All Chapters of Bound by Desire: Chapter 21 - Chapter 24

It was afternoon time, Damien and his followers still haven’t returned from yesterday. I was just glad Damien didn’t have me doing anymore dirty work for him. I found Connor leaning against a pillar in one of the empty halls, arms crossed, staring out at the courtyard. When he saw me, a small, easy smile flickered across his face. “Hey,” I said softly, approaching. “Hey,” he replied, stepping aside so I could sit on the stone ledge near him. “You look… better today.” I shrugged, a little embarrassed. “Better than yesterday, maybe. Not sure I feel better inside, though.” Connor chuckled lightly. “Yeah, I get that. I’ve had a few days like that myself.” We fell into an easy silence, watching the sunlight stretch across the courtyard. After a moment, I asked, “Do you ever… think about life before all this? Before Damien?” Connor let out a soft laugh, almost wistful. “All the time. It feels like a lifetime ago. Before this, I was just… normal, I guess. Work, friends, stupid little

It’s been a week of this—days of trying, failing, trying again. And yet, here we are, in Connor’s room, sitting on the floor with blankets tossed around us, notebooks full of scribbles and drawings that might as well be chicken scratch. “I don’t get it,” I mutter, staring at my hands. “It’s like… it’s there, but it just… won’t come.” Connor leans back against the wall, arms crossed. His dark hair falls into his eyes. “We’ve been trying for a week, Lyra. Maybe… maybe it was just a one-time thing. You know? An accident.” “No,” I say immediately, my voice sharp. “It’s not a one-time thing. It came out when I was scared. Fear triggered it last time.” He studies me, then slowly nods. “Okay… then let’s try that. Think of something that makes you really… scared. Something you can’t ignore.” I close my eyes, forcing the image into my mind. My dad’s face, scared and pale. Jason’s arms trembling. And him—Connor. The thought of losing him, of never seeing him again, hits like a punch t