Chapter 12
He headed straight for the door, yanking on one of the ropes dangling from the ceiling, which I assumed summoned his servants. Then, without sparing me a glance, he started removing his cape, the rich fabric cascading to the floor with a soft thud. He moved with deliberate slowness, taking off his coat next, revealing the broad expanse of his chest as he unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt.
" Why do you have to be so stubborn?" he sighed, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and something else—something darker.
I watched him warily, my eyes wide as he stalked closer to the bed. Instinctively, I backed up until my back was pressed firmly against the headboard, the cool wood biting into my skin. My breath came in shallow gasps as he kneeled down on the bed, his movements predatory as he began crawling toward me.
My entire body went ice cold, fear coursing through my veins. " What… are you… doing?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper, but he didn’t answer. He just kept coming closer, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my blood run cold.
Then I noticed something that made my heart stop—his eyes. They were darkening, turning from their usual hue to a nearly blood-red color, glowing eerily in the dim light like the eyes of a demon. A yelp escaped my mouth before I could stop it. " Your eyes! What is wrong with your eyes?"
At my words, his eyes widened in shock, and he abruptly jumped off the bed, turning his back to me as he covered his eyes with his hands.
" What are you, a demon?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.
" It is none of your concern," he forced out through gritted teeth, his voice strained as if he were barely holding something back.
" Then why are your eyes like that?" I demanded; my fear now mixed with a desperate need for answers.
He was silent for a moment, his shoulders tense, his breathing heavy. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and dangerous. " It happens from time to time… there is this darkness inside me, a curse of sorts, that I’ve carried for longer than I can remember. It’s a part of me, one that I have to control…"
He trailed off, his hands still covering his eyes as if he couldn’t bear to look at me. My mind raced, trying to process his words. A curse? Darkness? What kind of creature had I gotten entangled with?
He turned slightly, just enough so that I could see his profile, his eyes still averted. " This curse, this darkness—it’s been growing stronger. I can feel it eating away at me, and I’m afraid that one day… it will consume me entirely. The bond with you… it was supposed to be a way to keep it at bay, to remind me of the light, of something pure. But now…"
He trailed off again, his words hanging heavy in the air. I sat there, stunned, my mind spinning with everything he’d just revealed. I didn’t know what to say, how to react. I was terrified of him, of what he was, but at the same time, a small part of me pitied him—this powerful king burdened with a darkness he couldn’t control.
" I never wanted to involve you in this, Meara," Kaden continued, his voice barely above a whisper. " But now… now it’s too late."
The weight of his words pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. I didn’t know what to do, what to think. All I knew was that I was in way over my head, caught in something far beyond my understanding.
And as I looked at Kaden, his back still turned to me, I realized that whatever darkness he was fighting, it was only a matter of time before it won.
Kaden's expression shifted as he hesitated, his hands resting on the back of the chair before slowly lowering himself into it. He looked distant, as if the weight of his words was already pulling him under.
" Please," I urged softly, " tell me more about what's wrong with you?"
He sighed heavily, his gaze dropping to the floor. " For as long as I can remember, I felt this darkness within me. At first, I ignored it, thinking it was just part of who I was. But a few years ago, it started to surface more often... consuming me. When I cross over to the dark side, I lose all recollection of who I am or what I've done. And sometimes..." He trailed off, his voice faltering.
I stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue, sensing that whatever he was about to say, it was something that haunted him deeply.
" Sometimes, when I come back as myself," he finally continued, his voice strained, " I find out that I've hurt people—innocent people. The guilt... it’s unbearable. I don’t know how to control it, and that terrifies me more than anything. A king is supposed to protect his people, not harm them."
The fear in his eyes was palpable, a stark contrast to the confident, domineering man I had come to know. For a moment, he was vulnerable, stripped of his kingly power, just a man battling demons within.
Before I could respond, a knock came from the door, pulling us both from the intensity of the moment.
" Enter!" Kaden commanded; his voice steady but lacking its usual authority.
Beth entered the room carrying a tray of food, her eyes respectfully lowered as she placed it on the table. " Thank you," Kaden said, his tone softer, and Beth bowed before quietly exiting the room.
The silence that followed was heavy, and I could see the internal struggle playing out on Kaden’s face. I wanted to reach out, to offer comfort, but I wasn’t sure how.
" What will happen to you if this darkness keeps growing?" I asked after a long pause.
Kaden didn’t meet my eyes. " I don’t know," he admitted. " But I fear that one day, it might consume me entirely, and there’ll be nothing left of who I am."
The thought sent a chill down my spine. Despite everything, despite my resistance to the bond, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of compassion for him. He was fighting something far worse than any external enemy—a battle within himself, one that he might not be able to win.
Kaden and I ate the food Beth brought us in silence. I didn’t ask him any more questions about the darkness within him—I could tell it pained him to talk about it. After we finished eating, I headed to the bathroom to draw a bath. As the water filled the tub, I stared at myself in the mirror. The gold-plated taps and mirror reflected the unique blend of ancient and modern elements in this place. Though the castle seemed to date back centuries, it was interwoven with modern touches and magical accents that somehow complemented each other perfectly.
After my bath, I found Kaden already in bed, waiting. I approached the bed slowly, picking up one of the pillows that had fallen to the floor and heading over to the couch.
" What are you doing?" he asked, his tone curious.
" I'm going to bed," I replied shortly as I lay down on the couch, turning my back to him. It was silent for a few moments, and then I heard movement on the bed. He must have settled in to sleep as well. Relieved, I closed my eyes, ready to drift off, when suddenly I felt myself being lifted from the couch.
" Kaden! What the hell are you doing?" I exclaimed.
" My mate is not sleeping on a couch," he said firmly, placing me gently on the bed before returning to his side. He climbed back in, seemingly satisfied.
I stared at the pillows lying on the floor, then leaned down to pick them up, arranging them between us as a makeshift barrier.
" Careful, your age is showing again," he chuckled.
" What is that supposed to mean?" I shot back, feeling anger rise within me.
" Exactly what it sounds like—you’re young."
" As if you’re any older? What are you, thirty?" I retorted.
He chuckled again. " Try ninety-five."
" What?" I said in disbelief.
" You heard me," he replied.
" There’s no way you could be that old."
" Like I said," he continued, his voice tinged with a hint of something deeper, " Like is said before, I think I have some sort of curse placed upon me."
In the middle of the night, I woke to an odd sense of warmth. Hazy and disoriented, I shifted slightly, only to realize I wasn’t alone. My eyes snapped open, and I found myself nestled close to Kaden, my head resting against his chest. Panic surged through me as I noticed the pillows that had once divided us were now scattered across the floor on his side of the bed.
I tried to remember if I had moved them in my sleep, but I knew I hadn’t. Kaden must have removed them, closing the gap between us while I slept. The realization sent a shiver down my spine. Why would he do that? And how hadn’t I noticed?