Niklaus froze, his dark eyes smoldering with an intensity that matched the heat between them. His lips were slightly parted, still glistening from their earlier exploration, and a wicked smirk played on his face as he looked at her, acknowledging the conflict and desire that battled within her. The atmosphere in the room was thick with the lingering scent of passion and tension, as Emily's skin felt flushed and electric from his touch, yet she struggled to reconcile her emotions with the irresistible pull between them.
"The thing you feel—it's not love. It's obsession," Emily's voice trembled, but she forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to let him see how deeply he unsettled her. Her chest heaved with every breath as she watched him, her heart pounding against her ribcage. "It's pure obsession, not love. You... you don't know how to love."
Niklaus's expression darkened, his red eyes gleaming with a dangerous mix of amusement and desire. Without warning, he moved closer, swift and deliberate, lifting her effortlessly and placing her on the edge of the railing. The cold metal pressed against her back, a sharp contrast to the heat radiating from his body. Her breath hitched, a gasp escaping her lips as he hovered over her, his presence overwhelming.
"What's your definition of love, princess?" His voice was a low, menacing murmur, his lips barely an inch from hers. His fingers brushed against her cheek, trailing down to her neck, making her shiver. Emily could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, as if the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.
She struggled to speak, to push the words past the lump in her throat. "Love... love is something that makes you feel safe," she whispered, her voice shaking, though she tried to sound strong. "It's supposed to consume you in a way that comforts, not in a way that destroys. It's... it's wanting to be around that person, all the time."
Niklaus's lips curled into a dark, knowing smile as he listened, his eyes never leaving hers. He was watching her like a predator, waiting, savoring her every word. "Go on," he urged, his voice sending a tremor through her. The intensity in his gaze made her feel exposed, vulnerable in a way that left her feeling small, despite her strength.
Her hands trembled as she gripped the railing, her knuckles turning white. She licked her lips nervously, feeling her pulse race. "Love is deep. It's about connection. A bond between two people... one that's unbreakable." Her voice faltered, and she looked away, unable to hold his piercing gaze any longer. Her heart thudded in her chest, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps.
"Is that all?" Niklaus's voice was soft, almost teasing, but there was a dangerous edge to it. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin, making her shiver. "Is that your idea of love, Emily? Comfortable? Safe?" His lips brushed the shell of her ear as he spoke, sending chills down her spine.
"Shall I tell you what I feel?" he whispered, his voice low and primal, every word dripping with intent. "When I look at you, you are the only one I see. There is nothing else. My thoughts are always about you, every single moment. You consume me, body and soul." His hand slid down her waist, tightening his hold on her, pulling her closer, making her breath hitch. "I want to possess you. Not just your body, but your mind, your heart, your very soul. I want all of you, princess."
Emily's chest tightened, her breath coming in ragged gasps as his words sank in. There was something terrifyingly raw in the way he spoke, a hunger that went beyond desire. Her fingers gripped the railing, nails digging into the metal as if she needed something to anchor her in the storm that was Niklaus.
"You think I don't understand love?" His voice was rough, almost growling as he leaned in, his forehead resting against hers. "Everyone loves differently, princess. But make no mistake, you are not just the center of my world..." His lips brushed against hers, barely touching, teasing her, his breath mingling with hers. "You are my world."
The weight of his words hit her like a wave, crashing into her with a force that left her breathless. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. She could feel the sincerity in his voice, the depth of his obsession, his need to claim her, and it terrified her. But more than that, it left her shaken in a way she couldn't explain. His love wasn't gentle or kind—it was fierce, possessive, and all-consuming.
Niklaus pulled her down from the railing, his hands lingering on her waist, but something had shifted between them. The heat of his touch was still there, but now it was layered with something deeper—something far more dangerous. His eyes bore into hers as if he could see right through her, as if he owned every part of her, and in that moment, she wasn't sure if she could ever escape him.
And a part of her wasn't sure if she wanted to.
He stepped back, leaving her standing alone, the weight of his words heavy in the air between them. Emily's body trembled, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she watched him walk away, her mind racing with thoughts she wasn't ready to face. His love might be twisted, but it was real. And for the first time, she wasn't sure what frightened her more—the depth of his feelings, or the fact that a small part of her wanted to fall.
*
Emily spent the entire day distancing herself from Niklaus, her mind an unrelenting storm of emotions she could no longer ignore. She had sensed it creeping up on her for days now—the slow, subtle shift in her heart. It terrified her. She scolded herself internally for allowing even the slightest affection to bloom. The fear of what was coming weighed on her like an anchor. The curse—her curse—was something she had carried alone, and now it was catching up to her.
Four and a half months. That was all the time she had left. The thought of Niklaus discovering her secret, knowing she would soon be gone from his life, was unbearable. What would happen when he learned the truth? Would he care? Her chest tightened at the thought, an unexpected wave of sorrow threatening to spill over.
Seeking solace, Emily found herself sitting on the cool stone floor of the balcony, her knees drawn to her chest as she stared out at the crescent moon. Its pale light reflected off the gentle ocean waves, casting a serene glow over the dark water, but there was no peace within her. The moon, beautiful and distant, seemed to mock her with its calmness, while her heart was in turmoil.
She didn't love Niklaus. She couldn't. She refused to let herself fall for him, and yet... something had shifted. The hatred that had once been clear and sharp in her chest had dulled, replaced by something far more complex. Bearing him for these past two months had chipped away at her defenses. He wasn't the monster she had once believed him to be. Her feelings, once so straightforward, had become tangled in ways she wasn't ready to admit.
After a quiet dinner together, she had changed into her night robe, her mind still reeling from the day's internal battle. The weight of her unspoken fears dragged her down into an uneasy sleep, but even then, she couldn't shake the feeling of impending change.
Niklaus returned an hour later, his duties for the day complete. As he stepped into the dimly lit room, his eyes fell on Emily, already curled up in bed, her breathing slow and steady in sleep. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her—so peaceful, so vulnerable at this moment. There was a softness to her that she never let show when awake, but here, in the quiet of the night, her guard was down.
Without a word, he moved to the bath, washing away the day's weight. When he returned, dressed in nothing but loose pants, he slid into bed beside her, careful not to wake her. The bed dipped slightly as he settled, and instinctively, his hand found her waist. With a gentle pull, he drew her close to him, her warmth seeping into him as her back pressed against his chest.
To his surprise, Emily stirred, but rather than pull away, she turned toward him in her sleep. Her head rested against his chest, and one of her hands curled against his skin. It was as though her body knew it was him, even in her dreams, and she unconsciously sought his presence. The simple act made something deep within Niklaus stir—a feeling he wasn't sure he'd ever felt before.
He chuckled softly under his breath, his amusement gentle as he brushed a kiss against her forehead. His arms tightened around her, pulling her as close as possible, as if to shield her from whatever was haunting her even in sleep.
The night was calm, the soft sound of the waves in the distance the only noise around them. In this moment, wrapped in each other's arms, they both found a rare sense of peace. For now, the tension, the uncertainty, the curse—it all seemed far away. There was only the warmth of their bodies, the steady rhythm of their breathing, and the fleeting tranquility of the moonlit night.