The room felt unbearably quiet as Sylus's words hung in the air.
"Because I couldn't let you go. And now, neither can they."
Rose's breath caught, her thoughts racing. She wanted to demand more answers, to make sense of why she had been drawn into this world and why Sylus seemed so adamant about keeping her in it. But when her eyes met his, the words died on her lips.
Sylus stepped closer, his dark eyes searching hers, his expression softening. "You're scared," he said quietly, his voice low and steady.
"Of course I'm scared," Rose admitted, her voice trembling. "Everything about this world feels wrong, Sylus. And yet…"
"And yet you're still here," he finished, his tone filled with a mix of frustration and something deeper.
Rose nodded, gripping the notebook in her hands like a lifeline. "Because of you."
That admission seemed to shift something between them. Sylus's gaze softened even further, his usual sharpness melting into something unguarded. Slowly, he reached out, his fingers brushing against hers.
"You shouldn't say things like that, kitten," he murmured. "It makes it harder for me to do what I need to."
"What do you mean?" Rose asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sylus didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gently took the notebook from her hands and set it on the table. Then, without warning, he pulled her into his arms.
Rose stiffened at first, caught off guard by the sudden closeness, but the warmth of his embrace quickly eased her. He held her tightly, as if letting go would mean losing her forever.
"Sylus…" she began, her voice muffled against his chest.
"Just… let me hold you for a moment," he said, his voice low and rough, like he was battling something inside himself.
Rose stood still, her heart pounding in her chest. The world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them in the quiet, dimly lit apartment. She could feel his heartbeat against her cheek, steady and strong, and it grounded her in a way she hadn't expected.
As he pulled back slightly, his hands moved to her shoulders, his fingers lingering just a moment too long. Their faces were inches apart now, and the intensity in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine.
"Rose," he said softly, his voice barely audible.
"Yes?" she whispered, her gaze flickering between his eyes and his lips. She hesitated, feeling the heat rising in her chest, a mix of desire and uncertainty. She could sense the tension in him, the battle within him that was keeping him from taking that final step.
Sylus moved even closer, his breath brushing against her lips. The space between them felt smaller with every passing second, and yet something held her back. The world seemed to stand still, a heavy silence between them. Rose's pulse raced, and she could feel the magnetic pull between them, but a part of her hesitated. Was she ready for this? Was it the right time, or was it just the weight of everything crashing down on her?
She leaned in just slightly, as if her body was drawn to his, but then, without fully closing the gap, she stopped. Her mind was clouded with too many questions, too many unknowns. Was this truly the right decision, or was it another dangerous step into a world that was never meant for her?
Sylus froze, his eyes darkening. He pulled back, though his hands remained on her shoulders. The moment felt fragile now, slipping through their fingers like sand.
"I can't," he said, his voice strained.
"Why not?" Rose asked, her voice breaking. Her heart ached as she pulled away slightly, torn between wanting to be close to him and the fear of what it meant.
"Because the moment I do… I'll never let you leave," Sylus admitted, his jaw tightening. "And I don't want to trap you in a world that isn't yours."
Rose's chest ached at his words. She wanted to tell him that she didn't care, that she wasn't sure she wanted to leave anymore. But she couldn't find the words.
Instead, she reached up and placed her hand over his, her fingers curling around his. "I'm already trapped, Sylus. And it's not because of this world—it's because of you."
Sylus's expression softened, and for a moment, it looked like he might pull her into another embrace. But instead, he sighed and stepped back, running a hand through his hair.
"You make things so complicated, kitten," he said, his tone both affectionate and exasperated.
Rose smiled faintly, her heart still racing. "Maybe it's you who makes things complicated."
A rare chuckle escaped Sylus's lips, and he shook his head. "Maybe."
The tension lingered between them, unspoken but undeniable. And though the kiss hadn't happened, the bond between them felt stronger than ever.
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