CHAPTER 3
Her whole body quivered the moment she stepped out the car. Oddly enough, it wasn't due to the weather, but rather an outcome of her jumbled thoughts running through her mind. The indescribable emotions she experienced were impossible for her to put into words.
"Careful, lean on me," Rafael muttered, helping her, his hand unconsciously moving to her waist while with the other he positioned her on the wheelchair the driver pulled out from the back of the car.
Amara swallowed feeling dryness in her throat, hands still hadn't stopped shaking as she settled in the chair.
“Call Kaelith.” She heard Rafael talking to the guard as the latter nodded and disappeared into the house.
Now that she was in the open air, the confined air of the car had been replaced with nature's freshness.
Her eyes were cautious yet curious as she innocently looked around herself, this was a large ground where the car was parked.
Her curious eyes caught the large pool on the left side of the gigantic house, on the side of the pool she could see grass lying with captivating colorful flowers surrounding the area. Looking at the flowers gave her a sense of déjà-vu, but she couldn't process what this memory was about.
Rafael followed her gaze.
He stood just behind her, but he could still feel her wide curious eyes looking around. He wondered if bringing her to his brother’ s mansion was the right decision or not, but then he remembered all the scars on her body and the reports. He did right.
There was no place safer than Kaelith De Luca’ s mansion. For the time being, Rafael knew he wanted to investigate the situation further, he needed to keep Amara safe so that she wouldn’t get hurt again.
He couldn't understand but every time he thought of what happened to her, his blood would boil and all he could see was red.
"Rafael.”
Amara flinched when her eyes landed on the tall, dark-haired man standing a few feet away.
She had to tilt her head back slightly just to take him in fully. And for a moment, she forgot how to blink. It was almost unfair… how one man could look so dangerously beautiful.
Her gaze traveled upward, slowly, shamelessly, as though her eyes had developed a mind of their own. He was tall and that made her feel smaller without him even trying.
His shoulders were broad, his frame lean yet powerfully built, every movement carrying an effortless confidence that felt almost predatory. Like a panther basking beneath sunlight—still… but never harmless. Then her eyes found his face, and her breath caught.
His eyes were hunter like, sharp at the corners, carrying a naturally cold intensity—as if they were made to dissect, to dominate, to see far more than people ever intended to reveal. There was something unnervingly beautiful about them… something that made looking away feel impossible.
High cheekbones.
A sharp jaw.
But his lips betrayed him.
The were perfectly shaped. Beautiful and slightly pink.
Almost sinful in contrast to the rest of him, the natural curve of them adding an unfair touch of temptation to an otherwise dangerous face.
His hair was enough for rebellious strands to fall over his forehead, giving him a dangerously effortless charm, as though he hadn’t even tried… and still looked devastating.
The crisp white shirt stretched perfectly across his chest and shoulders, the bright fabric creating a sharp contrast against his tanned skin, while the sleeves rolled lazily to his elbows revealed strong forearms dusted with ink.
Tattoos.
Disappearing beneath the fabric like forbidden secrets waiting to be uncovered.
A gold chain rested against the exposed column of his throat, catching the sunlight every time he moved, drawing her attention exactly where it shouldn’t. And suddenly, Amara understood why danger… could look so irresistibly beautiful.
Her cheeks flushed when his gaze turned towards her and she saw something flashing through his eyes before it disappeared into nothingness.
"He is Kaelith, my brother." She looked confused at Rafael and he sensed her eyes on him. "You will be living with him for some time."
Her head snapped at him.
“Are…you not…” she mumbled lowering her head feeling upset.
Rafael swallowed hard crouching in front of her before taking her hands between his and squeezing them. “You see, I have some business to take care of. And it might get messy and I can not risk your safety. But I promise, I will be back soon.”
She felt tears stinging her eyes, there was heaviness in her chest. In this short time, she had become so attached to him and when he was telling her he was going to leave she felt her world-shattering.
Rafael gulped and quickly averted his gaze to Kaelith. “Keep her safe.”
He stood up with a heavy heart. Amara did not look at him; she refused to when she sensed him backing away.
There were silent gazes exchanged between Kaelith and Rafael.
But none of them said anything. Amara clenched her jaw as tears ran down her cheeks but she did not look up.
Not even when Kaelith stepped forward before bending down and rolling her wheelchair over on the ground as she looked over her shoulder at Rafael looking at her with clenched jaw and dark eyes.
Amara couldn’t understand why Rafael left her here, but she decided to not think about him. With blurred memories and nameless thoughts, she let Kaelith push her chair. Her hold tight on the side rests as she sniffed.
Kaelith could hear her sniffling, and it disturbed him.
Even after losing her memories, her habit of crying didn’t go away.
She nervously gulped when they reached the doorstep and looked at Kaelith for a moment as the said man just gave her a cold glare.
Kaelith ignored her teary gaze. Now that he was looking at her, she could see the depths of his dark grey eyes that looked like shining cognac diamonds. Like churning champagne and danger.
"You want me to carry you?" He suddenly asked and she frowned feeling too intimidated by him. Kaelith sighed, moving in a way that he was standing in front of her. He was so much taller than her, and her neck had started to strain. Kaelith found her cheeks crimson under his gaze.
"W-what?-" before she could process, he said. His voice was still raspy and cold. "Your room is upstairs; I cannot wheel this up the stairs."
"It's f-"
"Hold on tightly," he muttered not giving her any time as he bent down and placed his arm under her knees and one behind her shoulders before he scooped her in his arms. She yelped at the sudden movement and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck afraid she might fall.
She hid her face in embarrassment as he carried her up the stairs
***
"This will be your room for the time being.
The kitchen is on the ground floor." Kaelith bellowed as he settled her on the bed.
Her limbs stretched as he placed pillows before making her sit comfortably against the bed rest. Her heart was beating so fast against her rib cage that she found it hard to meet his gaze or even look at him.
Kaelith took a step back once he was satisfied that she was comfortable.
There was a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes as he watched the color slowly bloom across her cheeks.
It was dangerously distracting.
As though her skin itself had betrayed the effect he was having on her.
His lips twitched almost imperceptibly before he tilted his head toward the bedside table.
“There’re some books.” His voice came low. Far too deep for her already unstable heartbeat. “Paints. Brushes.” Amara followed the direction of his gaze. A small stack of books sat neatly beside the bed; tubes of paint scattered beside clean brushes and untouched canvases.
Her fingers instinctively reached for the top book. The moment her skin brushed against the worn cover, something stirred inside her.
There was a strange ache.
Her brows pulled together slightly.
She traced the embossed letters with her fingertips before looking back at him.
“Do I… like these?” She was curious.
Kaelith simply stared at her and he smiled. Beautiful enough to ruin people.
“You do.” His answer came without hesitation. “You love stories. He took a step closer. Until his scent, something dark, masculine, painfully addictive, wrapped around her senses.
“You paint when you can’t sleep.” His eyes stayed locked on hers. “You sing when you think no one’s listening.” Another step. Her pulse skipped. “You dance barefoot…” His gaze dipped briefly to her lips. “…even when there’s no music.”
Amara forgot how to breathe. And Kaelith kept going.
As though each memory had been branded into his bones.
“Your favorite color is red…” His voice dropped lower. “…but somehow…” His eyes slowly dragged over her. “…you always looked like heaven in beige.” Heat rushed violently to her face. She gripped the book tighter. Unable to look away. Unable to move.
Kaelith’s expression softened, barely enough to notice. “You’re allergic to meat.” A small smirk. “You steal sweets though.” His gaze darkened. “You hide chocolate under your pillow. You played the piano for me once. On my birthday. You hate roses. Prefer peonies. You-“
He suddenly realized what he’d done.
His fingers curled slightly at his sides.
What the fuck was he doing?
Why did he remember any of that?
Why did he remember everything?
The late-night laughter.
The stolen smiles.
The way she hummed while mixing colors.
The way she wrinkled her nose when she concentrated.
The way she looked at him, like he wasn’t made of sin.
He had promised himself he’d forget.
Swore he would.
Swore he’d bury every goddamn memory of her.
Swore he would never, ever, get attached again.
And yet, standing in front of her now, watching her look at him with innocent curiosity instead of painful memories, Kaelith realized the most dangerous truth of all.
He had never forgotten her.
Not for a single…
Fucking…
Day.
Amara’s lips parted.
How did he know all this?
Why did he sound so sure?