Semua Bab MOONLIGHT MYSTIQUE : Bab 41 - Bab 50

Eliot was trembling in my arms, his tears soaking through my shirt, and all I could think was how fragile he felt. Like if I loosened my grip for even a second, he’d fall apart completely.But beneath the ache of holding him, something darker stirred inside me.Because I knew who put those tears there.Damien.That bastard’s shadow lingered in every shake of Eliot’s body, every choked sob that slipped against my chest. He wasn’t just hurting Eliot—he was poisoning him, twisting him, marking him in ways no one else could see.And I hated it.I pressed my cheek against Eliot’s hair, breathing him in, grounding myself in the reality that he was here. With me. Not with Damien.“You’re safe,” I whispered, and maybe I was lying. Maybe no one was safe from someone like Damien. But I needed Eliot to believe it, even if I didn’t.His hands clutched the back of my jacket like he was afraid I’d disappear. That grip—tight, desperate—sent something sharp and possessive crashing through me.I wante

The morning light hurt.Not because it was too bright, but because it reminded me that last night wasn’t a dream.Theo’s jacket still lay draped across my desk chair, carrying the faint warmth of his body, the smell of his cologne. My pillow was damp from tears I didn’t remember shedding. My chest felt hollow, raw, like something had been carved out of me while I slept.I sat at the edge of the bed, hands pressed to my face, trying to steady the shaking. But steadiness never lasted long. Not anymore.Because when I closed my eyes, I didn’t just see Theo.I saw Damien.The way he cornered me in the library. The way his voice slid into me like silk over a blade. The way my body betrayed me, pulse skipping even as fear wrapped around my throat.I hated it. Hated that my hands trembled not only from fear—but from the memory of him.Theo had held me last night like I was something worth protecting. Like I wasn’t broken. Like he could hold all the pieces together with sheer willpower.But D

The silence after Damien left was almost worse than the shouting.Theo’s hand was still on mine, grounding, heavy, but my body trembled beneath it. The air smelled faintly of sweat and rage, sharp with something I couldn’t name. My heart hadn’t slowed down—it banged against my ribs like it wanted out, like it couldn’t survive inside me anymore.I sank onto the edge of my bed, knees weak, pressing my palms into my face. My breaths came ragged, uneven.Theo crouched in front of me, his eyes wide, soft with concern, nothing like the fire they’d carried moments ago. He touched my wrist carefully, like I might break if he held me too hard.“Eliot.” His voice cracked. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let it get that far. I—”“Stop,” I whispered, dropping my hands, shaking my head. “You don’t have to apologize for protecting me.”“But I do.” His jaw clenched. “Because he got to you. He was here, in your space, close enough to—” His throat worked, cutting off the words. His eyes burned, angry at

Morning light bled pale through the blinds, streaking across my dorm room floor. I hadn’t slept at all.Theo sat on the edge of my desk chair, arms crossed, staring at me like he was trying to read every fracture in my soul. His jaw was tight, his leg bouncing restlessly, a rare crack in his usual calm.“I can’t keep pretending this isn’t killing me,” he said finally, voice low, roughened by the night.My stomach twisted. “Theo—”“No, let me finish.” His gaze snapped to mine, sharp enough to make me flinch. “Every time he gets near you, you fold in on yourself. And I can’t just stand by and watch while he digs his claws deeper. You say you hate him, but your eyes—” He broke off, shaking his head. “Your eyes betray you.”Shame flushed hot under my skin. “You think I want this? You think I asked for it?”“I think he’s got you tangled up so badly you don’t even know what you want anymore.” Theo leaned forward, elbows on his knees. His voice softened, but it carried a steel edge. “And I’m

The air between us inside the abandoned music hall was heavy, alive with the hum of something I couldn’t name. Damien leaned closer, close enough that I could smell smoke on his skin, cologne sharp and intoxicating.“You shouldn’t be here,” I whispered again, but the words rang hollow even to my own ears.He smiled, slow and knowing. “And yet, you came. You always will.”His hand hovered by my cheek, not touching, just close enough that the heat of his skin made mine ache. I should’ve pushed him away. I should’ve turned and run back to Theo. But I stood there, heart hammering, breath shallow, caught in Damien’s pull like a moth circling fire.“You think he can protect you from this?” Damien’s voice dropped, silk threaded with steel. “From me? You’re lying to yourself, Eliot. And to him.”My stomach twisted. “Stop.”But Damien only leaned in, lips a whisper from my ear. “Say the word, and I’ll stop. But you won’t. Because you want this almost as much as I do.”The words slithered under