ting. Clara stood frozen, caught between the two men. One had shattered he

ice was sharp, his glowing amber eyes locked o

ce so warm, were now cold and calculati

ow you care? After you rejected her and left

. "Both of you stop! I don't care about yo

looked at her, but guilt flic

cuses. No more half-truths. You owe me the truth, Adria

air. He looked older somehow, worn down by somet

"Understatement

king away. I thought... if I rejected the bond, the demons wouldn't see you as my weakness.

twisted. "So, th

past sins... they've caught up to me. And no

ou shared? You mean the bond you threw away like it

before he could respond, L

cold. "Clara doesn't need your apologies. She needs p

d. "I'm the only one

otect her? You couldn't even stay. You rejected her

Both men turned to her, their faces tense. "This isn't about you

ight," he said, his voice low. "But you need to know somethi

ipped a beat. "W

d he glared at Lucian. "Th

owerful one. And now that king wants to collect. But here's the catch: Adrian's bond with you gave him strength. It made him harder to f

h her feet. She turned to Adrian, her voice shaking

ng the weight of the world. "It wasn't supposed to end like this," he sa

ied to me. You abandoned me. And no

e deal to save my family. I didn't know it would come back to h

radiating authority. "You've done eno

not letting you use her as

she's alive right now is because of me. While you were

on't care about your rivalry or your past mistakes. I wan

emon king wants Adrian. He won't stop unti

rkened. "You're

e to make. She can stay tied to you and keep running, or she

nd how exactly would

"Leave that to me. Let's just say I have.

s body tense. "You're not taking her

ed. "You don

she spoke. "What happen

en you'll be hunted for the rest of your life. Demons don't stop. T

like a heavy fog. She turned to Adrian, h

d in that moment, Cl

aid finally. "But

. "Trying isn'

Clara felt like she was being pulled in

e. "The choice is yours. Stay with him, and you'll

. "I know I made mistakes, Clara. But I still car

man who had broken her trust but still held a piece of her heart. The other was

a shaky breath, the weight of h

uld finish, the sound of shatteri

he room, and a deep, guttur

e's

king had