Prologue.

HIS DARKEST SHADE

BOOK-THREE

~Prologue~

“Even if you end up hating me for it.” His tone was vicious. “I might scare you,” he continued, his gaze roaming over her trembling form, “but they are far worse—formidable, vicious… and willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want.”

He gestured toward her.

“Including you.”

“Never.” She shook her head, her voice trembling but firm.

“I’m not scared of your words. You’re just trying to scare me so I’ll listen to you!”

“Oh?”

He leaned forward, his voice rising dangerously close to her face.

“I’m not trying to scare you.”

A pause.

“I’m telling you the truth—one you’re foolish enough to ignore.”

She shook her head violently, her thoughts pushing away any sense of logic in her state.

She refused to listen to anything he had to say—even when, somewhere deep down, she knew he was right.

Just because he thought he could force her into obedience—did that mean she would submit?

No.

She was stronger than he thought she was.

“I can’t allow you to throw away something that belongs to me.”

“I don’t belong to anyone. You don’t get to—”

“You belong to me.” It was more of a command than a statement.

“I do not!” She hissed, venom lacing her voice.

“Nor am I scared of your words. I am not!”

“Oh?”

His voice turned quiet—dangerously so.

“But you have nowhere to go. Do you?”

He held her gaze as he continued, “That’s exactly how you belong to me.”

A pause.

“I have full rights over you.” His words landed cold. “Legally.”

She swallowed, knowing he was right.

“Through the documents your uncle signed.”

She looked away.

“Does that mean…” Her voice faltered. “He signed away my freedom to you?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

And that silence—told her everything.

“It means you are under my protection.”

His voice was firm.

“Under no circumstances are you to refuse anything I ask of you—especially when it concerns your health and safety.”

She didn’t reply.

She couldn’t.

Because she had no choice.

How right he was.

“You are bound to listen to me.”

A lone tear slipped down her cheek.

His cold, unyielding eyes followed its path—watching as it left a faint trail against her flushed skin.

Something inside him shifted.

He was melting. It would be a lie if he said it didn't hurt him too.

How could he not—when even a single tear of hers felt like it was tearing him apart from within?

He wanted to reach out. To wipe it away with his thumb.

To console her.

But he stopped himself. He clenched his jaws together.

He had to.

He needed to be strict with her. Because it was her life at stake. And for that—he wouldn’t allow himself to make mistakes.

Not even unconsciously.

He had to make her understand. Even if it meant forcing her to listen.

He had no qualms about it.

Because losing her…was never an option.

He was adamant about it.

Blinking away the dampness, she shook her head, trying to clear her wandering thoughts.

Taking it as defiance, his jaw locked at her audacity—treating the threat to her life so lightly.

She was willing to ignore every logical fact he had laid before her.

Catching his rib-chilling gaze from the corner of her eye, she forced herself not to be afraid.

Or rather—not to look afraid in front of him.

She could feel his eyes boring into the side of her face—something she had already begun to loathe in just the past few minutes.

And she refused to let him see how much it affected her.

He flashed her a demonic smirk as he turned her face back toward him.

“Then tell me…”

His jaw tightened as he stared down at her.

“Who are you more scared of?”

“I beg you… leave me.” She struggled against his iron grip—but to no avail.

“I am scared.”

Her movements grew more frantic.

“You’re scared?”

She nodded, almost desperately.

Because she was.

Hurt.

Angry.

Embarrassed.

Afraid.

Helpless.

“Of whom?”

“Y-you…”

It was obvious that she was. No amount of bravado could deny that. She could pretend all she wanted, but her trembling hands betrayed her. A part of her knew he was right.

But the rest of her just refused to accept it.

He let out a booming laugh.

She flinched at the sudden sound, her body tensing instantly.

“Me… or them?”

His eyes were colder than a glacier’s.

“You’re afraid of me—after I just told you how merciless those people are?”

She shrank back at the tone of his voice, her anxious eyes darting away from him.

“Y-you…”

“Why?”

“Because…”

Her voice trembled.

“You’re hurting me more than they are.”

~•~••~•~

Saumya Tripathi | His darkest shade.

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