Aarya didn't remember when she stopped struggling.
Maybe it was when the ground disappeared beneath her feet.
Or when the wind began to scream past her ears.
Or when his grip tightened-unyielding, absolute.
He didn't carry her like a person.
He carried her like something claimed.
The world blurred into shadows.
Trees. Sky. Darkness.
Gone.
And then-
Silence.
Her feet hit cold stone.
Aarya staggered, breath breaking, her body refusing to catch up with what had just happened.
When she looked up-
She wasn't in her world anymore.
The castle rose around her like something alive.
Dark walls. Endless shadows.
Watching.
Waiting.
"Where-" her voice cracked.
"My home," he said.
His voice was closer than she expected.
Too close.
Aarya turned sharply-
And found him standing right behind her.
Not a step away.
Not even space to breathe.
Her back instinctively hit the wall.
Trapped.
His gaze dropped slowly to her throat.
To the mark he left.
His jaw tightened.
Like he didn't like what it did to him.
"You shouldn't exist," he murmured.
Aarya's pulse quickened.
"Then let me go."
Silence.
Then-
A low, almost amused breath left him.
"No."
The word was soft.
Final.
Something inside her snapped.
"You don't get to decide that!"
Her voice echoed in the hollow space.
For a second-
Just one second-
His expression changed.
Not anger.
Not cruelty.
Interest.
Dangerous interest.
"No one speaks to me like that."
He stepped closer.
Aarya held her ground.
Even as her heart betrayed her.
Faster. Louder.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
His hand lifted again-
Not touching.
Hovering.
Like he was fighting himself.
"You're afraid," he said quietly.
Aarya met his eyes.
"No."
A lie.
But she didn't break it.
His lips curved again-
That same dark almost-smile.
"Good."
His fingers finally touched her skin-
Light.
But it burned more than pain.
Aarya's breath hitched.
Not because it hurt.
Because it didn't.
And that was worse.
"You'll learn," he said softly, his voice dropping lower-
Closer.
"To be."
His fingers slid to her wrist.
Tightened.
Not enough to bruise.
Enough to remind.
"Mine."
The word didn't sound like possession.
It sounded like inevitability.
And for the first time-
Aarya felt something far more dangerous than fear. Something pulling her deeper.
Into him.