Chapter 16: Chapter Sixteen – Taliya!
“Hey! Let go of me! Let go!” Taliya shouted, her fists pounding against Kaidon’s solid back, her legs kicking wildly. But he didn’t flinch—not even once. Like she weighed nothing.
He had already wrapped a thick cloth around her soaked body, then tossed her over his shoulder like she was a mere doll. His pace was steady, powerful, and terrifying as he strode down the long, dark corridor toward his chamber.
The heavy door swung open with a creak, and as soon as he stepped inside, it slammed shut behind them.
Then silence.
He finally set her down—not gently—on his massive bed.
Taliya looked around, her heart racing. “Hey, this… this isn’t my room.”
“You will stay here,” he said, voice low, deep… almost a growl.
Taliya gulped, instinctively wrapping the cloth tighter around her. Something in his tone told her arguing now would be dangerous.
“Don’t provoke him. Don’t push him further.”
But even as she sat frozen on the bed, Kaidon moved closer.
His massive body leaned in, shadowing her small frame. Her breath hitched.
And then—his nose brushed against her damp hair. He inhaled.
Groaned.
Oh God… please don’t let this maniac kill me…
Taliya shut her eyes tight and turned her face away from him, trying to hide, trying to disappear. But all that did was expose more of her neck, more of her skin, the soft curve of her shoulder glistening from the bath.
Kaidon’s breath hitched, then traveled down.
His nose dragged slowly over her skin.
Then—a kiss.
Soft. Almost gentle.
Taliya’s eyes snapped open in horror—right before she felt a lick along her neck.
“Nope. Hell no.”
With every ounce of strength she had, Taliya shoved him hard, scrambling off the bed with frantic hands. Her breaths were sharp and ragged as she stood, barefoot and trembling, clutching the cloth tighter around herself.
“Leave me the hell alone, you freak!” she screamed, tears threatening her voice. “I have a boyfriend!”
Her words rang in the room like thunder.
Kaidon remained on the bed, his eyes locked onto her like a predator watching prey. The veins on his arms and neck bulged, his jaw clenched so hard it looked like it could snap bone. Power rolled off him in dangerous waves.
But Taliya didn’t care.
No matter how big, how strong, how terrifying he was—he was crazy, delusional, and she wasn’t going to be some possessed man’s obsession.
“Not today. Not ever.”
“Boyfriend?”
Kaidon muttered the strange word, his voice low, confused—but something about it lit a fuse inside him. Boy. Friend. Two simple words that shouldn’t mean anything… and yet they did.
His jaw twitched, his eyes darkened with something primal.
“What?” His voice dropped, dark and dangerous, and he rose slowly to his feet. The air around him shifted, thick with tension. He began walking toward her, like a predator closing in.
Taliya's heart slammed in her chest, but she didn’t run. She stood her ground, even though every inch of her trembled.
“I have a beloved.” she said, barely above a whisper, but each word struck him like a blade. “I love someone else. I am not your soulmate.”
She didn’t expect him to stagger.
But he did.
Like her words were fire and they scorched straight through his soul.
“No…” he choked, taking a step back, his voice cracking. “You can’t—you can’t reject me. I’m your only beloved. You’re mine—mine.”
Then it hit.
The burn.
The cursed, unbearable burn that tore through his chest like lightning ripping open the sky.
Kaidon’s face twisted in agony, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might snap.
His hand flew to his bare chest, right over the mark—the one that was now glowing, flickering with wild red light like a heartbeat in hell.
The pain was sharper this time. Not just physical. It was emotional, spiritual—like her words had cut through the cursed bond itself.
He dropped to his knees with a guttural roar, the sound so violent, so raw, it felt like the walls themselves trembled.
Taliya’s eyes went wide in shock. She had never seen anything like it.
“What the fuck is going on?” Her mind raced in terror. “What’s happening to him?!”
She didn’t wait for answers.
Her instincts screamed at her to run, and she did—spinning toward the door, heart pounding, feet stumbling across the floor.
But behind her, she heard it—
“No… no, p-please…” Kaidon’s voice cracked, broken and desperate. “Don’t go!”
She looked back—and what she saw made her freeze.
He was on the ground, one hand dragging across the floor as if he could reach her.
The other clutched his chest, and the red mark there was pulsing, brighter, hotter, like it was trying to burn its way out of him.
Taliya's breath caught in her throat. He looked like he was in hell, but still trying to crawl toward her.
Then—
BANG.
The chamber door burst open, crashing against the wall with a thunderous echo.
Taliya turned sharply, eyes wide. And Kaidon—Kaidon let out another roar, his pain so thick it nearly drowned the room in darkness.
And for the first time, she wondered—
What the hell kind of bond is this…?
“Kaidon!”
Taliya snapped her head toward the voice, her eyes locking onto the figure who stormed in—Rylan. Behind him, several armored guards rushed into the room, weapons drawn and faces grim.
“Get him to the dungeon. Now!” Rylan barked, his voice slicing through the chaos.
The guards didn’t hesitate.
They moved fast, surrounding Kaidon’s trembling body. It took four of them to hold him down—his strength even in pain was inhuman. He struggled, snarled, his fingers clawing toward her even as they restrained him.
“Taliya …” he choked, his voice raw, broken—like her name was the last thread keeping him alive.
Taliya didn’t move. She couldn’t.
Her breath came in quick, shallow bursts, and her heart felt like it was about to burst through her ribs.
Her legs were rooted to the floor, her eyes wide with disbelief as they dragged him away, kicking and writhing, leaving behind a trail of pain.
Rylan lingered for a second, his back half-turned.
He glanced over his shoulder at her.
She looked so small. So terrified. Like she didn’t belong here.
Their eyes met, but he didn’t say a word.
He simply turned—and walked away.