“Good morning, Princess,” he murmurs.
“Does Colton know you’re here?” I ask before I can consider their impact. I almost regret asking as I watch his expression change. His smile disappears, replaced by a sudden seriousness as he rolls onto his back to stare at the ceiling.
“No,” he answers after a heavy pause. His voice is flat, a stark contrast to the warmth of just a moment ago.
“I’m glad you came,” I say, attempting to ease the tension. Perhaps this is a sign that I should spend time with Nyx without lingering on Colton, to genuinely explore the possibility of a future with him. I do care for him, and if he’s truly who I’m destined to be with, accepting that might be the next step.
He turns back to face me, skepticism shadowing hisfeatures. “Don’t play with me,” he says softly, his hand reaching out to stroke my arm gently, a hint of caution in his touch.
“I’m not,” I assure him sincerely, my voice steady. “I am glad you came. I...” My words falter as I search for the right way to express my tangled feelings without hurting him further.
“You wish it had been him instead,” he says sharply, full of hurt and accusation.
I shake my head. “That’s not what I was going to say,” I insist, meeting his gaze directly. “I’m trying to figure things out, Nyx. It’s complicated, and I’m torn. But right now, I’m here with you, and I’m honestly glad for your company.” My voice softens, hoping to convey my genuine feelings and the complexity of the emotions I’m wrestling with.
“You know Colton doesn’t appreciate your dark magic. Ever since you first unleashed it, he looks at you as if you unsettle him. Haven’t you noticed?”
I can’t help but frown. Indeed, I’ve observed Colton growing distant, his cautiousness apparent whenever I wield my powers. But we were finally having a good moment together before the attack in the Lamia Realm. He let his shields down, and I felt his feelings for me.
“He’s being protective and doesn’t want me to lose control again,” I defend, trying to rationalize his concerns.
“I would never look at you the way he does. To me, you’re incredibly beautiful and sexy, especially when you’re embracing your dark magic,” Nyx counters smoothly, his tone dropping to a soothing murmur as he reaches out to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “Lyra, I’ve felt a shift between us even before the council meeting. That kiss... I know you felt its power too. We are destined, you and I. Together, we can govern Eguina, and I will stand by you as your beacon, ensuring you never succumb to the darkness fully. I’ll support your growth in dark magic, encourage its use underyour reign, and you’ll always be safe because you’ll have me by your side.”
I look down at his chest, grappling with the emotions that his declaration stirs within me. The room is heavy with silence, hanging thick between us, until finally he breaks it.
“I love you, Lyra. I will die loving you,” he confesses, his voice a fervent whisper that fills the space around us. “You are the only one I see, the only one I yearn for. My heart is irrevocably yours, whether you choose to claim it or not.” The intensity in his voice is palpable, and it presses against the walls of my heart with an almost physical force.
His hand gently lifts my chin, compelling me to meet his stare. His eyes, fiercely glowing gray, hold mine in a gaze so intense that the world around us seems to fade. “You’re mine, and I will fight for you through all eternity because we are fated you and I,” he says with an unshakeable conviction.
He leans in close, his presence gentle yet commanding, and places a tender kiss on my forehead. Then he raises a hand to cup my face, his touch careful and filled with emotion. As his lips meet mine, the kiss is soft and gentle.
But when I kiss him back, returning his passion with my own, something shifts. He seems to lose control of his restraint. The kiss deepens, intensifying as if a dam has been broken, unleashing a torrent of pent-up emotions. His hands, firm, pull me closer, and I can feel the urgency and desire pouring from him.
He presses me back, rolling on top of me as the intensity escalates. Breaking the kiss, he cups my face, looking down at me with an expression that mixes desire with something deeper. “Fuck, you have no idea how long I’ve thought about this, about being inside you again,” he murmurs hoarsely then claims my mouth again with fervor.
His kiss is rough, filled with longingand urgency. He tugs at my shirt, pulling it up to grasp my breast. I gasp into his mouth as he squeezes my nipple, sending a sharp pulse of sensation through me.
He undoes his pants, and as I feel the firm press of him against my thigh. The shadows within me stir, purring with a dark pleasure, urging him to claim me here and now. A whimper escapes me into his kiss as he presses closer, pinning me beneath him. I feel the press of his cock at my entrance, but he pauses there, a part of me yearning for him to fuck me, while another, the more rational part, is seized by a sudden panic.
My heart thunders in my chest, but not from excitement—fear grips me. The realization hits hard: I’m terrified of making a monumental mistake, because deep down I love Colton. I thought I could bury those feelings, thought I could make it work with Nyx, but it doesn’t feel right. This feels so wrong.
As Nyx’s hand trails down my body, I catch it with my own, stopping him before he can go further. He pauses, his eyes searching mine, and I sense he feels the tension in my body stiffen.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Nyx...I don’t think I can do this. I’m sorry,” I manage to breathe out, the words thick with emotion.
In an instant, he’s off the bed, pulling his pants up and pacing the room, a hardened expression on his face. I pull my shirt down and quickly get to my feet, attempting to bridge the sudden gulf between us. “Nyx—”
“Don’t speak, you fucking tease,” Nyx hisses, stopping in front of the wall and slamming his palm against it as he leans forward, his back to me.
The thud echoes in the suddenly cold room. I freeze, words failing me as the gravity of my actions hits hard. I’ve screwed things up so badly. I wanted a world where I could have them both—Colton’s love and Nyx’s friendship. Then I believed Iwas destined to be with Nyx, but now after learning they are brothers, a future with Colton seems possible again. Fuck, none of that matters because, as Drew said, deep down, I already know.
I’ve always known but have been trying everything possible to justify it. I love Colton, and he’s the one I want to be with, even if it could damn us all.
Nyx breaks into my spiraling thoughts. “It’s because of him, isn’t it?” he asks, his voice cutting through the tension.
“Yes,” I admit after a painful pause, my voice barely a whisper. “I’m in love with him. And Nyx, I love you too, but it’s not the same. I love you as a friend, and I want you to be happy.”
