Semua Bab Tainted Desires; Demons. Darkness. Damnation : Bab 91 - Bab 100

‎Kane’s Quarters – That Evening‎‎The mansion buzzed with quiet urgency.‎Leo had been discharged, and Kane had made only one demand:‎“Move him upstairs. Near me.”‎‎No arguments.‎Within the hour, Leo’s old room had been emptied—his books, clothes, games, and even his old sketchpads carried to a new room just two doors down from Kane and Castelle’s suite.‎‎The walls were freshly painted, the mattress soft. A personal air purifier whirred quietly in the corner. Everything smelled like lavender and new beginnings.‎‎But Kane wasn’t done.‎He knelt before Leo’s wheelchair and gently strapped a sleek black band around his wrist.‎‎“Tracking monitor,” Kane said. “It monitors vitals, stress levels… everything.”‎‎Leo blinked, too tired to argue.‎Kane then pulled out a silver pendant.‎“Necklace does the same. Hidden beacon inside. If you're in distress—even if you whisper—I’ll know. Understand?”‎‎Leo looked at him. “You don’t have to—”‎“I do,” Kane said sharply. “I’m not taking

Kane had set out to a meeting with a syndicate from another citywhi wanted to discuss partnership options with him. Little did he know that it was going to be a sarcastically fun-filled day. ‎ ‎It began with the car. ‎ ‎Kane’s convoy was halfway to the outskirts of Beltforte when the explosion happened. His armored SUV had just rolled past the decoy vehicle in front when the bomb detonated, turning the car behind into a fireball. Shrapnel rained across the street, piercing metal and ripping through the windshield of a trailing motorcyclist. Kane’s driver swerved hard, instincts sharp, but Kane was already grabbing the steering wheel, forcing it into a side alley where cover was thicker. ‎ ‎They didn’t stop for instructions. ‎ ‎The entire escort team moved like shadows—professionally trained, faces grim. ‎ ‎Kane got out of the car, brushing soot and ash from his coat, while the surrounding guards scanned every rooftop. His jaw was clenched, but he was silent. One explosion.

‎The clock struck 3:00 a.m. as Kane entered his bedroom in silence, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the tension in the air. Everyone in the mansion had felt the shift—the quiet rage simmering beneath his skin, the chill of betrayal that came not from an enemy… but from the woman he loved.‎‎Castelle had spent the entire day with her brother—Rem. The same man who had tried to kill Kane three times in two days—outstanding record, no one had been that close many times.‎‎And not once… not once had she come to him.‎‎Kane said nothing. He walked in, shoulders stiff, his breath clipped. His body ached—not from the poison that had tried to take him hours earlier, but from something far worse.‎‎Disappointment.‎‎He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside, not glancing back once. Castelle stood by the door, watching him with wide eyes—uncertain, guilty, quiet.‎‎She opened her mouth. Closed it.‎‎He unbuckled his belt, stepped out of his pants, and walked toward the

‎Lyra carefully helped Castelle clean the wounds on her arms and shoulders, her heart aching for her friend. The sight of Castelle’s bruised skin and the trauma in her eyes was a stark reminder of the chaos that had erupted earlier. Once they had finished, Castelle slipped into one of Matteo’s oversized t-shirts, the fabric providing a small comfort as it enveloped her like a protective shield.‎‎Sitting on the edge of the bed, Castelle’s voice trembled as she began to recount the harrowing events that had unfolded just hours before. “I thought I could calm him down,” she whispered, tears spilling over as she spoke. “I thought... I thought if I just gave him myself, it would be enough. I didn’t want to upset him again, not after everything that happened with my brother.”‎‎Lyra’s heart sank as she listened. She could see the conflict in Castelle’s eyes, the deep-seated guilt and fear battling within her. “But then something changed,” Castelle continued, her voice breaking. “He was s

‎After days of dark chaos and violent outbursts, the estate had finally settled into a haunting calm.‎‎Kane was back on his feet.‎‎Mina’s rituals had worked—enough to tame the worst of the curse, to dull the edge of the rage that had nearly consumed him. But it hadn’t fixed everything.‎‎Kane remained cold.‎Withdrawn.‎He had spoken to no one but Leo. He hadn’t asked after Castelle once.‎‎And everyone noticed.‎‎He avoided her like a plague.‎‎She’d passed him in the hall twice. Both times, their eyes locked briefly—hers full of regret and guilt, his unreadable—but he kept walking like she didn’t exist.‎‎She tried to keep herself occupied.‎‎Spending time with Rem, nursing the bond they had longed for since they were children. Rem still didn’t speak much, weighed down by his guilt, but Castelle made him feel human again. Every moment was soaked in healing and reconciliation.‎‎But she couldn’t ignore the tension that now followed her like a shadow.‎‎Because Kane wasn’t