5• Crimson VOWS 3

"Zafira Wilder, 30 years old. Divorcee. Cause of divorce- infertility, but the real reason was your ex-husband's infidelity", Azrael murmured softly and his words sliced through her like a knife. 

Her heart dropped at the mention of her past and the pain she tried so hard to bury now dragged to the surface.

Her eyes turned red with unshed tears as the realization hit her. She glanced behind Azrael and found that only one member was there in the room, and his back was facing them.

The man standing so close to her had already pried into her life, had uncovered every secret, every piece of her broken history. He wasn't just controlling the present- he was deciding her future as well.

Zafira quickly looked away and her breath caught in her throat as she fought to hide the sudden wave of vulnerability that threatened to overwhelm her. 

She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, the way he reveled in her discomfort. Weakness- a feeling she despised, clawed at her insides.

But Azrael wasn't finished. 

He gripped her chin again and this time with more insistence and forced her to meet his eyes. 

"Look at me", He demanded and his voice was dark, as if he could sense the storm of emotions she was desperately trying to suppress.

Zafira's heart raced and was pounding so hard she thought it might give her away. 

Their gazes were locked and in that moment, she was caught; trapped in the dangerous pull of attraction and fear, where every warning bell in her mind clashed with the undeniable allure of this man. 

His power, his control, and his raw magnetism held her still, even as part of her wanted to run.

But something deeper stirred in her, too. 

A part of her that wasn't willing to back down, despite the chaos swirling inside. Her pulse quickened but this time, it wasn't just fear- it was something else. 

Something that made her chest tighten and her breaths come quicker, as she stared into the eyes of the man who had peeled back her past and now threatened to claim her future.

Azrael took a step back but his gaze never left her as he turned slightly to address a nearby guard. 

But Zafira could still feel the weight of his eyes on her, lingering like a touch- one that sent shivers down her spine. The intensity between them had not lessened. 

For a brief moment, Azrael's expression shifted and his hardened exterior cracked just enough to reveal something deeper. 

The CRIMSON VOW - the unspoken oath he made to himself, erupted in his heart. He would protect this woman, no matter the cost. It wasn't just possession anymore. There was something primal, something fierce inside him that recognized her as his to protect, to keep safe from anyone who might harm her.

Zafira could sense it too, though she didn't yet understand it. There was a change in the air and something was about the way he looked at her, as if she had become more than just another woman in his dangerous world. 

She felt the shift and the unspoken promise that lay beneath his cool demeanor.

And even though she still feared what he represented, something deep within her stirred, sensing the dark and twisted bond that was beginning to form between them.

"Arrange everything and prepare for some food. Make it decent- nothing less for her", He instructed and his voice was smooth but commanding.

Zafira met his eyes. She wanted to say more, to push the boundaries of their connection, but something held her back. 

Instead, she simply nodded and her was heart racing.

"Let's get you settled", Azrael said and stepped closer as he gestured for her to follow. 

The distance between them felt charged and the magnetic pull grew stronger with each step. 

Zafira could feel his warmth beside her and the intensity of his presence ignited a desire she hadn't expected.

As they walked, the silence hung heavy with the tension of what neither dared to voice. 

They both felt it; the chemistry crackling in the air, the way their bodies instinctively drew closer. 

But neither was willing to break the fragile boundary that kept their attraction unspoken, even as it simmered just below the surface and was ready to explode at any moment. 

Azrael gestured for the guard to leave and, without a word, he turned to Zafira. His hand wrapped gently around her wrist. It was a firm hold but not forceful as he guided her through the dimly lit hallway. 

She followed him, her heart was pounding in her chest as she was unsure of what awaited her but she was also unable to pull away from the magnetic pull that seemed to bind them together.

They stopped in front of a large door, and with a quiet click, he opened it. The room was luxurious but dark and shadows were stretching across the space from the soft glow of a single bedside lamp. 

Azrael stepped aside while his hand was still lingering on her wrist before finally letting go.

"This is where you'll stay", he said and his voice was low and controlled. 

There was an unspoken tension between them that thickened the air.

Zafira stood at the threshold and glanced at the room but feeling the weight of his presence more than anything. 

She hesitated before stepping inside as her mind was racing with questions, with the uncertainty of what his intentions truly were.

"Whose room is this?", She asked, she had a hunch in her heart. 

"Mine", He replied coolly. 

"Why bring me here?", she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned to face him.

Azrael's eyes were unreadable as he closed the door behind them. 

"Because you belong here now", He said simply as if the matter was already settled. 

He stepped closer and his presence was filling the space around her, and Zafira felt her pulse quicken again.

She could sense the shift in him- the promise of protection wrapped in something darker, more possessive. 

"Are not you boarding on bullet train, Mr. Sartori?", She questioned him as her tone was mocking. 

He did not say as his eyes roamed over her, but it wasn't just the desire she saw in them. It was something deeper, something that both terrified and intrigued her.

"You'll be safe here. You can stay here as much as you want But don't think for a second that I'm letting you go", He added softly and his tone was carrying a weight that made her chest tighten. 

Zafira felt her heart race at his words, the meaning behind them sinking in. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breath as she took a step back. 

"Safe? From whom?", She questioned him. 

"From my enemies, who already find out about your existence. They can use you against me", He responded. 

"Safe? Is that what you call this? Kidnapping me and keeping me locked away?", She finished speaking and Azrael's gaze darkened, but there was an underlying current of something softer beneath his steely exterior. 

"I didn't want to scare you, Crimson. But you have to understand, your safety is my priority. And the world you're stepping into isn't kind. I can't let you walk into danger unprotected", He said and a flicker of something vulnerable crossed his features before he masked it again.

She crossed her arms defensively, her mind racing, "What danger? You don't even know me. For all you know, I could be a threat to you". 

He took a step closer and the distance between them vanished as he leaned in slightly, his presence enveloping her. 

"I know enough", he replied as his voice dropped to a whisper that sent shivers down her spine. 

"You're strong, and you're a warrior. You are beautiful and you are Mine, now", He said and Zafira felt a mix of emotions surge within her- anger, confusion, and an undeniable pull toward him that made her heart race. 

"And what do you get out of this, Azrael? Am I just another trophy for you?", She said and Azrael's expression hardened for a moment, but then he softened, the glint in his eyes revealing a flicker of something more genuine. 

"No. You're not a trophy. I need someone by my side who understands the darkness I deal with, someone who can match my strength. I want more than just a physical connection. I want a partnership for a new beginning of a relationship", He paused and his gaze was searching for hers, for her answer. 

Zafira was taken aback by his honesty. The intensity of his gaze made it hard to breathe and part of her wanted to believe him, to trust him despite the chaos swirling around them. But the pain of her past still lingered, a reminder of why she couldn't fully surrender.

"You can't just decide that for me. I don't know you. You don't know me we belong to two different worlds. I don't like you. I am not agreeing with any arrangements of you", she said softly but in a bold tone but at the end, her voice was wavering as she immediately looked away. 

"Trust me, Crimson. I can do anything and I'm going to merge our two worlds one", He said as his tone was shifting to something softer, more understanding. "And the more you fight this temptation, the more I'll fight to show you why it exists and what I am feeling for you"

With that, he stepped back, giving her space while his intense gaze lingered, as if silently promising that he would be there, waiting for her to decide. 

Zafira felt the weight of his presence, the warmth of his intention, and the fear of what that might mean for her future.

...

Thank you 

ShineeSunshine ♥️