Bound by Lust

CHAPTER 13: Bound by Shadows

Esme sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the flickering candlelight on the nightstand. The mansion was eerily silent, yet the weight of Kael's presence lingered in every corner. She had barely eaten, her mind too tangled in everything that had happened. This wasn't just a nightmare anymore—it was her reality.

The heavy sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor, growing closer. She inhaled sharply. Kael.

The door creaked open, and he stepped in, his expression unreadable. He loosened his tie, his dark eyes locking onto her as he shut the door behind him. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension was thick, suffocating.

"You're awfully quiet," Kael murmured, his voice low. "Regretting your decision already?"

Esme clenched her hands in her lap. "I never had a choice."

Kael scoffed, stepping closer. "That's where you're wrong." His fingers grazed her chin, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. "You could've run. You could've refused."

Her breath hitched at his touch, her body betraying the fear and something else—something she refused to acknowledge. "And then what? Be dragged back and killed?"

His smirk was slow, dangerous. "At least then you wouldn't have to deal with me."

Esme shivered, unable to look away from him. Kael was a storm, unpredictable and consuming, and she was trapped in his path.

He exhaled, stepping back as if pulling himself away from something he wasn't ready to face. "Get some sleep," he ordered. "Tomorrow is a long day."

And just like that, he left, shutting the door behind him.

Esme lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, her heart still pounding. She had no idea what tomorrow would bring. But one thing was clear—Kael wasn't letting her go.

She was bound to him now, whether she liked it or not.

Esme lay motionless, her thoughts racing in the darkness. The room, though lavish, felt cold—just like him. No matter how much space she had, she still felt caged.

Sleep evaded her, her mind replaying every moment, every look in Kael's dark, unreadable eyes. She didn't know what scared her more—his cruelty or the flick

or the flicker of something else she saw in his gaze. It wasn't kindness, but it wasn't pure indifference either. It was something far more dangerous—interest.

She turned on the bed, staring at the ceiling, biting her lip in frustration. How had her life come to this? Bound to a man who saw her as nothing more than a transaction, a challenge, or worse—a possession.

A knock at the door made her jolt upright. It was soft but firm.

She hesitated before answering. "Who is it?"

The door creaked open, revealing Kael. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed, his sharp features cast in shadows. His black eyes, ever so intense, locked onto her.

"You're still awake." It wasn't a question.

"What do you want?" Esme asked, pulling the covers closer to her.

Kael stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. "You and I need to set some things straight."

She swallowed, heart pounding. He took slow, deliberate steps toward her, stopping just before the bed. She hated how his presence filled the entire space, making it harder to breathe.

"You belong to me now," he stated, his voice dangerously low. "That means no more running, no more defying me, and definitely no more getting close to Lucan."

Esme stiffened. "Lucan is kind to me. I don't see why that should be a problem."

Kael scoffed, his fingers reaching out to trace the curve of her jaw, tilting her face up to his. His touch was light, almost teasing, but she could feel the restraint in his grip. "It's a problem because I said so."

She glared up at him, refusing to be intimidated. "You can't control who I talk to."

Kael smirked, his thumb grazing her bottom lip. "I can control more than you think."

Her breath hitched, but she forced herself to stay still, refusing to show weakness.

He watched her for a moment, eyes darkening with something unreadable before he finally stepped back. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we're making this arrangement official."

Esme frowned. "Official?"

Kael didn't answer. He simply turned and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

Esme sat frozen for a long time, heart hammering. She knew Kael was dangerous, but she also knew something else now—whatever he had planned for her, it was only just beginning.