“I don’t think?—”
“Don’t you? Didn’t you when you first arrived at my manor? Think that all I wanted was to destroy people from the inside out? Turn their own thoughts against them? I know what the outside world thinks of me, and for a long time I tried to show I wasn’t like that, but after a while you get tired trying to prove yourself.”
I sit back in the chair. He’s right. Everyone in Castleview thinks this district and its leader are terrifying.
“I’m sorry you thought that.”
“Don’t be sorry, Chelsea. Be different.”
The words settle into my chest. Heavy. Important. He's not asking me to love him. He's asking me to see him.
And maybe I already do.
My throat shrinks and all I can do is nod slightly.
Eryx exhales slowly, like my nod is enough. Like it’s everything.
As I watch him, I realize this is the most relaxed I’ve seen him. Maybe it’s the most relaxed he’s allowed himself to be.
“For the time being, I don’t think we should allow our magics to mingle.”
“Agreed. For what it’s worth, Chelsea—I swear to you, I didn’t know that would happen.”
He leans forward, elbows on his knees, and he’s close enough that I can see silver flecks in his ice-blue eyes. He’s close enough that if I wanted to, I could reach out and brush my finger over his cheek.
But I don’t. Because if I touch him, I’m not sure what will happen, and I need to think clearly.
And most importantly, I believe Eryx. But that magic was so intense if it happens next time, I don’t think it will only be my magic responding to him.
I’ll want more.
I’ll want all of him—and that’s a scary thought.
He nods toward the food. “Dinner’s getting cold, and I think your puppy wants to play.”
I glance over and see the shadow dog lying on the floor, the ball between its dark paws and its tail wagging happily.
A small smile flits across my face. “Yes, we should eat.”
When I glance back at Eryx, he’s watching me carefully, as if he’s trying to figure me out.
That makes two of us.
Because the man sitting across from me isn't the Nightmare King everyone fears.
He's not the monster from the rumors.
He's lonely. He's carrying something that almost broke him. And he's asking me to see past it.
Can I?
Maybe—just maybe—I’ll try.
Eryx
It’s late when I walk Chelsea back to her room. Dinner with her was mostly quiet. Not uncomfortable—just silent. It felt like we both needed time to think, to process. But now, watching her play with the shadow puppy, the heaviness from earlier has lifted.
That’s because you didn’t ask about her nighttime beauty routine.
