C H A P T E R T W E N T Y – O N E
C H A P T E R T W E N T Y – O N E
Altair
F uck, she felt so good.
The thought slams into me the moment I step into her room, her scent in the air doing nothing to quench the fire still burning in my veins. The warmth of her body still lingers in my arms, her smell—sweet, delicate, but with an underlying strength—clinging to my skin like a brand. It took every ounce of my control to keep from holding her closer, from letting my instincts take over. The moment her chest pressed against mine, her soft breath catching as she fought to push me away, I knew I was in trouble.
I can still feel the way her fingers twitched against my bare skin, hesitant yet curious. Her heartbeat had been erratic, not just from fear. I’ve heard that rhythm before—it's the kind that signals confusion, tension, desire .
My shades pull away from objects in the room, as if in answer to my needs, brushing over my bare skin and causing goosebumps to crawl up my arms.
“Stop it,” I say quietly, ignoring how I harden.
I lean against the doorframe for a moment, pressing my forehead to the cool wood as I exhale slowly, trying to get my thoughts in order. My fingers dig into the wood, as if ready to rip the door away and head back to her. I hear her soft steps as she walks over to the door.
Don’t open it. Lock the door, Olwyn. I command in my head, to myself more than her. Bolt that door so I don’t kick it down.
And she does. I hear the unmistakable click as she moves the bolt across. But I know my room will smell of her now—of her fear, her exhaustion, and something else that I’m not sure she even realises.
She doesn’t trust me , I remind myself. She’s terrified of me.
But even as the thought surfaces, I can’t deny the way her body had responded when I held her close. The subtle shift in her breathing, the way her eyes flickered with something more than fear when she looked at me— she’s drawn to me . It’s there, even if she refuses to acknowledge it. But I can’t push her, not yet. She’s too fragile, too confused by everything that’s happening around her. If I force this—whatever this is—too soon, I could lose her completely.
Still, the memory of her pressed against me, of her soft skin and the way she had protested weakly, knowing she didn’t really want me to stop... It’s driving me mad. I shake my head, trying to banish the thoughts, but it’s no use. My senses are too heightened, too focused on her, as if she’s branded herself into my very soul.
I pace, trying to steady my breathing.
She’s safe , I tell myself. She’s in my bed, bolted in, and no one will touch her.
I try to focus on that—on the promise I made to her earlier tonight. But then my mind drifts back to the nightmare. The way she screamed, thrashing in her bed, fighting off invisible enemies. The way her voice had cracked when she told me to go away, even though I knew, deep down, she didn’t mean it. She needs me, whether she wants to admit it or not. And I... I can’t stand hearing her suffer.
I want to give her a life, one full of choices and freedom, not shackled by her past or this twisted arrangement between us.
But she can’t choose that yet. Not when she’s still in the dark, not when everything feels like a lie. I need to show her the truth. I need to take her outside these walls, let her see for herself what this kingdom really is—and what I really am. She’s never understood the weight of what’s at stake here, never understood the sacrifices made for her safety, for our future.
And after that—after she sees it with her own eyes—I’ll sit with her, alone, no barriers between us, and have the conversation I should’ve had long ago. No more secrets, no more half-truths. I’ll tell her everything. Everything I’ve kept hidden.
One step at a time, I remind myself. First, I’ll show her the world beyond the palace walls. Then, I’ll give her the truth. Only then can I start to ask for her trust. Only then can I begin to show her that, despite everything, I’m not the monster she believes I am.
One step at a time.
I glance back at the door leading to my room. She's in there, probably asleep by now, wrapped in my sheets, surrounded by my scent. The thought sends a fresh wave of heat through me, my hand drifting down, gripping my hard cock, and I bite back a curse. I need to get out of here, away from the temptation of her being so close. I can’t violate her space with my urges… unless.
I breathe deep, calming myself before I leave the room, my plans already in motion.