Elara’s POV
The note still burned in my bag, crumpled and hidden like a dirty secret. All day, I kept thinking about it. Stay away from him before it’s too late. Too late. Bakit ba parang nararamdaman kong late na nga talaga? Lately, Damian Blackthorn has been in every corner of my life—sa mga daan, sa mga mata ng mga taong biglang natatahimik kapag nababanggit ang pangalan niya, sa mga gabi kong hindi na mapanatag. And tonight… nasa harap ko na naman siya. We were in the small café I usually went to. I thought safe ako doon, kasi madalas puno ng students, may ilaw, may music. Walang madilim na eskinita. Pero pag-angat ko ng tingin mula sa kape ko, ayun siya. Nakaupo sa kabilang table, parang kanina pa ako pinagmamasdan. “Stalking me now?” I tried to sound annoyed, pero lumabas na parang mahina, like a weak shield. He smirked. “You call it stalking. I call it making sure you don’t walk yourself into another dark alley.” I rolled my eyes, pero my heart skipped. Of course. He saw me last night. He knew. “Relax, dove. I came for a reason,” Damian said, leaning forward, his voice low but commanding. “You’re coming with me tonight.” My brows furrowed. “Excuse me? What?” “To my club.” I blinked. “Club? No thanks.” “You don’t get to say no.” My chest tightened. “Damian—” “Don’t worry.” His smirk deepened, his eyes like sin itself. “I’ll keep you safe.” Safe. The word didn’t sound like comfort in his mouth. It sounded like a threat dressed in velvet. And yet, hours later… I found myself standing outside a place I should never be. --- Damian’s POV Elara looked out of place under the glowing neon sign of Erebus. My club. My kingdom. My den of shadows. This wasn’t just any club—it was the Blackthorn signature. Loud music, red lights, leather and smoke, bodies moving like they’ve surrendered their souls for one night of abandon. And here she was, in her student sweater and jeans, clutching her bag like a lifeline. Perfect. She looked like innocence caught in a den of wolves. And everyone inside would smell it. Which is why she had to be with me. I approached her at the door, ignoring the line of people waiting to get in. The bouncers nodded at me immediately, stepping aside. Her eyes darted to the long line, then back to me. “We’re… just going in like that?” “Do you really think I wait in lines?” Her lips parted, but no sound came out. I smirked and took her by the wrist. “Don’t let go.” I warned. Inside, the bass pounded through the walls, lights flashing, bodies pressed together in heat and smoke. Elara froze beside me, eyes wide, overwhelmed. Good. She needed to see this world. My world. --- Elara’s POV The club was suffocating. Music so loud it rattled my bones, the air thick with perfume, sweat, and alcohol. People dancing, grinding, laughing like they’d sold their souls and were celebrating. And beside me, Damian. He was different here. Darker, sharper. This was his element. He owned the space, every shadow, every beat of the music. Even the people—parang lahat sila lumalayo, nagbibigay daan habang dumadaan siya. Sino ba talaga siya? He led me up a staircase to a balcony overlooking the club. May private lounge, leather couches, bottles of expensive liquor lined up. “Sit.” he ordered. I didn’t move. “Why am I here?” He poured himself a drink, then looked at me with that sinful smirk. “Because I want you here.” “That’s not an answer.” “Dove,” he said, walking closer, glass in hand. “Every person down there would sell blood just to step inside this lounge. And you’re asking me why you are here?” His eyes locked onto mine, burning, daring me to look away. I swallowed hard, refusing to sit, refusing to give him the satisfaction. “This isn’t my world.” “No,” he said, circling me like a predator. “But it will be.” My breath caught. Before I could respond, a man entered the lounge, eyes flicking nervously between me and Damian. “Boss,” he muttered. “We’ve got… trouble at the door. Someone asking questions. About her.” Her. My stomach dropped. Damian’s expression darkened, sharp and cold in an instant. He turned to me slowly, his voice calm but dangerous. “Looks like your little warning note wasn’t the only message.” My blood ran cold. --- Damian’s POV Someone was playing a game. First, the note. Now, someone bold enough to come to my club asking about Elara. They were either stupid, or desperate. I looked at her—my little dove, trembling but trying so hard to stand her ground. She had no idea how much danger she was in. And she had no idea that stepping into my world tonight sealed her fate. I leaned in close, brushing a strand of hair from her face, my lips near her ear. “Stay beside me. Don’t move. Don’t speak to anyone unless I say so.” Her heartbeat thundered against her chest. I smirked. “Because tonight, dove… you’ll see exactly what it means to belong to me.” ---Elara’s POVThe morning after the siege, the whole world reeked of blood and smoke.Half-wrecked na ‘yung mansion — walls blackened, marble cracked, hangin mabigat sa amoy ng nasusunog at dugo. Hindi natulog si Damian. Ako rin.He was on the balcony, tahimik lang, staring down at the ruins — mga banner ng House Rorik, punit, nagpa-flutter sa hangin. Dried blood still stained his shirt. His eyes, darker than night itself.> “They thought this was a message,” he said, voice low, lethal. “Let’s give them one back.”My stomach twisted. Kilala ko ‘yung tono na ‘yon.Hindi ‘yung hari ang nagsasalita ngayon.‘Yung halimaw.---Damian’s POVBy noon, everything was set. Orders sent.No mercy. No survivors. Lahat ng kaalyado ng Rorik — wiped out.Walang nagtanong. Walang umangal. My men knew better. Alam nila kung anong mangyayari kapag ang Hari ng Blackthorn ang nag-utos.They’ll call this the Culling of the East.Sumama ako sa kanila.Unang target — Rorik manor. Isang malaking fortress overlo
Elara’s POVThe first explosion shattered the night like thunder.Nagising ako sa tunog ng basag na salamin, kasabay ng malayong ugong ng apoy. For a second, hindi ako makagalaw—then the door burst open and one of Damian’s guards stumbled in, duguan ang sentido.“Your Majesty—attack! House Rorik’s forces breached the eastern gates!”Parang umikot ang mundo ko.Damian wasn’t here. He’d gone to inspect another territory—hours away.“Get my weapons.” I ordered, tumayo agad from bed.“Ma’am, we have to move you to the safe chamber—”“No,” I snapped. “Hindi ako magtatago habang sinusunog nila ang estate ng asawa ko.”The guard hesitated, but one look from me was enough.I changed fast—black leather, dagger sa hita, at ang crest ni Damian sa dibdib. My heart was pounding, half from fear, half from something sharper.Resolve.---Damian’s POVThe message reached me at dawn.Isa sa mga tauhan ko dumating sakay ng kabayong halos himatayin sa pagod. “The Blackthorn estate is under siege,” he ga
Elara’s POVPula ang umaga.Mula sa balkonahe, kita ko ang usok na tumataas sa bandang ilog — parang mga banderang nagha-hamon sa Blackwood crest.House Rorik.Ang unang pamilyang naglakas-loob na labanan si Damian nang harapan.Hindi sila nagpadala ng sulat o bulong.Nagpadala sila ng sundalo.Nakita ko si Damian sa war council chamber — napalibutan ng mga heneral, mga mapa, at amoy ng langis at bakal. Mabigat ang hangin, parang bawat isa handang sumabog.“Your Majesty.” sabi ng isa, halatang hindi komportable nang makita akong pumasok.Parang wala raw akong karapatang naroon.Pero hindi ako humingi ng paalam.“I’ll be joining this meeting.” sabi ko.Lumingon si Damian — mga mata niyang malamig at mapanganib. Naka-itim na battlewear, bahagyang bukas ang kwelyo, parang apoy na pinipigilang sumiklab.“Elara,” mahinahon niyang sabi, “this is not your place.”Lumapit ako. “Everything that threatens your crown threatens mine. Kaya oo, this is my place.”Nagkatinginan ang mga heneral, para
Elara’s POVTinawag nila akong reyna, pero ngayon lang nagsisimula ‘yong salitang ‘yon magkaroon ng totoong ibig sabihin.Hindi dahil kay Damian.Hindi dahil sa korona.Pero dahil ngayong umaga, pagpasok ko sa council hall — tumayo sila.Hindi lahat, syempre. Yung iba dahil sa takot. Yung iba, instinct.Pero may ilan—konti lang—na tumayo dahil sa respeto.At ‘yon, bago.Mabigat ang hangin sa loob ng silid, puno ng tensyon at amoy ng mamahaling pabango.Lahat ng lalaki rito may dugo sa kamay, at bawat babae may sikreto sa likod ng ngiti.Pero nang magsalita ako, lahat ng mata nasa akin.Kahapon lang, pinatigil ko ang rebelyon sa eastern trade port.Hindi sa dahas—kundi sa diskarte.Nagpakalat ako ng maling impormasyon, pina-away ko ang mga pamilya sa isa’t isa.Pagdating ng mga tao ni Damian, tapos na ang gulo.Hindi nila ako nakita.Pero ngayon, nakikita na nila.“Gentlemen,” sabi ko, kalmado pero matalim ang tono. “Narinig kong may mga… concern tungkol sa bagong sistema.”Tahimik.Ng
Elara’s POVTahimik ang palasyo ngayong gabi.Mas tahimik kaysa dati.Kahit anong linis gawin ng mga tagasilbi — kahit anong palit ng kurtina o pagpunas ng sahig — hindi mo basta-basta maaalis ang amoy ng usok at bakal.Yung alaala ng dugo.Ng kapangyarihan.Ng kasalanan… at siguro, ng pagnanasa rin.Nakatayo ako sa bintana ng silid namin, suot ang pulang robe na ibinalabal sa’kin ni Damian kanina. Hindi puti, gaya ng dati. Pula — malalim, parang alak, parang memorya ng mga kamay kong nagdilig ng dugo.Narinig ko ang mga yabag niya sa likod ko. Mabagal. Kalmado. Parang alam niyang siya ang panganib.“You’re awake.” mahina niyang sabi.“I couldn’t sleep.”“Guilt?”Huminga ako nang malalim, tinitingnan ang repleksyon niya sa salamin. “No. Not guilt.”Sandaling katahimikan.“Something else.”Lumapit siya, tumigil sa likod ko. Ramdam ko ang kamay niyang dahan-dahang dumulas sa baywan
Elara’s POVAmoy rosas at dugo ang gabi.Sabi nila, isang reyna daw dapat hindi nadudumihan ang kamay.Pero ngayong gabi, pulang-pula na ang mga kamay ko.Nakaluhod sa harap ko ang isang lalaki — nakagapos, nanginginig. Isa sa mga huling naglakas-loob na kwestyunin ang pwesto ko sa tabi ni Damian. Hindi siya ordinaryong traydor. Isa siyang lord — matanda, mayabang, at sobrang sanay na walang umaangal sa kanya.> “Your Majesty,” sabi niya, pilit pa ring mayabang kahit halatang natatakot. “You’re just a child playing queen. The people follow him—not you.”Dati, masasaktan ako sa ganun.Ngayon, nakakaantok na lang pakinggan.Naglakad ako paikot sa kanya, marahan. Yung laylayan ng gown ko humahaplos sa marmol. Puting-puti pa ‘to kanina — a bold choice, maybe. Pero siguro gusto ko lang makita kung gaano kadaling madumihan ang innocence.Sa gilid, nakatayo si Damian. Tahimik. Naka-black. Ang tingin niya sa’ki