Morning came, but the sun didn't.
The storm had passed, but grey clouds still choked the sky, casting the estate in a muted, eerie light. Amethyst sat on the edge of her bed, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, staring at the floor like it might offer answers.
Last night had changed everything.
The kiss.
The fire.
The way he looked at her, like she wasn't just something owed — but something his.
She hated how her lips still tingled. Hated the memory of his hands on her skin. Hated the part of her that didn't feel afraid of him anymore.
Because now… it felt worse.
Now, she wanted to understand him.
And that terrified her.
The knock on her door was soft this time.
Luciano.
Wearing a black turtleneck, sleeves pushed up, fresh bruises darkening his knuckles. A storm still lived in his eyes, but it was quieter now. Focused.
"Walk with me," he said.
She hesitated.
But her body betrayed her, stepping forward before her mind could argue. She followed him down the hall, through parts of the estate she hadn't seen yet—past tall arched windows, stained glass doors, and halls lined with secrets.
Eventually, they reached a corridor that felt different. Older. Dusty. Less polished.
He opened a door at the end, revealing a room she never expected.
A nursery.
Abandoned.
Toys untouched. A mobile hanging still. Faded wallpaper with moons and stars.
She stared.
"I had a sister," he said behind her. "Her name was Liana."
Amethyst turned slowly.
"She was six when my family was slaughtered," he said. "A rival family didn't just want to kill my father. They wanted to erase our bloodline."
Her breath caught.
"I hid her in that closet," he said, nodding to a small wooden door on the wall. "Told her not to make a sound. I held the door closed with my bare hands while they searched the house."
He stepped inside, looking around the room like he was seeing ghosts.
"They killed my mother first. I watched it. Then they dragged me away. I thought… she was safe." His voice cracked, just for a second. "But they found her anyway. Burned the house down with her inside."
Amethyst's heart twisted. "Luciano…"
"I was eleven," he said flatly. "After that, I killed the man who ordered it. Then I killed the ones who helped him. And I never stopped killing."
He looked at her.
And for the first time since she'd met him… he looked human.
Raw. Ruined.
"I don't want your pity," he said. "I just need you to understand why I protect what's mine."
She stepped toward him, her voice soft. "And you think I'm yours."
"I know you are."
She shook her head. "You don't own me."
"No," he agreed, stepping even closer. "But you make me want to be something better. Even if I don't know how."
Their eyes locked.
And just like last night, the air between them turned thick — too hot, too close, too much.
"I don't trust you," she whispered.
"I don't need you to trust me," he said. "I just need you to stop lying to yourself."
And then…
He didn't kiss her.
He didn't have to.
Because the silence between them was louder than any confession. And when his fingers brushed hers, it wasn't forceful. It wasn't a claim.
It was a choice.
And she didn't pull away.
Not this time.