“He does care for me,” I replied firmly, no longer backing down despite the ice prickling up my spine at how volatile Mikel had become. “It’s real.”
At those words, Mikel snapped like a taut wire fraying under pressure. In an instant, he shoved me hard enough that I stumbled backward into a chair at the kitchen table. My breath hitched as pain shot through me where I collided with its edge—not enough to knock me out or injure me severely but enough to terrify me.
“Don’t pretend this is real,” he growled as if daring me to stand tall again after his blow sent shockwaves through both our worlds. His face loomed inches from mine now—a distorted reflection of rage and something darker behind it all.
For a moment, fear washed over me like icy water; adrenaline surged in tandem with disbelief at what had just happened.
But there was something else there too—a fierce determination igniting in my gut that would not let him win this battle anymore.
“You’ve lost control,” I said quietly but firmly through gritted teeth as pain pulsed through where he’d shoved me but couldn’t touch my resolve.
“I’m not going anywhere without standing up for myself.”
His breathing grew ragged as he processed that defiance—the shock on his face almost amusing if it weren’t so terrifying at the same time.
But then realization settled over him—an ugly grin creeping across his lips—as if this had all been part of some twisted game from the beginning.
“You’re going to regret saying that,” he whispered before stepping back slightly but keeping his eyes locked onto mine—dark pools filled with chaos waiting for their next opportunity to drown whatever light remained inside them.
And for one fleeting second, all those memories flooded back: laughter shared in quiet moments turned sour under pressure; fleeting touches exchanged before violence stripped everything raw away until nothing remained except pain echoed in both our souls—the scars running deeper than either of us cared to admit.
The tension in the room was suffocating, a taut wire ready to snap. Mikel lifted his hand, and I braced myself, every instinct screaming to run but my feet were glued to the floor. My heart raced, but I refused to show fear.
“Do it,” I said, chin raised defiantly. “Hit me. It won’t make you right, and it definitely won’t take away the way I feel about Nikolai.”
His eyes flared with rage, a beast unleashed. The room felt like it was holding its breath, time stretching thin until he growled and swung.
I barely had time to brace myself before something hard slammed into my side. Pain shot through me, sharp and jarring like ice water thrown in my face. I gasped as I stumbled back; the chair hitting me again as I fell against it.
The air rushed out of my lungs as shock washed over me. A flash of something darkened Mikel’s features—a twisted satisfaction mixed with pure anger. But just as I gathered my wits to retaliate with words that could cut deeper than any punch, the door burst open.
Nikolai stormed into the room like a force of nature, lethal and unyielding. His expression shifted from shock to cold fury in an instant—every line of his face etched with a resolve that made my heart race for a different reason now.
“Mina!” His voice cut through the chaos like a blade, locking onto me first before shifting focus to Mikel.
The energy in the room shifted drastically as Nikolai stepped forward. He took in everything—the way I clutched my side where Mikel had struck me; the fear flashing across my face; how small I felt against Mikel’s looming shadow.
“Get away from her,” Nikolai commanded, his tone low but steady—an impenetrable wall of calm amidst the brewing storm.
Mikel straightened up like a peacock puffing out its feathers, desperately trying to assert dominance even though he was on shaky ground now that Nikolai had entered the fray.
“Look who decided to join us.” He sneered, sarcasm lacing every word. “What’s wrong? Are you here to play hero?”
Nikolai didn’t flinch at Mikel's taunts; instead, he took another step closer to me, effectively shielding me behind him. The warmth radiating from him was a stark contrast to the icy tension crackling between them.
I felt both protected and exposed; comforted by Nikolai's presence but terrified of what would unfold next.
Mikel’s bravado wavered slightly under Nikolai's unwavering gaze. There was something about that stillness—something predatory—that sent shivers down my spine.
“What’s wrong?” Mikel laughed again—this time it sounded desperate and hollow—trying desperately to regain control of the situation. “You scared? Because if you are, just know she doesn’t belong to you.”
Nikolai’s expression didn’t change; he remained calm while fury simmered beneath the surface.
“Step away from her,” he repeated with quiet intensity that brooked no argument.
For a brief moment, it looked like Mikel might take a swing at him—a last-ditch effort fueled by ego and pride—but then something shifted within Nikolai's stance. The tension between them thickened like smoke curling around their bodies as they squared off against one another.
In one swift movement that seemed almost too fluid for someone built like him, Nikolai launched himself at Mikel without hesitation or warning—a blur of strength and speed fueled by purpose rather than rage.
