Chapter 1
Lucian was a dark handsome 21 year old rogue with a hidden past. Ariana was a beautiful,19 years old bold Princess, A beautiful, strong-willed girl kidnapped due to a prophecy. Rowan, 21, was her Handsome childhood friend and brave prince.
The Capture - The dungeon stank of damp stone and ancient blood. Flames from mounted torches trembled as thunder roared above. Rain lashed the world beyond—but here, in the depths, a different storm brewed. Ariana sat chained to the pillar, wrists bruised but gaze unbroken. The iron bit her skin, but her pride remained untouched. Footsteps echoed. Lucian emerged from the dark, dressed in black, eyes sharp as blades. "You won't get away with this. Someone will come for me," Ariana snapped, voice defiant. Lucian's smirk was cruel and amused. "Let them come. No one crosses my territory and leaves alive, Princess. "She glared. "Why am I here, Lucian? What do you want from me?" He stepped close, brushing a stray lock of her hair with a gentleness that contradicted his reputation. "I want you to understand. You're not just some pretty thing—you're the key to everything." "Don't touch me!" "Such fire…" he murmured, his voice dark silk. "No wonder the stars chose you."
Seduction and Rebellion - Later, he returned with food, not just for her hunger but for his game. He sat beside her, far too close. "You don't have to fear me, Ariana. I could give you everything. Power, protection… even passion. "Tears welled up in her eyes. "I don't want any of that. I just want to go home." "But what if I could make you forget your home?" he whispered. "Make you crave something... darker?" "You're sick." Lucian chuckled. "Maybe. Or maybe you're just scared of wanting me too." "I'd never want someone like you. "He leaned in, voice heated. "Then why do your eyes tremble every time I look at you?"
The Escape - The night air shifted. A deafening crash split the quiet—doors burst open. "Step away from her, Lucian!" Lucian's head turned lazily as Rowan stepped in, sword drawn, fire in his eyes. Ariana gasped. "Rowan… you came!" "Ah, the knight in shining armor," Lucian drawled. "How cliché." "You won't touch her again," Rowan growled. Lucian chuckled. "We'll see, boy. But she's not the same anymore. She's seen the shadows now." Ariana stood shakily, chin lifted. "You're right. I've seen them. And I choose the light."
Ariana's Defeat - Steel clashed, but Rowan fell. His sword slid across the stone, and guards seized him like vultures. "No! Rowan!" Ariana screamed, struggling against her chains. Lucian stepped closer, steps deliberate, voice like velvet steel. "I warned you. No one leaves. Not unless I say so." "You monster… What do you want from me?! Why won't you let me go?!""Because you haunt me," he said, so quietly she almost missed it. "In my sleep, in my mind. I was born in the dark… and then you walked in like moonlight." "You can keep me locked here. Starve me. But I'll never be yours." Lucian's voice cracked with restrained rage. "You say that now. But your eyes… they tell a different story." "Then stop looking into them. Because you'll never see what you want." He slammed a hand against the wall near her head. Ariana didn't even flinch. "You're cold, Ariana. Beautiful... and utterly cold. But I like the fire beneath your ice." "You'll never break me. Not in a hundred years." said Ariana.
One Month Later - The dungeon had grown silent over the weeks. Ariana sat still, not out of fear, but from strategy. She had learned to play the game. "One month… and you still defy me," Lucian said from the shadows. She didn't look at him. "One month… and you still don't understand me." He stepped closer, voice lower. "Or perhaps I do. I know you like the way I look at you." "I hate you." she said. "And yet you dream of me." She stood, defiant again. "You feel what you want to feel. I am a flame you can't control. Touch me, and you'll burn. "His gaze flared with admiration and fury, but when he reached for her—she turned her back.
The Rescue Returns - The stillness shattered. Explosions thundered above. Smoke curled through the cracks. Ariana's heart raced. "Rowan…?"Lucian stiffened. "What have you done?" "You should've killed hope when you had the chance," Ariana whispered. The dungeon door blasted open. Rowan stood tall, armor glinting in torchlight. Soldiers flooded in behind him. "Step away from her, Lucian. This time, you're surrounded. "Lucian leaned toward Ariana, whispering darkly, "This isn't over. Not by a long shot. "She met his eyes coldly. "Yes. It is." Smoke filled the room. Lucian vanished with it. Ariana collapsed into Rowan's arms—safe, yes. But never the same.