He stayed away.
Not for hours.
Not for a moment.
For days.
And that was the problem.
Aarya told herself it didn't matter.
She told herself it was better this way.
He was dangerous.
He was control she didn't understand.
And yet—
Every second without him felt… wrong.
Too quiet.
Too empty
The castle had become unbearable.
Not because it trapped her—
But because it didn't have him in it anymore.
"This is ridiculous…" she muttered under her breath.
Her fingers clenched slightly.
She shouldn't feel like this.
She shouldn't be thinking about him—
About his voice.
His touch.
The way he looked at her like—
She wasn't something he could let go of.
Aarya exhaled sharply.
"He left," she reminded herself.
"So why does it feel like…"
She stopped.
Because she didn't want to finish that thought.
Like something was missing.
The realization hit harder than anything else.
This wasn't fear anymore.
This wasn't confusion.
This was—
Need.
And that terrified her more than him ever had.
"You look restless."
The voice wasn't his.Aarya froze instantly.
Slowly—
She turned.
A man stood at the end of the corridor.
Not like Kael.
But not human either.
His eyes were sharp.
Observing.
Calculating.
"You're not supposed to be wandering alone," he continued casually.
Aarya's body tensed.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled slightly. "Someone who knows what you are."
Her heartbeat stopped for a second.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
He stepped closer.
Too slowly.
Too confidently.
"Of course you don't," he said softly.
"But he does."
Silence.
Aarya's throat tightened.
"Stay away from me."
The man chuckled quietly."You think I'm the danger here?"
Another step closer.
"You don't even realize what he's turning you into."
Something cold slid down her spine.
But before she could react—
The air shifted.
Heavy.
Violent.
The man stopped mid-step.
His expression changed instantly.
"Ah…"
A slow smile spread across his face."There you are."
Aarya didn't need to turn.
She felt him.
Stronger than before.
Darker.
Not controlled anymore.
"Leave."
Kael's voice cut through the space—low, cold, absolute.
The man smirked slightly.
"Careful," he said softly.
"You're getting attached."
Silence.
Dangerous silence.Then—
Kael moved.
Not a step.
A blur.
One second he was behind her—
The next—
He had the man by the throat.
Lifted.
Effortless.
"I said leave."
His voice dropped lower—
Not calm.
Not controlled.Something darker.
Something that made even the other man pause.
For the first time—
He looked… cautious.
"Interesting," he muttered.
Then—
He vanished.
Just like that.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Aarya turned slowly.
And there he was.
Closer than before.Breathing unevenly.
His eyes locked onto hers.
Not calm.
Not distant.
Possessive.
"You don't leave this room again," he said quietly.
Aarya's pulse spiked instantly.
"You don't get to—"
His hand caught her wrist.
Firm.
Unyielding.
"I do."
The words weren't loud.They didn't need to be.
Because this wasn't control anymore.
This was obsession.