Chapter Thirty One.

Chapter Thirty One.


Taliya kept walking beside Lenora, only half-listening as the maid went on about the parts of the castle.

Her eyes were too busy roaming the dark architecture towering around them—massive, intimidating, and strangely lifeless.

It was the kind of place that whispered things. The walls didn’t just stand; they loomed.

And even though maids moved like ghosts and guards paced like shadows, the castle still felt like something out of a nightmare. Quiet. Cold. Cursed.

Just like its master.

Taliya swallowed hard. Her eyes flicked to one of the hideous statues. Its face twisted in agony, fangs bared, wings spread. She shuddered.

Why were all the statues like this? Grotesque, horrifying, alive in their stillness.

What kind of history lived inside these walls?

Was Kaidon the Demon King? Or just a powerful creature cursed since birth, like he said?

She had seen him in his demon form once, and that alone haunted her enough to know he wasn’t just “cursed.”

There was more—much more he wasn’t telling her.

God, she had so many questions… but none of them mattered. Not when all she wanted was to get the hell out of here.

She wasn’t about to be a “carrier” or some soulmate to a terrifyingly obsessive demon. No. Her life was back home—college, her friends, Jex. A future that didn’t include magical castles or seductive monsters.

Taliya let out a small sigh as her thoughts spiraled. Lenora turned back to her, concern flickering in her eyes.

“My Lady, are you tired?” she asked politely.

Taliya quickly plastered on a nervous smile. “No, not really.”

Lenora gave a small nod, returning the smile. “If you are, do let me know. We can return to the castle at once.”

Taliya just nodded, still lost in her head.

They walked in silence for a few more minutes until something ahead caught Taliya’s eyes—a fountain. But this wasn’t just any fountain. As they approached it, the water began to stir on its own… like it was alive.

Taliya froze.

She watched as the water rippled unnaturally, then rose upward in the shape of a wave—slow and graceful like it was dancing in the air. Her breath hitched.

The wave hovered above the fountain, then suddenly broke apart into hundreds of shimmering orbs—water bubbles suspended midair like floating glass.

Her eyes widened in awe.

They circled her gently, each one glimmering in the light. It was magical. Undeniably magical.

Taliya instinctively reached out and touched one.

It wobbled softly at her fingertip, then pulsed like it had a heartbeat.

“Wow…” she breathed, utterly mesmerized. “Lenora… are you seeing this?”

Lenora smiled calmly. “Yes, my Lady. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Taliya nodded, still watching the floating droplets.

Beautiful? Yes. But also terrifying.

Because nothing in this world came without a price.

♣︎♣︎♣︎

Taliya was so captivated by the floating droplets of water, dancing around her like enchanted pearls, that she didn’t notice the looming figure silently approaching from behind.

Kaidon.

Draped in flowing black, his broad frame moved like a shadow that had torn itself free of the dark.

His cloak billowed softly in the breeze, whispering behind him.

As always, the lower half of his face was covered, only his sharp jawline and glowing crimson eyes exposed. And those eyes—those inescapable, obsessive eyes—were locked entirely on her.

She was smiling.

That made something in him twist.

Each step he took was soundless, and yet the energy around him shifted violently.

The air seemed to grow heavier with every inch he closed between them.

The floating water droplets began to tremble—subtly at first, then visibly. Taliya’s brow furrowed as she noticed the change. The magic was fading.

And then, all at once, the droplets collapsed from the air, splashing silently onto the grass.

She gasped, startled. “Huh? What happened…?”

A chill rippled across her skin before the answer revealed itself.

She turned—slowly.

Kaidon.

He stood before her like a walking omen, darkness wrapped in elegance.

She took a small step back instinctively, but it was already too late. He was in front of her now, too close.

Without saying a word, Kaidon reached up and tugged down the hood and cloth covering his mouth and nose.

Taliya’s breath caught in her throat. His expression was unreadable—but his gaze was hungry. Possessive. Like he had waited just long enough to behave, and now he was done pretending.

He turned his head slightly.

“Leave us.” he said to Lenora, his tone quiet yet commanding.

Lenora bowed without hesitation and disappeared quickly down the path.

Now it was just the two of them.

Taliya stood frozen, her spine stiff, unsure whether to speak or run.

She turned slightly as if to put distance between them, but the moment she moved, Kaidon’s hand caught her waist—firm.

He pulled her into him in one seamless motion, her body crashing into his.

“Wha—Kaidon—” she barely whispered before she felt it.

His mouth, warm and slow, brushing her exposed neck. He kissed her—soft, lingering—and then inhaled deeply like he was memorizing her scent.

Taliya’s breath hitched. Her heart pounded like a war drum.

His arms wrapped tighter around her.

“I missed you… soulmate.” he whispered against her skin.

Taliya gulped, her hands pressed to his chest to keep some space—but he didn’t let go.

“Did you miss me?” Kaidon asked, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes.

His gaze was too intense. Too intimate.

She didn’t answer.

Not because she didn’t have one, but because she wasn’t sure what truth he wanted. Her silence made his eyes darken a shade.

He cupped her cheek with one hand, thumb brushing her lower lip, his breath mingling with hers.

“Say it,” he murmured.