ANMELDENChapter Twenty-Three: If We Can’t Take Her, We Break Her.Victor’s POVThe air down here always felt wrong and cold like it pressed against your skin. The odour of blood made it more cold just like my master. I didn’t slow as I walked down the corridor. I had been here enough times to understand one thing, hesitation was a mistake and mistakes didn’t last long here. The sound reached me before the door did.“Please… I swear, I didn’t mean it—please—”I pushed the door open. The strong smell of blood hit first. It was fresh and sharp enough to settle at the back of my throat.My gaze landed on the man who was tied to the chair in the centre of the room. His head hung low, his body trembling and wrists bound so tight the rope had already cut into his skin.He looked like he wouldn’t last much longer.Then I saw him.“Master.”I lowered my head immediately. You didn’t meet his eyes unless you were told to. Behind me, the man let out a broken sob.“I told you everything,” he cried weakl
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Line Between UsNathaniel Crowe’s POVI pushed the door open and walked in with a towel low around my waist and another resting against the back of my neck. My hair was still damp, a few drops of water trailing down my skin as I moved further inside.I didn’t notice her at first. Not until a soft clatter which made me looked up. She stood still by the mirror. The comb had slipped from her hand and hit the floor between us. For a second, neither of us moved then she shifted.“I’ll get it,” she said quickly.I got there first. I bent slightly, picking it up before she could reach it. When I straightened, she was already turning away but not fast enough.Her face, red. Not from anger, not from frustration. From something else. My gaze lingered for a second then I handed her the comb.“You dropped it.”“I noticed,” she muttered, taking it carefully, avoiding my hand like it would burn her.That almost made me smile. Almost.“You’re staring,” she added, still not l
Chapter Twenty-One: You Dropped something Iris Moore’s POVI didn’t realize how tired I was until we got back. Everything felt heavy. My body, my thoughts even my breathing.Nathaniel didn’t say much as he carried me inside. Well, he didn’t need to. One look at him and even the maids moved faster, quieter, like they already knew not to get in his way.We reached the hallway. My hallway.Well… what used to be mine but then he walked past my new room. I frowned slightly, lifting my head from his shoulder.“You passed my room.”He didn’t stop.“I know.”I blinked. “Then where are you going?”“My room.”That made me pause.“…Why?”His answer came out easily.“You’ll be staying there. For now.”I opened my mouth immediately.“No, I won’t—”But the words didn’t come out fully because the truth sat right there uncomfortable and heavy in my chest. I didn’t want to be alone, not after what I had just seen. Not after that dream, that voice. My fingers tightened slightly against his shirt with
Chapter Twenty: Don't let go Nathaniel Crowe’s POV"Maltida!" I called the witch's name immediately we got into her lair.Seeing Iris almost lifeless body in my arms, she knew what had happened."Lay her down on the stone." She ordered.Even unconscious, Iris couldn’t seem to rest. Her body shifted slightly against the stone, her brows drawn together, her breathing uneven like something was still holding onto her from wherever she had been and it was getting worse.I stood just outside the circle made with some white salt watching and waiting as Maltida kept starting the ritual or whatever she was doing. My patience was already run thin at that point.“How long is this going to take?” I asked, my voice low but sharp enough to cut through the chanting.The witch didn’t stop, didn’t even look at me. The words kept falling from her lips, steady, controlled, as she moved around the circle, sprinkling more white salt carefully along the markings.“I asked you a question.”Still nothing.“
Chapter Nineteen: You Came BackIris Moore’s POVI ran until my chest burned and my legs felt like they would give out beneath me.The hallway wouldn’t end as every turn led to another stretch of darkness, another shadow waiting just out of sight. That voice kept following me, echoing through the walls, slipping into my head no matter how fast I moved.“You can’t run…”“I’m not—” I gasped, shaking my head as I kept going. “I’m not Aria—”Then I saw light at the far end of the hall. It was barely there then it became brighter and steadier. I slowed, my breath catching as a figure stepped into it.Tall and familiar.My heart jumped.“Nathaniel…?”Relief hit me so fast it almost hurt. I stumbled forward, reaching for him, my fingers stretching out like he might disappear if I didn’t hold on.“Don’t—” the voice behind me snapped.I didn’t listen,I couldn’t as all I wanted was him.“Nathaniel!”My hand reached....almost there...and everything broke.Air rushed into my lungs so sharply it
Chapter Eighteen: She Called Me AriaIris Moore’s POVWhen I woke up, I could sense something was wrong. The entire house was just too quiet and it was not the kind where you could still hear footsteps somewhere down the hall or the faint clink of dishes from the kitchen.This was nothing.I pushed myself up slowly, my head slightly heavy. I was still in the living room, on the couch. The TV was off now which made me frown as I didn’t remember turning it off. Was he back?“Nathaniel?” I called out.My voice sounded strange like it didn’t belong to me.No answer.I swung my legs off the couch, my bare feet touching the cold floor.“Nathaniel?” I tried again, louder this time.Still nothing. Now there was a small unease creeping into my chest.“Clara?” I called. “ is anyone here?”But all I could hear was this deafening silence. There was not even an echo.I stood up fully now, my movements slower, more careful. The house didn’t feel like the same house anymore. It looked the same but i
Chapter Seventeen: She Wasn’t DreamingNathaniel Crowe’s POVThe drive back felt longer than it should have. No one spoke, not Mara, not Lucien and well, I didn’t feel like breaking the silence. The witch’s words hadn’t left my head."You exposed her."My jaw tightened slightly as I stared ahead. T
Chapter Sixteen: Moved Closer to him Iris Moore’s POVBy the time the car pulled into the driveway, I was already tired. Not the kind of tired sleep fixes but the kind that sits quietly in your chest and refuses to leave.The door opened, and before I could even reach for the bags, two maids stepp
Chapter Fifteen: You Exposed HerNathaniel Crowe’s POVI shouldn’t have left.That thought stayed with me the moment the car pulled away from the penthouse.I leaned back slightly, my gaze fixed on nothing in particular, but my mind wasn’t here. It was still there, with her.The way she had looked a
Chapter Fourteen: Stay, Just for a SecondIris Moore’s POVI couldn’t stop thinking about it.“Inconsistencies.”The word followed me down the hallway like a shadow I couldn’t shake off. It sat heavy in my chest, pressing down in a way that made it hard to breathe properly.I didn’t even realise I







