Chereads / Condemned Inferno / Chapter 19 - Chapter - 18

Chapter 19 - Chapter - 18

Pov~ Reve 

The hatred in his eyes was unmistakable, a storm brewing within him that mirrored the chaos in his soul. His gaze was like a tempest, fierce and unyielding, while the air around him crackled with tension. It felt as if the atmosphere itself was charged, sending shivers down my spine, a deep current I could feel pulsing through my veins. He stood in front of me, unyielding, his intense green eyes locking onto mine with a hunger that felt like a promise—dangerous and intoxicating all at once.

Those eyes—so vibrant, so piercing—seemed to hold the very essence of nature within them, the forests, the wild winds, and the fury of the earth. He didn't just watch me; he devoured me with his gaze, as though I were prey caught in the snare of a hunter. His sharp cheekbones cast shadows in the dim light, highlighting the chiseled lines of his face. His raven-black hair, cut short but unruly, beckoned my fingers. The thought of touching it, of feeling its texture against my skin, ignited a desire deep within me, a desire I couldn't understand. Why am I thinking this now, of all times?

Death stood before me, its embodiment in human form, and yet all I could focus on was the feel of his hair, the brush of his lips that hadn't yet touched mine. The weight of the silence between us was suffocating, thick and oppressive, so much so that I felt as if I could reach out and slice through it with a knife.

His voice, when it came, was low and rough, like the growl of a beast that had been lying in wait. "What were you doing with Cyrus?" The words rolled off his tongue, dark and raspy, breaking the silence with a force that made my skin prickle. For the first time, he spoke to me, and his voice was everything I imagined it would be—dangerous and filled with raw power.

I didn't answer. My mind raced, the urge to survive battling with the strange pull I felt toward him. But if this was my end, I wouldn't go without a fight. Something within me stirred—an unexpected surge of courage. I stood taller, meeting his fiery gaze, refusing to let him see my fear.

"I asked you once," he growled again, his voice rougher, more impatient. "Do you not understand the consequences of silence? What were you doing with Cyrus?" His words were sharper this time, slicing through the thick air between us. His tone was riddled with command, but I would not let him dominate me.

"I don't owe you an explanation." My voice surprised even me with its strength. "What does it matter to you? Cyrus is my friend." I couldn't tell him the truth—no, that would be too dangerous. But I wasn't about to cower.

He raised a brow, his lips curling into a smirk, amusement flickering in his predatory gaze. "So, you've found your voice now, answering my question with your own?" His voice dropped, and though his words held mockery, there was something darker there, something primal.

"If you answer me," I countered, holding my ground, "then I will answer you."

The corner of his mouth twitched, and I could see the amusement fading, replaced by a deeper, more dangerous hunger. "So, this is how it's going to be." His tone was almost playful, but beneath it lay an undercurrent of something far more intense.

"Yes," I said, standing tall, refusing to back down. "This is how it's going to be."

His eyes darkened, and in two swift steps, he closed the distance between us. Suddenly, my back was against the cold stone wall of the balcony, trapped between him and the night sky. His body radiated heat, a heat that seemed to seep into my very skin, intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

"You've got nerve, Boudica." His voice was lower now, almost a whisper, but it held more weight than any shout could. His breath ghosted across my skin as he leaned in closer, his lips hovering near mine, teasing me with their proximity.

"And why do you think you can order me around?" I spat, my words braver than I felt. "I won't let you harm me or those I care about. I'll make you pay for every wrong, for every threat. I am not afraid of you!" The words were fierce, and I meant them—at least, I thought I did.

But then he moved closer still, his lips a breath away from mine. "If you think you can tempt me with your defiance, you're..." My sentence broke off, the words dissolving as his hand cupped my face. And before I could react, his lips crashed down on mine.

It wasn't a kiss; it was an assault, a claim. His mouth devoured mine with the hunger of a starved beast, hot and desperate. His lips, so soft, contrasted with the hard, unforgiving force of his kiss. I gasped against him, the heat between us rising until it felt as if the very air around us had ignited. He kissed me as though I were the last drop of water in a burning desert, and he would never quench his thirst.

Just as suddenly, he pulled away, leaving me breathless and trembling. "What do you think you're doing?" I demanded, my voice shaky with confusion and anger. But before I could finish, he was on me again, this time biting down on my lower lip, his teeth sinking in just enough to make me gasp. The pain flared for a moment, sharp and electrifying, but then he soothed it, his tongue flicking over the tender spot, turning pain into pleasure.

And then, as quickly as he had come, he moved away. My body acted on instinct, my hand flying to his face, delivering a sharp slap. The sound echoed in the night air, and for a moment, I saw surprise flicker in his eyes.

But then he was kissing me again, more fiercely, more desperately. I fought back this time, my tongue battling his, my teeth sinking into his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. I tasted the metallic tang and couldn't tell if it was his blood or mine. The kiss was a war, a clash of wills, neither of us willing to surrender, both of us willing to burn in the fight.

When we finally pulled apart, we were both gasping for air. "Stop, you can't keep doing this ," I breathed, my chest heaving, my mind swirling with confusion, anger, and something else I couldn't name.

But he didn't stop, his lips was coming on my lips again but I placed my hand on my mouth . He smirked, his eyes glinting with dark satisfaction. "Now we're talking," he said, his voice low and rough. "See what happens when you don't listen?"

I stood there, staring at him, my body trembling with a mixture of fury and something far more dangerous. He was watching me, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race, and for the first time, I didn't know if I wanted to fight him or let him win.