Aarya's heart pounded in her chest as she stood in the middle of the room, her mind a swirling vortex of confusion and fear. His words lingered in the air, suffocating her, as though they were etched into the very fabric of the space around her. The choice is yours, Aarya. You can stay, or you can run... But there's no turning back.
She shook her head, trying to shake off the heaviness of his presence that still clung to her like a shadow. How had he managed to break through her defenses so easily? She was strong, independent, capable of taking on anything life threw at her. So why did this man make her feel like she was drowning, unable to break free?
The moment the door clicked shut behind him, Aarya rushed to the window, pressing her palms against the cool glass. Outside, the night was still—silent, as if the world itself was holding its breath. It felt like time had stopped the moment he entered her life. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut: she wasn't in control anymore.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to run far away from this place and never look back. But the truth gnawed at her—where could she go? What would she be running from? There was no escape from him. Not anymore.
She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, trying to steady herself. The cold glass beneath her fingertips was the only thing grounding her as the whirlwind of emotions inside her raged.
Was he right? Did she want this? Did she want him?
No. She couldn't. She wouldn't.
But even as she thought the words, something inside her shifted. Deep down, beneath the surface, a part of her didn't want to leave. That part was terrified, yet drawn to him—like a moth to a flame, no matter how much it hurt to fly closer. She wanted to deny it, wanted to pretend it wasn't true, but she couldn't. Not anymore.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the window as she felt a surge of anger flood through her. No. She wouldn't be his puppet. Not again. She couldn't let him have that much power over her.
But then, a cold voice interrupted her thoughts, breaking through the turmoil in her mind. "You're thinking about it."
Aarya spun around, her heart leaping in her throat. Standing there in the doorway, framed by the shadows of the hallway, was him. She hadn't heard him approach, but there he was, watching her with those piercing eyes that seemed to see right through her.
His lips curled into a slow, almost predatory smile. "Did you think you could run?" he asked softly, as if he were amused by her futile attempt to fight him. "You know better than that, Aarya."
She stepped back, her breath hitching, but she couldn't move. His gaze locked onto hers, drawing her in, making it impossible to look away.
"I told you," he continued, his voice low and steady, "when you made the choice to come here, you became part of something bigger than yourself. Something you can't escape. And now... now you'll understand why."
She tried to steady her breathing, trying to hide the tremor in her voice. "I'm not part of your game," she said, forcing the words out. "I don't want this. I don't want you."
He didn't say anything at first. Instead, he took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. Aarya's pulse quickened, her every instinct screaming at her to run, but she was paralyzed, trapped in the intensity of the moment.
"You still don't understand, do you?" His voice was soft, almost affectionate, as though he were speaking to a child who hadn't yet figured out the truth. "You don't have a choice, Aarya. You never did."
His hand reached out, brushing a lock of hair from her face, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her skin. "You're here because you belong here. Whether you want to admit it or not, you belong to me."
Aarya's breath caught in her throat. No. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't—
But even as she tried to push away the thought, she couldn't ignore the way his words resonated deep within her. He was right. She was already here. And there was something in his voice, something in the way he spoke, that made her feel like she was sinking deeper into his world. She couldn't fight it. Not anymore.
"You can keep telling yourself you're not part of this," he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear, his breath warm against her skin. "But I know the truth. And so do you."
Aarya pulled away, her heart hammering in her chest as she backed toward the wall. "You don't own me," she said fiercely, though her voice shook with fear and uncertainty. "I won't let you."
For a moment, the silence between them was suffocating. The only sound was her ragged breathing as she waited for him to respond. And when he did, his voice was colder, darker, the weight of his words like a chain around her neck.
"You already belong to me, Aarya," he said, his voice now hard and final. "You always have. And now you'll see what it means to be mine."
Before she could react, he was gone—vanishing as quickly as he had appeared, leaving her standing there, breathless, her thoughts a tangled mess of fear, confusion, and desire. Her pulse raced as she tried to make sense of everything, but nothing made sense anymore. She was trapped in his web, whether she liked it or not.
The choice, he had said. But was it really hers?
She slid down the wall, her knees giving out beneath her as she sank to the floor. Her mind reeled with everything that had happened, everything he had said. She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him, the darkness that seemed to seep into her soul whenever he was near. And despite her best efforts to resist, part of her—part of her—wanted to be claimed by him.
Was this really what she wanted?
Cliffhanger-
He smiled then—not the kind that brought comfort, but the kind that promised chaos—and in one swift movement, he leaned closer, his lips near her ear as he whispered, "Then why did you call my name in your sleep last night?"
Aarya's blood ran cold. Her breath caught.
She hadn't told anyone about the dreams. Not even herself.