Chapter 24 Chapter 24
Daimen paused a foot away, head tilting as he studied her, eyes cold yet disturbingly bright. "You had fun today,"
He commented, startling Luna out of her fake bravado.
He knew.
He had been observing her.
"Yes, I had been lonely here", she answered, careful with her words. The fact that her activities were under personal surveillance by him shattered her bravery and replaced it with caution. She became acutely aware of the fact that they were alone, in her bedroom. And no one would come to her rescue if things went wrong. Her hands trembled, so she tucked them under her elbows. "I think I was allowed to."
"Allowed," Daimern raised an eyebrow, closing the distance between them. "Permitted by me. Given by me." As he came to a halt just inches away from her, his eyes dropped to her lips for a breath too long. "It's only been a day, and you felt lonely."
Luna swallowed. "Anyone would. In this golden cage."
"Golden cage?" He hummed, as if amused by her honesty. "We've got to do something about your loneliness."
Luna's expressions faltered into a frown. Did he actually care if she felt lonely or not?
"I am not a monster. I intend you no harm," he murmured, as if he had read her thoughts,
"I never said you were."
"Your thoughts are written all over your face." He raised a hand about to touch hers, but stopped short of actually making skin contact.
Heat rushed to her cheeks—warmth, annoyance, mistrust, she couldn't tell.
She slapped his hand away, even though he hadn't touched her. "Don't play games with me."
For a heartbeat, the air turned razor-sharp.
Then Daimen actually smiled. Not the cruel one. Not the mocking one. Something quieter. More dangerous.
"Oh, lil girl," he whispered. "I'm not playing games."
He retracted his hand and took a step back to grant her proper space.
He leaned in just enough that she felt his breath. "What I want is very obvious, and I'm not beating about the bush."
She had a hunch what he was hinting at.
Her heart thumped in her eardrums, her head dizzy with those heavy thoughts.
"What do you want?" she managed to ask, her voice barely a whisper.
His eyes softened upon finding her afraid and vulnerable. But he didn't spare her. Some facts needed to be known. "You dare ask?" he chuckled. His eyes scanning her from head to bottom, "But... are you ready to give yourself to me?"
Luna felt the floor slipping from underneath her feet. I won't force myself upon you, he had promised. But promises from men like him were as steady as a fire—warm until they burned you alive.
Of course, he wanted her. She had seen it from the first kiss. But hearing the desire come out so plainly... openly... it caused goosebumps all over her body
If it were just disgust or fear, she could justify it. But what she felt wasn't any of those emotions.
She forced herself to meet his gaze. "Why me? I... hurt you."
His smile widened—not cruel, not kind—simply curious.
Luna realised she had let her guard slip and quickly strengthened the walls around her.
Of course, it was all a game. He didn't want her. It was all about getting revenge.
"If you honour your words of not forcing yourself on me, you won't ever have me." With sharp eyes, she challenged.
"Oh," Daimen was surprised at her shift.
"But Luna, you'll give yourself to me eventually," he commented calmly as if it were a fact. "And you can't win against someone a decade older than you. You are still just a little girl. An unadulterated flower."
Her pulse hammered at her neck. What made him so certain? "You don't know me."
"I don't?" he smiled. "But I have watched you. I have been watching you for a long time. Every expression. Every word. Every action. Every gesture." His gaze flicked over her trembling posture. "And I'm a very keen observer, Lulu."
The open admission left Luna feeling naked. Naked under his incisive gaze.
Their first interaction made her think he wasn't taking her seriously.
But how he revealed he had been watching her for so long proved he had been interested in her. Deeply interested. Whether out of good intentions or bad intentions.
She had caught his eye,
Daimen stepped back, giving her air just when she desperately needed it. "You have been feeling lonely. Turns out, me too. How about we help each other out of this predicament and have a walk outside?"
...
The walk was polite and respectful, with minimal exchange of words. It was silent where they simply enjoyed each other's company and walked the cobblestone pathway leading to the pond. They waited there for a while under the starry sky until Daimen picked up a flower and placed it into her hair.
Once she was alone within the privacy of her room, she let out a breath she had been holding for she didn't know how long.
Tomorrow suddenly felt far too close.
And Daimen—far too real.
As she sat on the edge of the bed, she could still feel his presence lingering like a hand around her wrist. She hated that her chest tightened more with confusion than fear. She wasn't supposed to react to him—not like this. Not after everything he had put her through.
Yet as she took off the flower, she found something within her melting.
"No," Determined, she crushed the innocent peony into a mesh.
She closed her eyes.
Get a grip, she scolded herself.
But it was impossible to ignore the imprint of him—his voice, his gaze, the unspoken promise of something she wasn't ready for.
She touched the blanket beside her, and the fabric was still slightly warm. Had he been sitting here? How long? Had he been thinking about her?
A shiver crawled down her spine.
"He is right. I can't win against him. Not like this. I have to be more cautious." Luna's eyes flared with a fragile, trembling determination.
She lay down, exhaustion hitting her in heavy waves. Her day with Sierra had been draining, emotionally and physically. The estate was beautiful, but it was a gilded cage—and Daimen held the only key.
Her breathing softened. Her thoughts blurred.
Sleep pulled her under.
That night, Luna dreamt—
Ethan's shadow merged with Daimen's, both men towering over her, controlling her, restricting her. Yet the terror she expected didn't come from Daimen. With Ethan, she felt suffocated. With Daimen... unbearably seen.
She hated that difference.
She hated herself for noticing it.
"—can't delay anymore."
The warmth around Luna was abruptly stolen as cold air crept along her feet.
"What the—" Her eyes blinked open.
One of the maids she had dismissed yesterday leaned over her. Rosie. That was her name.
"Ma'am, I apologise for my lack of courtesy, but we have been tight on schedule. We couldn't let you sleep any longer. Mr Blackwell dislikes tardiness."
Rosie's face hovered above hers, polite smile plastered in place, but her posture was stiff, almost fearful.
"Tardiness, what?" Luna's voice was raspy from sleep.
"We need to get you ready for the appointment." Lucia, the blonde, spoke from across the room.
"But it's still seven in the morning," Luna complained, dragging a pillow over her face.
"Mr Blackwell expects you at nine. We only have two hours to get you ready." Elizabeth, the black-haired one, added.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Luna groaned and punched the mattress before shoving her head back into the pillow.
Who the hell took two hours to get ready?
"Ms. Hart, we have prepared the bath. The water is at an adequate temperature. Let us help you freshen up," Lucia offered.
"Alright, but can I sleep for ten more minutes?"
Silence.
"Please?"
More silence.
"...Ugh, fine!"
Luna dragged herself out of bed. The moment her feet touched the marble floor, Rosie swooped in and began making the bed with mechanical precision. The blankets were tucked, fluffed, and smoothed in under one minute.
"Hey, I think I told you—"
"That you don't require our assistance. But today has to be an exception. Pardon us, Ma'am. We can't afford to have you delayed."
They said it with such seriousness that Luna briefly wondered if Daimen had threatened them.
He probably had.
They guided her to the bathroom. And she stopped short.
There was a section she'd missed yesterday—a lower step leading to a sunken bath. Steam curled upward, rose petals drifting on the glowing water. The entire area smelled faintly of jasmine and something expensive she couldn't name.
"We have added oils to relax your mind and beautify your skin," Elizabeth informed.
Luna stared.
She felt like an ancient concubine being prepared for the emperor.
Wait...
This was supposed to be a date.
Not a... ritual.
While she was drowning in dread, Lucia and Rosie moved beside her—one on each side—and started to reach for her clothes.
Luna's eyes flew wide.
"What the fuck are you doing?!"
This just kept getting better.