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𝕋ℍ𝔼 night was quiet, save for the distant murmuring of Nick and Jenny on the balcony. Their voices drifted in and out, mingling with the soft hum of the night air. Shadows from the lanterns flickered across the walls, casting an intimate glow over the dimly lit room.

Everlyn sat in front of Ahmanis, the space between them impossibly small. The cool damp cloth in her hand glided gently over his forehead, wiping away the sheen of sweat that clung to his skin. His breathing had steadied, but there was still a heaviness in his eyes—a weight that even the chains around his wrists could not compare to.

As she traced the cloth over his brow, Ahmanis leaned into her touch, pressing his cheek against her palm. The warmth of his skin sent a shiver down her spine. His gaze, molten and unwavering, held hers captive.

"Did you mean what you said earlier?" Everlyn asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Ahmanis' golden eyes darkened, filled with something deep, unshakable. "Every word," he murmured. "I will always love you."

Her heart clenched at the certainty in his tone. His love was not fleeting, not delicate like a passing infatuation—it was absolute, as vast and enduring as the stars above the desert sky.

Everlyn found herself looking away, overwhelmed by the intensity of his words. Questions flooded her mind, doubts she couldn't put into words. But before she could retreat further, Ahmanis tilted his head down, closing the space between them, forcing her gaze back to his.

His eyes flickered to her lips, then back to her eyes, his breath warm against her skin.

"My dear," he murmured, his voice low, reverent, "there is nothing I desire more than to be free from these chains, to hold you in my arms, to feel the warmth of your lips against mine."

The way he spoke, the longing laced in his voice, sent a slow, burning heat through her veins.

"To show you how much I love you," he continued, his voice like a spell, drawing her deeper into him. "For you, I would burn this world to ashes. I would make it kneel before you, for you are its queen. My queen."

Everlyn's breath hitched as his lips hovered just over hers, so close yet untouched.

"Come with me," he whispered, each word dripping with temptation. "Give in and be with me. Together, we will rule, shape the world as we see fit." Her pulse roared in her ears. The room seemed smaller, the air heavier, charged with an undeniable force pulling her toward him.

She wanted to—God, she wanted to.

Her lips parted slightly, the space between them narrowing to nothing.

But something pulled at her consciousness.

Her eyes flickered to the side, to the balcony where Nick and Jenny sat, engaged in hushed conversation. From the look of it, they were arguing, their attention completely elsewhere.

Ahmanis saw the shift in her gaze, and a soft growl rumbled in his throat.

"Don't look at them," he urged, his voice a velvet command.

Everlyn turned back to him, only to realize just how close they had become. The heat of his body, the scent of him—earthy and ancient, like parchment and incense—surrounded her, consumed her. His lips hovered over hers, his breath mingling with her own. The world outside this moment no longer seemed to exist.

It was just them.

Everlyn's breath trembled as she remained caught in the pull of Ahmanis' presence. His words wrapped around her like a silk thread, tightening with every heartbeat. She could feel his power, his devotion—an unwavering force that promised eternity at his side. Her pulse pounded against her ribs as his lips barely brushed hers, a ghost of a touch, waiting. A part of her wanted to close the distance, to surrender to the magnetic pull between them.

But something in her—something deeply human—held her back.

"Ahmanis..." she whispered, her voice unsteady.

His golden eyes burned with emotion, searching hers, silently pleading.

"Say yes," he murmured. "Say you will be mine."

His fingers twitched against the cold chains binding him, desperate to touch her, to pull her fully into his world. Everlyn's body screamed for her to let go, to let herself drown in the warmth of him, the power he promised. But her mind swam with uncertainty, with the weight of reality creeping back in.

The moment was shattered by a sudden noise.

A clatter from the balcony.

Nick's chair scraped against the stone floor as he stood abruptly. "Evie!" His voice cut through the thick haze between her and Ahmanis. "What the hell are you doing?" Everlyn gasped, pulling back as if she had been burned. She turned toward Nick, but Ahmanis' voice—gentle, persuasive—stopped her.

"Do not listen to them," he whispered, his voice curling around her like a siren's song. "They fear what they do not understand." Nick was already storming toward them, Jenny close behind.

"Step away from him, now." Nick's voice was firm, edged with something close to desperation.

Everlyn hesitated, her heart at war with itself. She looked back at Ahmanis, who watched her with the same devotion, the same longing. His chains rattled as he moved just slightly, his body still weak but his presence commanding. "They will never understand what you mean to me," he said, his voice a soft promise. "But you do, don't you?"

Everlyn swallowed hard, emotions warring within her.

Then she felt Nick's hand on her arm, firm but not forceful.

"Evie, please," he said, his voice softer now. "Step away from him." Everlyn's fingers twitched at her side. She wanted to stay. She wanted to leave. Ahmanis' golden gaze bore into her, waiting. Her decision would change everything.

However, she didn't get the chance.

Nick's grip on her arm tightened, and before she could react, he pulled her away from Ahmanis, yanking her back with force. The sudden movement left her breathless, her body caught between the heat of Ahmanis' presence and the cold reality of Nick's urgency. Ahmanis' eyes darkened, his entire body tensing as his golden gaze flickered with fury. The chains rattled violently as he jerked forward, testing their hold with newfound strength.

"Do not take her from me!" he roared, his voice reverberating through the room like a storm breaking over the sea.

Nick didn't stop. He didn't look back.

"We're done here," he muttered under his breath, dragging Everlyn away despite her protest. "Nick, wait—!" Everlyn struggled, her gaze locked with Ahmanis'. There was something desperate in his expression—anger, yes, but also pain. Longing. "Evie, don't," Nick warned, his tone edged with frustration and something else fear.

Ahmanis bared his teeth, his voice dropping into a growl. "You will regret this, mortal."

Nick ignored him, pushing open the heavy wooden door and ushering Everlyn through. Jenny followed close behind, her face set in grim determination as she shut the door behind them. The moment they were gone, Ahmanis exhaled sharply, his breath ragged. He clenched his fists against the chains, his entire body trembling with rage.

Everlyn could still feel his eyes on her as they walked down the dimly lit corridor, her mind racing, her heart pounding. "What the hell was that?" Nick hissed once they were out of earshot. Everlyn didn't answer. She wasn't sure she even knew. All she could think about was the way Ahmanis had looked at her.

And the way, deep down, a part of her hadn't wanted to leave.

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By: SilverMist707

I know it's a bit short, but I hope you all enjoy and thank you all for everything <3