Chapter 187: Caught and Claimed

“Mi forgot to bring my phone,” Leitana muttered as she and Marita slowly made their way down the hallway, their hearts pounding in sync. It was so dark they could barely see anything in front of them.

The darkness was thick, almost suffocating. The grand villa, which had felt warm and safe during the day, now felt like a maze of shadows. Their bare feet made soft sounds on the cool wooden floors, hearts pounding in sync.

Marita gripped her hand tighter. “Is there anywhere in this big big house we can get torchlight? Even one small candle?”

Leitana shook her head, voice low. “Mi have never seen any torch before. This house is always bright. Mi no know where they keep anything like that.”

They continued carefully, hands trailing along the wall for guidance. The silence was heavy, broken only by their breathing and the occasional creak of the old floorboards.

Then they heard it.

Heavy footsteps echoing from behind them. Getting closer.

Marita’s eyes widened in the dark. “They are coming!”

She laughed nervously, the sound shaky with excitement and fear. “Run, Lei!”

Leitana’s pulse spiked.

Marita let out a wild laugh and screamed, “Catch us if you can!”

They both took off, bare feet slapping against the floor as they sprinted down the hallway. Marita bumped her head lightly against a low-hanging decorative frame but just laughed louder. “Mi okay! Keep running!”

Leitana’s heart was racing. “Yu sure?!”

“Yes! Go, go!”

They turned a corner, laughing and gasping, the thrill of being chased mixing with real fear. The footsteps behind them were gaining, steady and powerful.

They kept running, turning into another long corridor. Marita spotted a small side table with a decorative lantern on it. “Look! That one!”

They stopped for a second. Leitana grabbed the lantern. It had a small candle inside. She fumbled with the matches beside it until she got it lit. A warm, flickering glow filled the small area around them.

“Better,” Marita whispered, breathing hard. “Now we can see where to hide.”

They moved faster now, the lantern casting long, dancing shadows on the walls. They passed several doors, trying to find the perfect hiding spot.

As they turned another corner, a rough, low animal growl echoed from somewhere behind them.

Both girls froze.

“What was that?” Leitana whispered, voice trembling.

Marita’s eyes were wide. “Mi no know… sounded like a beast.”

They looked around frantically, but the hallway was empty. The growl didn’t come again.

Leitana swallowed. “Maybe it’s just the game. They are trying to scare us.”

Before she could say more, Marita screamed.

A strong arm wrapped around Marita’s waist from the darkness and yanked her backward. “Got you,” Lucius’s deep voice said calmly.

“Leitana!” Marita shrieked, reaching out.

Leitana’s heart jumped into her throat. She turned and ran the opposite way, the lantern swinging wildly in her hand, casting chaotic shadows. She could hear Marita’s muffled laugh and Lucius’s low chuckle behind her.

She rushed into the first open door she saw, slamming it shut behind her. Her chest heaved as she looked around the dark room. It looked like a small library or study, shelves lining the walls.

She needed a better hiding spot.

Her eyes landed on a large antique wardrobe in the corner. She blew out the lantern, plunging the room into darkness, and quickly climbed inside the wardrobe, pulling the doors closed behind her. She crouched down among old coats and dresses, heart hammering so loud she was sure they could hear it.

The room was silent.

Then slow, heavy footsteps approached the door.

Leitana held her breath, pressing herself deeper into the back of the wardrobe. Old coats and dresses brushed against her skin. Her heart hammered so loudly she was sure whoever was outside could hear it.

The door to the room creaked open.

She squinted through the tiny gap in the wardrobe doors, trying to see. It wasn’t Ravial’s calm, confident stride. These steps were different, heavier, almost dragging. Then came a low scratching sound, like nails dragging slowly along the wall.

Fear spiked through her. Who was that?

She stayed rooted to the spot, too scared to move or breathe properly.

The footsteps got closer. Right in front of the wardrobe now.

Suddenly the doors were yanked open with brutal force.

A large hand shot inside and wrapped around her throat, yanking her out with terrifying strength. Leitana screamed as she was pulled forward and thrown hard onto the floor. She landed on her back, the impact knocking the air from her lungs.

A huge, dark figure loomed over her.

Before she could scream again, a familiar scent hit her, deep, masculine, with hints of sandalwood, smoke, and something uniquely him. Ravial.

“Shh, my lamb,” his voice rumbled above her, low and dark. “It’s me. It’s just me.”

Leitana’s chest heaved as she gasped for air. The fear melted into shaky relief. She let out a breathless, nervous laugh. “Yu scared me, mi Ravial… mi almost piss myself.”

Ravial didn’t laugh.

He dropped to his knees between her spread legs, one hand still loosely around her throat, the other shoving her nightdress up to her waist. His face hovered inches from hers, breath hot against her lips.

“You lost the game, my jewel,” he growled, voice thick with lust and possession. “Now you pay my reward.”

Before she could respond, he ripped the nightdress open with one brutal tug, exposing her completely. His mouth crashed down on hers in a savage kiss, tongue invading her mouth, biting down on her lips, and sucking hard on her tongue. His hand tightened around her throat just enough to make her dizzy with want.

Leitana moaned into his mouth, her body arching up instinctively. He was already rock hard, grinding against her bare core through his pants. He broke the kiss only to bite down on her neck, sucking hard enough to leave a dark mark.

“Mi Ravial…” she gasped, fingers digging into his shoulders.

He didn’t answer with words.

He yanked his belt open, freed his thick, heavy cock, and slammed into her in one brutal thrust. Leitana cried out, back bowing off the floor as he stretched her wide. He was rough, merciless, hips snapping forward hard and deep, fucking her like he was punishing her for making him chase.

“Mine,” he snarled against her ear, pounding into her with wet, filthy sounds. “This tight little pussy is mine. Say it.”

“Yours…” she sobbed, legs wrapping around his waist. “Mi Ravial, it’s yours…”

He fucked her harder, one hand still around her throat, the other pinning her wrist above her head. The floor was cold against her back, but she didn’t care. Every brutal thrust sent sparks of pleasure-pain through her body. She was soaking, dripping down his cock as he took her like a man possessed.

“You ran from me,” he growled, biting her bottom lip until it bled. “Made me hunt you like an animal. Now I’m going to take you like one.”

Leitana could only moan dazely, lost in the overwhelming sensation of him. He was so deep, so rough, hitting that perfect spot over and over until her eyes rolled back.

When she came, it hit her like a storm. She clenched around him, screaming his name, body shaking violently. Ravial didn’t stop. He fucked her through it, harder, chasing his own release.

With a deep, guttural groan, he buried himself to the hilt and came, flooding her with hot pulses. He stayed inside her, hips grinding slowly as he emptied every drop.

Leitana lay limp beneath him, breathing ragged, body trembling with aftershocks.

Ravial finally lifted his head, his voice was dark, satisfied, and dangerously soft.

“Next time you run, little lamb… I won’t be so gentle.”

He kissed her swollen lips once more, slow and deep, as if sealing a promise.

Outside the room, the rest of the villa was still pitch black.