The silence didn't feel safe anymore.
It felt controlled.
Aarya could still feel his grip on her wrist—
Even after he let go.
Like it hadn't been just touch.
Like it had meant something else.
"You can't keep me locked here," she said finally.
Her voice was steady—
But her heartbeat wasn't.
Kael didn't respond immediately.
He was watching her again.
Not like before.
Not curious...not distant.
Focused.
Like she had become something he couldn't ignore anymore.
"I can," he said quietly.
"And I will."
Aarya's eyes flashed slightly.
"Because of him?"
Kael's jaw tightened.
That was answer enough.
"You think I'm weak?" she asked—voice lower now.
"I think you don't understand what you are," he replied.The words landed harder than anything else.
Aarya frowned.
"Then explain it."
Silence.
He didn't move.
But something shifted in his expression.
Conflict.
Something he wasn't used to feeling.
"Your blood…"
He stopped.
Like even saying it was a mistake.
Aarya stepped closer.
This time—Not careful.
Intentional.
"What about it?"
His gaze dropped briefly—
To her throat.
The mark.
His mark.
Something darker flickered in his eyes.
"It shouldn't exist," he said.
Aarya's brows pulled together.
"That doesn't explain anything."
"It doesn't need to," he replied.
His voice had changed again.Lower.
Controlled.
Like he was pulling himself back.
That annoyed her more than anything else.
"You don't get to decide what I know," she said sharply.
Kael stepped closer instantly.
Too fast.
Too close.
Aarya didn't step back.
That was new.
His hand lifted again—
Slower this time.
Lower.
Controlled.
Like he was pulling himself back.
That annoyed her more than anything else.
"You don't get to decide what I know," she said sharply.
Kael stepped closer instantly.
Too fast.
Too close.
Aarya didn't step back.
That was new.
His hand lifted again—Slower this time.
Not forceful.But not asking either.
His fingers brushed her throat—
Right over the mark.
Aarya's breath caught instantly.
Not from fear.
From the way her body reacted.
And he noticed.
Of course he did.
His gaze darkened.
"This," he said quietly,
His thumb pressing lightly against her pulse—
"is why you don't leave."
Aarya swallowed slowly.But not asking either.
His fingers brushed her throat—
Right over the mark.
Aarya's breath caught instantly.
Not from fear.
From the way her body reacted.
And he noticed.
Of course he did.
His gaze darkened.
"This," he said quietly,
His thumb pressing lightly against her pulse—
"is why you don't leave."Aarya swallowed slowly.
"You're afraid of what I am," she said.
He leaned closer—
His voice dropping into something darker.
"No."
A pause.
Then—
"I'm afraid of what I become around you."
Silence.
Heavy.
That wasn't what she expected.
And somehow—That made it worse.
Aarya's fingers curled slightly—
Gripping his sleeve.
Not pulling away.
Holding him there.
"Then stop," she said softly.
But there was no real demand in it.
No force.
Just something dangerously close to—
Want.
Kael stilled.
Completely.
Then slowly—
His hand moved—Sliding from her throat to her jaw.
Holding her there again.
Not gently.
Not cruelly.
Like he was deciding something.
"That's the problem," he said quietly.
His eyes locked onto hers—
Darker than before.
"I don't want to."