All Chapters of Sinful Desires: Fatal bonds: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The car hummed along the highway, city skyline growing sharper in the windshield as we headed back toward the apartment. Seraphiel drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on my thigh like he needed the constant reminder I was really here. The shopping bags rustled in the back seat, soft sweaters, lace, that vanilla-scented oil, little pieces of normal I’d let myself enjoy for a few hours. My phone had been quiet most of the drive. Then it wasn’t. It started with a call from my mother. I stared at the screen, her name flashing like a warning. I almost let it ring out, but Seraphiel glanced over and gave me a small nod. “You don’t have to answer. But if you do, I’m right here.” I swiped accept and put it on speaker. Her voice poured out, bright and breathless like we’d just spoken yesterday instead of weeks of radio silence while the accusations tore me apart. “Zero! Baby, we saw the news. Oh my God, that poor girl… but you’re cleared now, right? Everyone’s saying

Aldric stood on the dimly lit rooftop bar, the city glittering below like scattered diamonds. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of rain and expensive whiskey. Elias was already there, leaning against the railing with effortless grace, a half-empty glass in hand. His dark hair fell over one eye in that artfully messy way, sharp jawline catching the low light. He looked like a painting come to life, beautiful, dangerous, and far too calm. Aldric approached without hesitation, stopping a few feet away. His own face was carved from ice: strong, angular features, piercing eyes that missed nothing, the kind of controlled power that made people step aside without being told. Where Elias had that mysterious, almost poetic allure, the brooding artist who could pull secrets from the air, Aldric was pure predator in a tailored coat. Sharper edges. Colder fire. Elias turned, and his lips curved into a smile. “Aldric,” he said, voice smooth and low, like velvet over steel. “I didn't

SERAPHIEL'S POV I hated Elias. Not just because he looked at Zero like he was something rare and fragile he wanted to collect and keep on a shelf. Not even because the way he smiled slow, knowing, like he already knew every secret we were trying to bury, made my fists itch. No. It was deeper than that. Something about him clawed at the back of my mind and dragged up memories I’d spent years trying to drown. I was lying awake again, Zero curled warm and trusting between Aldric and me, his breathing slow and even after the long day. His head rested on my chest, one hand loosely fisted in my shirt like even in sleep he needed to make sure we were real. Aldric was on his other side, one arm draped possessively over Zero’s waist. The three of us fit together like we’d been carved for it. This was my life now. Loud laughter, soft sweaters, late-night talks, the way Zero blushed when I teased him about how pretty he looked in lace. Carefree. Messy. Human. And yet tonight, every time

The silence from Aldric and Seraphiel was deafening. Seraphiel stood frozen in the doorway, takeout bags still dangling from his fingers. His usual loud energy had vanished, replaced by something tight and vibrating with restrained fury. His jaw was clenched so hard I could see the muscle jumping, fists opening and closing at his sides like he was fighting the urge to punch the wall. He didn’t look at me. His eyes were fixed on the spot where Elias had been lying, as if he could still see the imprint of another body on our bed. Aldric hadn’t moved from where he stood just inside the room. His face was a mask of perfect control, the kind he wore when he was calculating ten moves ahead, but I could see the cracks. His shoulders were rigid, hands shoved deep into his pockets, and every few seconds his jaw flexed like he was biting back words. His eyes, usually so steady and grounding, held a dark, simmering heat that made the air feel thicker. I blinked, confused. “Guys… what’s wro

Seraphiel slammed the car door harder than necessary, the sound echoing through the quiet underground parking garage. Aldric didn’t flinch. He simply adjusted his coat collar and started walking toward the elevator, shoulders set in that rigid line that meant he was one wrong word away from violence. I had stayed behind in the apartment, still wrapped in a blanket, oblivious to where they were really going. They had told me they were “handling something.” I hadn’t asked twice. The ride up to the penthouse floor was silent except for the low hum of the elevator. Seraphiel’s fists were clenched at his sides, knuckles already white. Aldric stared straight ahead, jaw tight, the faint scent of cinnamon from the cigarette he’d smoked earlier still clinging to his clothes. When the doors opened, the hallway smelled faintly of steam and expensive cologne. Elias’s door was already ajar, like he’d been expecting them. They stepped inside without knocking. The penthouse was dimly lit, floor