Elara walked briskly down the castle corridor, her mind a tempest of thoughts. The memory of the shimmering blue and silver magic, so vividly alive between her hands, lingered in her senses. The warmth still tingled against her palm, an unsettling reminder of the power she had unknowingly channeled. She flexed her fingers absently, trying to make sense of the strange experience.
The castle was eerily silent, its towering walls standing like watchful sentinels around her. The only sounds were her steady footsteps, echoing in the empty corridor. But the stillness felt heavy, as if the air itself was charged with an invisible force. The power she had briefly wielded seemed to pulse within her veins, leaving a trail of unease in its wake.
Healing and taking ...
Her breath hitched as the realization settled within her—this magic, this force, was both a blessing and a curse. It was a power she could use to heal, yes, but it could also harm, depending on her intent—or perhaps, on her emotions.
She stopped before a tall window, gazing out at the dusky sky. The fading light of the day seemed to mirror her inner turmoil. She asked herself the question she had been avoiding, the question that had been gnawing at her mind ever since that moment in the chamber: What is she ?
A moment passed, her thoughts drifting, and then she made up her mind. She needed solitude, time to face her inner battles, to unravel the chaos within her. She turned toward her room, the cold stone walls of the castle enveloping her like a cage. But she was never truly alone.
Elara entered her chambers, her thoughts still swirling, only to be met by the unexpected presence of someone already waiting for her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice a soft murmur as she began removing her coat and shoes .
Behind her, Darius picked up her coat and carelessly tossed it onto the couch, then kicked her heels aside. His movements were deliberate, commanding, as though the very space around him belonged to him alone. He wasn't walking slowly, nor was he rushing. It was the confident stride of a man who owned everything he passed, like Theron—only Darius's presence felt like he owned everyone around him. A stark contrast between the two men.
Elara turned, only to find him standing so close that she could feel the heat of his presence. Her breath caught in her throat, and her pulse spiked as she instinctively looked up at him. His eyes weren't on her face, though. No, they were fixed on her chest, drawn to the subtle movements of her breasts.
She followed his gaze, noticing the way her breathing had quickened, the way her body had shifted under his stare.
"You never answered my question," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady, though her heart hammered in her chest. 'Why is he so close?' she thought, but she couldn't bring herself to move away. 'Goddammit, I'm the Queen !' she told herself. 'I can command him . Why can't I tell him to move ?!'
"What we talked about earlier, starshine," Darius said, his voice low and filled with an unspoken promise, as though he expected her to understand exactly what he meant.
Elara felt a heat rise within her, her emotions suddenly in turmoil. She couldn't quite place it—was it anger, frustration, or something else? All she knew was that the moment he had walked into the room, her mind had become clouded.
"If you knew me," she said, trying to put some distance between them as she turned and walked away from him, "like you claim to, you would know I would never run away."
"I never claimed to know you," he replied, his voice cool , his eyes still fixed on her every move.
"Oh, you don't?" she retorted .
"Don't what?" he asked, his words as smooth as silk.
"Know me?" Elara snapped, her frustration bubbling over. She turned to look at him, her gaze locking with his, only to find him smirking that infuriating, irresistible sexy smirk of his.
"I do," Darius said, his voice dripping with confidence. "Now, I'm claiming it."
Elara fought the urge to roll her eyes.When had she become the type of person who rolled their eyes at someone ? But she couldn't help herself. Darius was getting under her skin, and she hated how easily he could do it.
"I won't run away," she said, her voice firm as determination filled her chest. "I'm staying behind. I will fight for my kingdom."
"I never said we should run away either," Darius replied, stepping closer to her again, his presence overwhelming. "I said we were walking away. And starshine..." He paused, his eyes gleaming with something darker now. "When one walks away, it means they can always come back. You'll come back, once you have regained all your memories."
"No," Elara replied, her tone sharp, refusing to yield. "I will discover them while I am here. While I am fighting."
"Unless you want to help me," she added, her words challenging him.
"And why would I do that?" Darius's flirtatious tone evaporated in an instant, replaced with something colder, more distant. He took a step back , his face expressionless .
Elara's stomach dropped, but she refused to let him see how his words had affected her. "Because you can," she said, her voice unwavering.
Darius stood still for a moment, his face unreadable. Then, after what felt like an eternity, a smirk returned to his lips—this one laced with mockery, as though he were amused by her.
"No," he said simply.
Elara was taken aback, but she didn't allow her surprise to show. She had expected resistance, but something in his tone stung more than she wanted to admit.
"I will not allow you to leave this castle's gates," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Trust me, I will not allow that." She felt the weight of her words settle between them, heavy and resolute.
Darius's smirk vanished, his face now hardening into something unreadable. They stood there, their emotions at odds, the air thick with unspoken tension.
"If I remember correctly," Elara continued, her voice steady as she locked eyes with him, "you are to serve this castle. And now, you are to serve me too. Sir Darius, I am asking you to be my head of guard. You can think about it tonight, but tomorrow, as the sun sets, you will be by my side, protecting me."
"I never got the chance to thank you for saving and protecting us that day. Now, I give you my deepest gratitude."She bowed her head slightly, a formal gesture, though the weight of her words carried a deeper meaning.
Elara turned to leave, expecting the conversation to end, but then, his hand grabbed her wrist.