CHAPTER THREE

                  Nyra found it hard to believe what was going on. With a weight upon her back, she felt as if she was jogging across sand; the days and hours were flying by ever more quickly. She had to decide something. She couldn't keep procrastinating it. 

                    Her mind kept bringing back the image of Kael in all his towering, self-assured height, standing confidently and declaring himself to her as something which he obviously was – the center of power and control in any room he entered. She also couldn't get out of her head the offer he had given her. 

                    At night, she spent hours gazing out her window. The far-off city's lights were vibrant and strong. The air in her tiny apartment made her feel suffocated. 

                     She was still undecided on whether she should take Kael's offer. Nyra understood he would not wait for too long for her to decide, even if he was not pushing her for an response. If she didn't say yes quickly, the door to this chance would close and she would be left with nothing but the least amount of independence she now had. 

                  A few nights later, Nyra was staring blankly at the wall of her little flat. She still hadn't told Kael anything. Though he knew he wasn't a patient man and that he wouldn't wait around indefinitely, he wasn't pressing her for an answer. Ultimately, it came down to whether she yearned for the power and control of a life linked to his and would sacrifice the little freedom she had for it. Should she live with herself if she did? 

                    Standing in her doorway, Kael had his hands pushed far down into his pockets. His black eyes moved across her face, briefly paused at the line of anxiety on her jaw.

"Still overthinking this," Kael said softly, his eyes studying her jawline.

                  Nyra stopped to consider his weight in the little surroundings, her mouth closed. 

"I need an answer, Nyra," Kael said after a short period of silence. "You can't keep circling this. Not deciding carries its own set of effects."

                  She closed her jaw and fought his powerful presence. 

"I'm not uncertain," she answered sternly. 

                 Though it was far from a smile, Kael's lips moved. 

"No, you are terrified." 

                Though deep down she knew it was true, a surge of rage started inside her. She had been paralyzed with anxiety for months, clinging to what seemed familiar. She shot back, stepping aside to let him in.

"I'm not terrified of you," she said, her voice filled with resentment rang out.

                  Kael cocked an eyebrow. 

"I never said you were. You worry about what this contract implies: losing control and losing yourself."

                   Every word moved her greatly. Giving up even a tiny degree of control horrified her. She had struggled to have her own life, to be more than only someone's former partner. 

"Why should I trust you?" Nyra asked, her voice tight. 

                    Kael stopped, his face blacking somewhat. 

"Because you know what the alternative is," he remarked, his voice lowering. "Ryker finished you. He won't let you peaceably rebuild your life. When he comes for you, you'll be back at square one, but this time you will have nothing left to lose. 

                    The room felt chillier. Though true, Kael's remarks were offensive. Like a weight, they sunk into her chest. She had no defence, no authority. Ryker had taken everything away. 

                    She shut her eyes, trying to control the anxiety. 

"So you want me to give up? That's your big plan?" 

"Not at all," Kael murmured, his voice softening a tad. "I'm saying there are no choices left for you. But I am providing a cooperation. You won't have to deal with the results by yourself. I will provide the tools you need to reclaim what Ryker took from you." 

               Opening her eyes, Nyra looked to Kael. She looked for a lie, but all she saw was confidence, a subdued, complete faith in himself. Though it felt real, it was terrifying. 

"Why me?" She murmured, the query ripping free from her. "Of all people, why are you pushing so hard to get me on your side?" 

                 Kael hesitated before responding immediately. He stared at her, his black eyes running over her face. At last he talked, his voice barely above a whisper. 

"You are stronger than you think. And I want someone equal beside me, not a shadow behind me. I want someone ready to battle for what's hers." 

           Something within Nyra got going—a low, intense heat. She had been running for so long, only trying to survive. Perhaps it was time to quit hiding and instead become the storm.

"Good," she added, her voice strong. "I will sign. I will agree the arrangement. One condition, though, is mine."

             Kael moved his head, simultaneously amused and inquisitive. 

"Go on"

              She stepped closer to him, shrinking the distance so she had to tilt her head to view him. 

"I decide what happens next. Kael, I am not your toy. Never once more, never then." 

               He had a little realistic look on his face. She saw a deeper knowledge in his eyes for just a short moment, a acceptance of exactly what she was endangering. 

"You act independently," he remarked softly. "Still, bear in mind, Nyra, you made the first decision. There is no turning back now."

              She was hit with the truth like physical impact. She knew exactly what she had just given up; she needed no more explanation from him. Kael slid back, letting her have space to breathe; a small, conscious grin showed on his lips.

"Welcome to the game, Nyra." 

               The stillness in the room felt thick and heavy with whatever results were approaching next. Still, the painful separation wasn't there for the first time in very long. She had chosen a road. She was guiding the wheel. Though that meant heading straight into darkness alongside him.