Night fell quietly.
Too quietly.
As if the mansion itself was holding its breath.
The chaos from earlier had faded into a distant memory, buried under layers of forced calm and tightened security. Guards patrolled every corridor. Lights stayed on longer than usual. Every shadow was watched.
And yet—
None of it reached her.
Elena sat at the edge of her bed earlier that evening, staring at the untouched plate of food in front of her. The aroma had long faded, turning cold… just like everything else around her.
She wasn't hungry.
She hadn't been hungry for days.
But still—
She forced herself.
One bite.
Then another.
Mechanical.
Empty.
As if she was simply following instructions instead of living.
Because Adrian had ordered it.
And somehow—
That was enough to make her comply.
Alex didn't come that night.
For the first time since everything began.
He was busy.
Preparing.
Arranging.
Securing the mansion for the wedding.
The thought alone made her chest tighten.
Wedding.
The word felt foreign.
Heavy.
Wrong.
After finishing just enough to survive, she lay down on the bed without changing, without thinking, without even turning off the lights.
Her body was exhausted.
Her mind—
Even more.
And for once—
Sleep came.
Not gently.
Not peacefully.
But like darkness swallowing her whole.
Time passed.
Unnoticed.
Unfelt.
The clock ticked somewhere in the room.
Soft.
Steady.
Then—
A shadow moved.
Not from the door.
Not from the balcony.
From beneath the bed.
Slowly—
Silently—
A figure emerged.
Like something crawling out of the darkness itself.
Gloved hands.
Black clothing.
A skull-shaped mask catching the faint light.
And those eyes—
Ocean blue.
Cold.
Focused.
Alive with something dangerous.
He rose without a sound.
Standing beside the bed.
Watching her.
For a long moment—
He didn't move.
Just observed.
Her face.
Her breathing.
The way her body curled slightly into itself even in sleep.
A faint tilt of his head.
Almost curious.
Almost… possessive.
Then—
He leaned down.
Close.
Too close.
"Wake up…"
His voice was a whisper.
Low.
Rough.
"…my little bird."
His breath brushed against her ear.
A faint, deliberate graze of his teeth followed against the shell of her ear—not enough to hurt, but enough to send a sharp jolt through her senses.
Elena's eyes snapped open.
Instantly.
No confusion.
No delay.
Just pure awareness.
Fear surged through her like lightning.
She jerked up—
Trying to move away—
But before she could even push herself off the bed—
A firm grip caught her ankle.
Pulled.
Fast.
Her body slid back onto the mattress with a soft gasp.
"Let—!"
Her voice broke as she tried to scream.
But he was faster.
Much faster.
In a blink, he was over her.
Caging her between his arms.
Not crushing.
Not hurting.
But leaving no space to escape.
No space to breathe freely.
A gloved hand rose—
Gripping her throat.
Not squeezing.
Just resting there.
A silent warning.
A clear message.
Don't.
"Ah… ah…"
His voice came again.
Soft.
Almost amused.
"Why so impatient, little bird?"
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Her hands trembled beneath him.
"You're a good girl, aren't you?" he murmured.
His tone dipped lower.
"Stay quiet… and I won't do anything unpleasant."
Something in his voice—
Something in the way he spoke—
Made her body freeze.
Not from comfort.
But from instinct.
Like prey sensing a predator.
Her voice came out broken.
Barely audible.
"Why… are you doing this?"
Her eyes searched his masked face.
Desperate.
Confused.
"What have I done…?"
For a moment—
He didn't answer.
His gaze remained fixed on her.
Studying.
Reading.
Memorizing.
Then slowly—
He leaned closer.
His face near her neck.
His voice dropping into a low vibration that she could feel more than hear.
"I don't like it…"
A pause.
"…when someone tries to claim what's mine."
Her breath caught.
Her eyes widened.
The words hit her harder than any physical force.
Mine.
The same word.
The same claim.
From both sides.
Her heart pounded violently.
Trapped.
Between two storms.
Before she could respond—
Before she could even process—
He moved closer.
Too close.
His presence overwhelming.
His breath warm against her neck.
Then—
A sudden sharp sensation.
Not pain.
But not gentle either.
A mark.
A claim.
Left deliberately.
Her body stiffened.
A soft gasp escaped her lips despite herself.
His grip on her didn't tighten—
But his hold felt stronger.
More certain.
More… final.
When he pulled back slightly—
His eyes remained locked on her.
Dark satisfaction flickering within them.
"Now," he murmured softly, "he'll see it."
Her mind spun.
Her heart raced faster.
"What… are you—"
"Shh."
His finger brushed lightly near her lips.
A warning.
Not harsh.
But undeniable.
"You ask too many questions."
A pause.
Then—
"You should be asking how long you have."
Her breath hitched.
"W-what do you mean…?"
For the first time—
Something shifted in his gaze.
Not softer.
But deeper.
More dangerous.
"Because the next time I come…"
His voice lowered further.
"…I won't be leaving alone."
Her blood ran cold.
"No—"
A faint smirk curved beneath the mask.
"You think he can keep you?"
A quiet, almost mocking chuckle followed.
"Let him try."
He watched her reaction carefully.
Every flicker of fear.
Every shift in her breath.
Every tremble.
And it pleased him.
"You look better like this…"
he murmured.
"Scared."
Her eyes widened.
A tear slipped down the side of her face.
He noticed it immediately.
His gloved thumb brushed it away slowly.
Almost gently.
A contrast that made her shiver more.
"Don't cry…"
he whispered.
"But don't smile for him either."
Her breath hitched again.
His presence—
Too close.
Too intense.
Too much.