The room pulsed with a dangerous silence.
Azrael's arms were like iron around her waist, holding her still—close—trapped.
Luna's breath caught in her throat. Her body trembled, not just from fear, but from rage too.
"W-What… what do you want?" she gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Leave me! Let go of me!"
Azrael's lips curved into a dark smile, his eyes slowly drifting over her face as if memorizing every flicker of emotion.
"Tsk. So loud for someone so small," he whispered, voice low and smooth like poison.
"You think you can just cry, shout, and escape?"
Luna struggled, pushing at his chest, her hands shaking.
"I don't belong to you!" she spat.
"You're just a cruel—soulless—monster!"
Azrael's expression didn't change. If anything, her words seemed to amuse him further.
He leaned down, brushing his lips dangerously close to her ear.
"That's where you're wrong, little sparkle," he murmured.
"You do belong to me now. Entirely. There's no way back to Lunaria. No father. No brothers. No prince. Just… me."
Luna froze.
"You're lying," she breathed.
Azrael chuckled darkly.
"I never lie."
Then, his tone dropped—deeper, colder.
"Unless you want to see each of your precious fairies served on a golden plate for dinner…"
He tilted her chin with two fingers, forcing her to look into his crimson eyes.
"…you'll obey me. Without question. Without hesitation."
Luna's heart slammed against her ribs.
Her voice trembled, but her eyes burned with defiance.
"You wouldn't."
Azrael smiled—a slow, wicked smile that drained the warmth from the room.
"Try me."
She stared at him, swallowing her scream, her tears, her fear.
Because deep down… she knew.
He would.
The air between them thickened as Luna twisted in his arms, her hands pushing hard against his chest.
"What do you want?!" she demanded, breath ragged, anger burning in her eyes.
Azrael didn't flinch. He just chuckled—a deep, amused sound that echoed off the stone walls.
"Relax, little sparkle. You're not that interesting… yet."
He stepped back just enough to give her space, but his gaze never left her.
"Pick up the silver bottle on the table," he said calmly, nodding toward a nearby black marble table.
Luna narrowed her eyes.
"I'm not your servant."
"No," he murmured, eyes gleaming red under the low light.
"You're my guest. But refusing a host might come with... consequences."
Luna gritted her teeth and stormed toward the table, muttering under her breath.
"Cruel… arrogant… self-obsessed freak."
Behind her, Azrael laughed softly.
"I heard that."
As her fingers wrapped around the cool silver bottle, she turned back—and froze.
Azrael had discarded his shirt.
Her breath hitched.
His broad chest rose with each slow breath, the lines of his muscles perfectly sculpted, like a dark god carved in marble. Black veins twisted across his skin like cracks of shadow, pulsing faintly.
Luna stared longer than she should've.
Too long.
"Done admiring?" Azrael asked with a teasing smirk.
Luna blinked and spun around so fast her hair whipped her face.
"W-What are you doing?! Put your shirt back on!"
"Oh? Now you're shy?" he stepped closer.
"Don't pretend, Luna. Drop the act. You're burning to know what these black veins are."
She turned halfway, clutching the bottle tight.
"I don't care."
"Then apply the medicine," he said, voice sharp now.
She hesitated.
"No. Get someone else."
Azrael sighed and stepped closer, his tone darkening.
"If you want your precious fairies to keep dancing in their cage tonight, I suggest you cooperate."
Luna stiffened. Her fists clenched.
She hated herself for it, but she slowly turned, walking toward him. Each step felt heavier than the last.
Azrael watched her like a predator admiring his prey's elegance.
"That's it," he whispered, his eyes trailing her every move.
"So graceful… I wonder if you move this gently even in pain."
Luna stopped in front of him, refusing to meet his eyes. She opened the bottle with shaking hands and poured a small amount onto her fingertips.
Her voice was quiet.
"This doesn't mean I'm helping you. I just… don't want to lose them."
Azrael smirked, his voice velvet-smooth.
"And that, little sparkle, is how I'll keep you right here."
Her jaw tightened.
"I hate you," Luna muttered coldly, refusing to meet his eyes.
Azrael didn't flinch. Instead, a soft smile curved on his lips, calm and chilling.
"I love you."
Her hand froze midair. Her breath caught.
She slowly looked up.
He was already watching her, eyes glowing like embers in the dusk.
"I said… I love you," he repeated, firmer now.
Luna's heart pounded wildly in her chest, but she quickly looked away. She dipped her fingers back into the silver bottle and continued applying the medicine, pretending the words hadn't shaken her.
"I'm engaged," she whispered.
"I don't care," he shot back without hesitation.
Luna pressed harder on the vein, more to punish him than to heal.
"I love him."
Azrael's jaw clenched hard. His nostrils flared.
The room's temperature seemed to drop.
"Then he will no longer live in this world," he growled, voice low and threatening.
Luna's head snapped up, her eyes burning.
"Dream on," she hissed.
"One day, I'll go back to him… and you'll pay for all of this."
Azrael's eyes darkened into pools of rage. He leaned closer, every word laced with venom.
"What do you even see in a coward who didn't come to save you?"
Luna flinched but refused to back down.
"He treats me well," she said firmly.
"And you're not even qualified to be compared with him."
That did it.
Azrael's composure shattered.
The room trembled as shadows around them twisted. His eyes bled into pure red, fangs slightly peeking from his clenched teeth. His entire face morphed into something terrifying—ancient, demonic, and uncontainable.
He wasn't a man anymore.
He was wrath personified.
Luna stumbled back a step, her hands shaking, breath short. Her knees almost gave in under his furious gaze.
"You're mine," he growled, voice no longer human.
"And if I have to destroy the entire world to keep you… I will."
Luna swallowed hard, chest heaving.
She had never felt so small.
So vulnerable.
So scared.
Luna's breath hitched as Azrael stepped dangerously close, the space between them now gone. She tried to push him away again, but his hand caught her wrist mid-air, firm yet unhurried.
"Let me go," she spat, trying to yank free.
But he didn't. Instead, his other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Her eyes widened—his heat, his scent, his overwhelming presence—it all consumed her.
"Why do you always act like you don't want this?" he whispered against her ear, his voice like velvet and poison.
"Because I don't," she hissed, turning her face away.
He chuckled darkly, his lips brushing just under her jawline. "Liar."
A shiver betrayed her body.
Before she could react, he dipped his head lower, and his lips found the soft spot below her ear. She gasped, stunned. His lips lingered, then marked her skin with a possessive kiss—warm, dark, and lingering. His fangs grazed her, not breaking the skin, but enough to leave a whisper of threat... and claim.
Luna's hands pushed against his chest, trembling.
"Stop!"
Azrael pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, smirking as his thumb traced her cheek.
"Now you truly belong to me, Luna," he murmured. "You smell like me now."
Disgust, shame, and fury burned in her chest. She gathered her strength and shoved him with all her might. He didn't expect the sudden surge, and his grip loosened just enough.
Luna ran.
Her cheeks burned, marked not just by his kiss but by the rage coursing through her veins. Her feet pounded against the floor, her breath coming fast.
Behind her, Azrael's voice echoed—
"Run if you want. But even if you reach heaven, Luna… you'll still be mine."
She didn't stop.
Luna ran through the dark corridor, her heart racing, Azrael's touch still burning on her skin.
Pat… pat… pat…
She stopped. Darkness surrounded her, the flickering torches casting eerie shadows on stone walls.
"Where… am I?" she whispered, eyes scanning the endless hallway.
No voices. No footsteps. Just silence.
Her breathing quickened. She was lost.
"This isn't the way back…" she murmured, spinning around in panic.
The air felt heavier now. Cold. As if something unseen was watching.
A floorboard creaked behind her.
She turned.
Nothing.
But her gut told her… she wasn't alone there.
"Are you lost?"
A venomous voice slithered from behind.
Startled, Luna spun around. A tall man stood there. His body, neck, and arms were covered in intricate tattoos. Long, messy hair fell over his shoulders, and his violet eyes gleamed under the dim light. Rings, chains, and strange ornaments clinked softly as he moved.
"Who... who are you?" Luna asked, taking a step back.
He smiled lazily. "You're Princess Lunastia, right?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Yes. And you?"
He placed a hand over his chest in a mocking bow. "Azarion Dreth. You can call me Aza."
"How do you know me?" she asked suspiciously.
He chuckled, deep and low. "All of Duskvaria knows you, Princess."
Luna's gaze drifted to the tattoos and glittering jewelry covering his skin.
Noticing her stare, he tilted his head. "Do you like it?"
She blinked. "It's... weird. But nice."
He grinned. "Each one has a story. Try to find it. Let's see if you're brave enough."
Curious, Luna stepped closer, scanning the tattoos carefully. Her fingers hesitated, then gently brushed against a symbol near his collarbone.
Suddenly, a blue light sparked beneath her touch.
Azarion's eyes widened.
Luna jerked her hand back. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—"
He chuckled, unfazed. "Do you understand what you touched?"
She shook her head. "No."
"Of course you don't. Only someone born in Duskvaria can understand these."
"Then why did you ask me?" she asked, a little angry.
He smirked. "Because it was fun. And you're cute when you're flustered."
Annoyed, she turned on her heel and started walking, her steps small and hesitant.
"You're going the wrong way," Azarion called out casually.
She paused but didn't turn around. "No, I'm not."
"This palace is alive, Princess. If you don't know its heart, you'll wander in circles forever."
He began to walk away.
After a moment of silence, Luna finally sighed. "…Fine. I'm lost."
He chuckled without turning around. "I thought so."
And with that, he stopped, waiting for her to follow.