The Name In The Dark
Roman's pov
The silence in the cell didn't last.
Pain had a way of breaking even the strongest eventually and this rogue was no exception.
He hung from the chains now, his strength fading, breaths uneven and shallow. The wolfsbane had done its work, weakening him from the inside out, stripping away that stubborn defiance piece by piece.
But it wasn't enough, not yet.
I stood a few steps away, watching him.
Behind me, Henry leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed, his expression grim. Dominic stood closer to the door, alert, ready but silent.
"You're running out of time," I said calmly, my voice echoing slightly off the damp walls.
The rogue let out a weak, humorless laugh, though it quickly turned into a cough.
"Go ahead," he rasped. "Do your worst."
I tilted my head slightly.
"You still think this is the worst?" I asked quietly.
A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face.
I stepped closer, slow and deliberate, letting the weight of my presence settle over him.
"You attacked a pack under my protection," I continued. "You slaughtered women and children. You crossed a border you shouldn't even look at."
My voice dropped lower.
"Which means one of two things you're either suicidal..."
I paused.
"Or someone gave you the confidence to believe you wouldn't face consequences."
I leaned in slightly, my gaze locked onto his.
"Who sent you?"
His breathing grew heavier, his body trembled not just from the wolfsbane now, but from something else, fear.
"Talk," I ordered, my voice sharp enough to cut.
He shook his head weakly. "I can't."
A low, dangerous chuckle left me.
"You can or else I will make you."
His eyes darted toward the door, then back to me.
Like he expected something or
someone.
"He wants to destroy you," he said hoarsely.
I didn't respond.
"He wants you to pay," he continued, his voice shaking slightly now. "For what you did."
My patience thinned.
I grabbed him by the front of his shirt, slamming him back against the wall. The chains rattled violently as his body jerked from the impact.
"Names," I growled.
His breath hitched.
"You want to die?" I continued, my voice dropping into something far more dangerous. "Because I can make that happen very slowly."
He swallowed hard.
"I didn't have a choice," he rasped.
"Wrong answer."
I tightened my grip.
"I-" His voice cracked. "He would've killed me killed all of us."
"Who?" I snapped.
His eyes met mine.
And this time there was no defiance left but only fear.
"...Nicholas."
The name settled into the room like a curse.
I went still.
Behind me, I felt both Henry and Dominic shift.
"Nicholas," I repeated slowly.
The rogue nodded frantically now, panic bleeding into every movement.
Nicholas, the Vampire that created his own coven and went against the Vampire king.
"Why?" I demanded. "What does he want?"
"He said you killed his mate and now he wants to destroy you."
Silence fell heavy and cold.
"And this is just the beginning," the rogue whispered. "He's planning something bigger... something you won't see coming."
A slow, dark smile spread across my face.
He thinks I won't see it coming?
He just made a mistake.
A fatal one.
I released the rogue, letting him hang there as I stepped back. My gaze lifted, meeting Henry's.
"This isn't just your problem anymore," I said.
Henry nodded grimly.
I turned back to the rogue one last time.
"You've outlived your usefulness," I said calmly.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Wait-"
I didn't let him finish.
Fear had done its job.
My jaw tightened as I moved down the corridor, the torches flickering violently as if reacting to the shift in the air.
Nicholas.
He wanted a war?
A low growl built in my chest.
Then I would give him one.
________________________________________________
Aurora's pov
Roman's chambers felt different without him. It felt too big and quite.
Even as the afternoon light spilled through the tall windows, casting soft golden patterns across the floor, the room lacked something, something that made it feel... grounded.
Him. I missed him and although Kiera kept me occupied I still couldn't stop thinking about him. I wish he could return sooner.
I stood near the bed, staring down at the collection of clothes Kiera had laid out, my fingers brushed lightly over the fabrics.
So many choices to choose from.
"I still can't believe he actually told you to buy all of this," I murmured, picking up one of the dresses.
Kiera, who was lounging comfortably on the armchair, glanced up with a smirk. "You're surprised? Roman doesn't do things halfway. Especially when it comes to you."
Heat crept up my neck at that.
I turned slightly, holding the dress up in front of me before glancing toward the mirror.
It was a beautiful red off-the shoulder gown. Something I never would've imagined wearing back in Eldermist.
"I don't even know where to start," I admitted.
Kiera straightened immediately. "Good. That means I get to decide."
Before I could protest, she was already on her feet, moving toward the pile with purpose.
"No-Kiera, wait-"
"Too late," she said, flipping through the outfits until she pulled one out with clear satisfaction. "This one."
I froze.
The moment I saw it, my eyes widened. It was a black satin mini dress with a draped neckline and adjustable spaghetti straps.
It was short and far more... revealing than anything I had ever worn in my life.
"I don't remember picking that."
"I did," Kiera smirked. "When you weren't looking," she added.
"I'm not going to wear that," I said instantly, shaking my head.
Kiera raised a brow. "Why not?"
"Because-" I struggled to find the words, gesturing vaguely at the dress. "It barely covers anything!"
She rolled her eyes. "It covers enough."
"No, it doesn't," I argued, clutching the fabric slightly. "Kiera, I'm serious. I've never worn anything like this before."
"Exactly," she said simply.
"That's not a good thing!"
"It is if you want to stop looking like you just walked out of a village from a century ago."
I blinked at her.
"That's because I did."
She waved that off. "Details."
I stared at the dress again, my hesitation growing.
"I can't," I repeated more quietly this time. "It wouldn't seem appropriate for me to wear something like that."
Kiera's expression shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing just a fraction.
"Oh, come on," she said. "You're the Luna. Start acting like one."
"I don't even know what that means yet," I admitted.
"Then learn and live a little because trust me once you become queen everything's going to change."
I exhaled.
"Fine," I muttered. "I'll wear it."
Kiera's smirk returned instantly. "Good."
I shot her a look, but there was no real heat behind it.
Slowly, I glanced down at the dress again, my fingers tightening slightly around the fabric.
"I'll catch up with you later," Kiera added, already moving toward the door. "And rest a little cause tonight's going to be a long night."
I frowned slightly. "Why? What's going on tonight?"
She paused at the doorway, glancing back at me with a knowing look.
"Because later," she said, "we're going out."
My curiosity sparked immediately.
"Where-?"
But before I could finish she was gone.
The door closed behind her with a soft click, leaving me alone in the room.
________________________________________________
"Aurora."
A distant voice pulled at the edges of my sleep.
"Aurora, wake up."
I groaned softly, shifting beneath the covers as the warmth of the bed tempted me to stay exactly where I was.
For a moment, I forgot where I was.
Forgot everything.
"Aurora."
This time, the voice was closer and More insistent.
My eyes fluttered open slowly, the soft glow of evening light filtering through the tall windows. The sky had shifted into shades of deep orange and violet, the sun dipping lower beyond the trees.
Kiera stood at the side of the bed, arms crossed.
"You sleep like the dead," she muttered.
I blinked up at her, still dazed. "What time is it?"
"Late enough that we need to get moving," she replied. "Come on, get up."
I pushed myself up slowly, and rubbed my eyes as I sat on the edge of the bed. My hair fell messily around my shoulders, and I was painfully aware of how comfortable I still felt wrapped in sleep.
"Do we really have to go?" I mumbled.
Kiera let out a short laugh. "Yes, we really do."
I sighed, glancing toward the dress laid out nearby.
A flicker of nervousness stirred in my chest.
"You didn't forget, did you?" Kiera asked, following my gaze.
"No," I said quickly. "I just... wasn't thinking about it."
"Well, start thinking," she replied, walking over and picking it up before tossing it lightly onto the bed beside me. "You're wearing this."
"I know, I just-"
"No backing out," she cut in firmly. "You'll look amazing. Trust me."
"Okay," I said softly.
"That's my girl."
A hour later when Kiera was done with me I stood infront of the mirror and froze.
The reflection staring back at me didn't feel entirely like me.
The dress hugged my frame in a way I wasn't used to, my legs were exposed and the neckline was far more daring than anything I had ever worn.
Kiera began circling me like she was inspecting her work, nodding in approval.
"You look gorgeous, Roman's going to lose his mind."
My heart skipped.
"I'm not dressing for him," I said quickly.
Kiera raised a brow. "Sure you're not."
"I'm not and he's not even here," I insisted, though my voice lacked conviction.