Bound by Lust

The silence between Esme and Kael had become more than just a passing phase—it was their new reality. Days turned into weeks, and Kael remained as distant as ever, locked away in his study or attending meetings that took him far from the mansion. When they did cross paths, his acknowledgment of her was brief, if not entirely nonexistent.

Esme stopped trying to force conversations. She stopped seeking him out. There was no use in chasing a man who had made it clear he had no intention of being present in this engagement.

Lucan, however, was a different story.

Their interactions had grown more frequent, not out of intention but circumstance. Lucan had started dropping by the estate more often, offering casual conversation, a presence that filled the void Kael had left behind.

One evening, as Esme sat alone in the study, staring at a book she had long since given up on reading, the sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see Lucan leaning casually against the doorway, arms crossed.

"You look miserable," he remarked.

Esme let out a soft, breathy chuckle. "That obvious?"

Lucan stepped inside, his usual smirk softening into something more thoughtful. "You're engaged to my brother. Of course, you're miserable."

His teasing tone made Esme smile, though there was a pang of truth behind his words.

Lucan took a seat across from her, leaning back into the chair. "Has he always been like this?" he asked, his voice lighter but still edged with curiosity.

Esme hesitated before answering. "I don't know. It feels like... he's completely shut me out. Like I don't even exist to him."

Lucan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "That sounds like Kael."

She looked at him then, searching his face for some kind of answer, for any indication that he understood Kael in a way she didn't. "Why is he like this?"

Lucan's expression darkened slightly, as if debating how much he should say. "Kael doesn't let people in. He never has. He's focused on one thing: control. Love, affection... they don't fit into his world."

Esme swallowed the lump in her throat. She had known Kael was cold, but hearing it put so plainly made it feel heavier. "Then why agree to this engagement?" she asked, more to herself than to Lucan.

Lucan shrugged. "Power? Obligation? Who knows what goes on in Kael's head?" He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "But you don't deserve this, Esme. You shouldn't have to live in his shadow like this."

Something about his words stirred something deep inside her—an acknowledgment of what she had been trying to suppress.

She looked away, focusing on the flickering candlelight on the desk. "I made my choice," she said quietly.

Lucan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, but choices can be questioned. Doesn't mean you have to accept misery as your fate."

Esme glanced at him, seeing the sincerity in his expression. For a fleeting moment, she wondered—if things had been different, if she had met Lucan under different circumstances, would she still be feeling this same turmoil?

The sound of a door shutting somewhere in the mansion made them both tense. Esme straightened, her heart rate spiking slightly as she recognized the heavy footfalls approaching.

Kael.

Lucan noticed her reaction and smirked slightly. "Looks like the ghost of this house has returned," he murmured.

Before Esme could respond, Kael appeared in the doorway. He didn't look at Lucan; his gaze went straight to her. His eyes were unreadable, but there was something unsettling about the way he took in the sight of them sitting together.

Lucan leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed by Kael's presence. "Busy night, brother?" he asked casually.

Kael ignored him, his attention solely on Esme. "Come with me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Esme hesitated but stood. She turned to Lucan, who gave her a small, knowing nod before she followed Kael out of the room.

They walked in silence through the mansion, Kael's presence stiff beside her. When they reached his study, he opened the door and gestured for her to enter.

She stepped inside, turning as he closed the door behind them. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with something unspoken.

Kael leaned against the desk, arms crossed, studying her. "You've been spending a lot of time with Lucan."

Esme met his gaze, refusing to shrink under his scrutiny. "You barely speak to me. I had to talk to someone."

His expression remained unreadable. "Is that all it is? Talking?"

There was something in his tone that made Esme's stomach twist. "What are you implying?"

Kael tilted his head slightly, as if considering his words carefully. "I don't care what you do, Esme. But don't mistake my indifference for blindness."

Esme clenched her jaw, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "Then what do you care about, Kael? Because it certainly isn't this engagement."

He didn't respond right away. Instead, he pushed off the desk and walked past her, pouring himself a drink at the bar. "You knew what this was from the beginning."

The coldness in his voice sent a chill down her spine.

"So that's it?" she asked, voice quieter now. "You'll marry me, but I'll always just be a piece of this arrangement to you?"

Kael took a slow sip of his drink before finally looking at her. "That's up to you."

The words were simple, but they carried an unmistakable weight.

Esme felt something inside her crack, a deep ache that she had been trying to ignore. She had thought maybe, just maybe, there was something beneath Kael's cold exterior—something that could grow into more.

But now, standing in front of him, she realized the truth.

Kael would never love her.

And for the first time, she wasn't sure if she wanted to love him either.

****. ****. ****.