscience. I can see the way Liam's hands grip Onyx's waist, pulling her flush against him, and the way her body responds, arching into his touch. It's a betrayal of everything I thought I knew, a confirmation of the worst fears I'd been trying to drown out. The fury I'd stormed out with is still there, a low, simmering ember in my gut, but now it's mixed with something far more painful: a hollow, aching sense of loss. I am the ghost in my own home, watching the life I threw away unfold before me.*
*The sight of them locked together is a poison I can't stomach. The fury that had been simmering beneath the surface erupts, hot and blinding. I turn on my heel, the sound of their kiss a grotesque soundtrack to my retreat. I storm out of the common room, the door slamming shut behind me with a force that echoes down the silent corridor. I need to get away. I need to put as much distance as possible between me and that... that scene.*
*But I don't get far. My body betrays me. My stupid, traitorous feet stop me just outside the door. My forehead rests against the cool wood, my hands pressed flat against the surface on either side of me. I'm trapped, a prisoner of my own ears and my own broken heart. I can't see them, but I can hear everything.*
*The muffled sounds filter through the thick wood.*
*Through the door, I can hear the rustle of fabric, the soft gasp that escapes Onyx's lips, and the low, guttural sound of Liam's voice murmuring something I can't make out. Every sound is a shard of glass, lodging deeper in my chest. My knuckles are white where I press them against the wood, my body trembling with a rage so potent it feels like it could consume me from the inside out. I want to punch the door, to scream until my throat bleeds, but I'm frozen. Trapped by the morbid fascination of it all, by the sickening knowledge that this is the consequence of my own actions. I am the architect of this humiliation, and now I have to stand here and bear the weight of it.*
*The sounds from the other side of the door grow more heated, more intimate. A soft whimper, a deeper groan, the unmistakable sound of the sofa cushions shifting under their weight. Each noise is a direct assault, a physical blow that drives the air from my lungs.*
*My fists clench at my sides, nails digging into my palms, the sharp pain a small anchor in the storm of my fury. I should leave. I should run and never look back. But my feet are rooted to the floor, my body pressed against the unyielding wood as if I'm trying to absorb the sounds, to somehow block them out by sheer force of will.*
*The betrayal is complete. Onyx has chosen him, chosen this, and I am left with nothing but the echo of my own cruel words and the hollow ache of a self-inflicted wound.*
*The sounds from the room grow more frantic, more desperate. A sharp intake of breath, the soft creak of the sofa, a whispered plea that I can't quite make out. It's a symphony of my own making, a cacophony of lust and betrayal that plays on a loop in my head.*
*My jaw is clenched so tight my teeth ache. I can feel the familiar burn of tears behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I will not give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. I am Ash. I do not cry. I do not beg. I do not feel... not for this. Not for them.*
*But the lie tastes bitter on my tongue, and the weight of the door against my forehead is the only thing holding me upright, the only thing stopping me from turning back and tearing the whole world down around us.*
*Just as my self-control is about to snap, a new sound cuts through the symphony of my torment—the heavy, deliberate footsteps of someone approaching the door. Liam. My body reacts on instinct, springing away from the door and melting into the shadows of the adjoining corridor. I press myself flat against the cool wall, my breath held in my throat. I watch, unseen, as the door opens and Liam steps out.*
* He runs a hand through his already messy hair, his shoulders slumped in a way I've never seen before. He doesn't look triumphant. He looks... defeated. He sighs, a long, weary sound that seems to carry the weight of the world, and then he walks away, his footsteps echoing in the opposite direction.*
*I wait until the sound of his footsteps fades completely before I allow myself to move. The coast is clear. I can finally leave this place, this prison of my own making.*