Page 77 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

Not to her or anyone.

Because I’ve been in love with her before, and I can never put myself out there like I did in the past.

She’s my addiction, and the previous withdrawal from her led to self-destruction. And while I can control what I put in my body, I can’t control my heart.

An intense tension tightens within me as the sinister whispers of addiction claw at the edge of my consciousness, urging me to submit to my craving and take this woman and claim her mine.

Summoning every ounce of strength within, I resist her and the seductive pull she has with me. I glance away and abruptly stand up from the bed.

“Eat something, siren,” I say as I stroll towards the door.

I walk out feeling defeated by the victory of not acting on my true feelings for her.

Chapter 20

As soon as Iget off the phone with the security agency I’ve just hired, I reach out to open the door of the car rental, but my hand hovers over the handle. I’m caught in limbo between the past and the painful present.

My gaze inadvertently locks on Asher’s bike, parked next to Eden’s truck.

So, the entire band is probably inside. In what format, that is yet to be discovered.

I left this morning and haven’t returned all day.

I don’t want to know the truth.

It’s clear that Haze and Eden have hooked up. Callum and Asher also fucked her, and I have no idea where they are with that, but if I was to make a quick judgment call, Asher’s probably pining over her like a love-sick puppy.

With Callum, it's a puzzle; he's constructed this tough exterior. Over the years, I've observed him in the company of women. He's never sought anything stable—just opting for uncomplicated one-nighters, and the birds he's been with seem content to oblige to his non-commitment stance.

But Eden’s different. He wouldn’t dare start something with that kind of mindset. Firstly, she wouldn’t allow it, and secondly, his involvement with her was what partly propelled him into self-destruction mode. I can’t see him wanting to go back there.

I don’t even want to begin analyzing how I feel. I’ve spent most of today avoiding going to such thoughts. We’re all here to make music, but she’s always been the link. Our compositionswere not merely sequences of notes but a dialogue, a conversation in the language of music that spoke volumes about the depth of our connection with her.

Each chord struck, each melody woven, carried the echoes of our shared experiences, the highs and lows of our love story translated into musical prose.

Shadow’s Solitudewas written after we became intimate with her. Everything about that song, down to the fucking beat, expressed the nuances of our relationship. We couldn’t go public about how we felt, so our music became a vessel for the unspoken, an avenue for us, and the public had no fucking clue about the true meaning behind those lyrics and sounds.

So now we find ourselves pushed back together again. I asked for this; it was my idea to get the band together.

But Velocity Vortex is supposed to be a clean slate.

Instead, we’re repeating history.

I open the vehicle door and step outside to the warm, dry air that instantly hits my face, dreading going inside and facing something I’m not yet ready to face.

Taking a deep breath, I walk over to the entrance of the house and open the front door. Immediately, the muffled sounds of laughter and conversation are heard from the kitchen and den. I step inside and shut the front entrance behind me.

I follow the voices down the hallway that leads me to everyone. Asher and Callum are seated on the sofa, but my attention is captivated by the sight of Haze's arms possessively wrapped around Eden. The two figures, sharing an armchair, are intimately intertwined, creating a moment that draws my gaze. I linger there momentarily as a silent observer of a narrative that has moved on without me. The space between me and them seems to stretch infinitely, almost as if I’m the unwelcome void in this foursome group.

“Mate,” Ash, of course, senses my presence. Reluctantly, I join them, nod at the two lovers on the armchair and then at Callum.

The air feels thick with unresolved history, and a weight seems to press down on my shoulders as I grapple with the current reality of this new relationship dynamic.

I take a seat in the only free armchair opposite Eden and Haze. I see her body stiffen a little, and she makes an attempt to get off him, except he holds her firmly on his lap, which is an indication that she belongs right where she is.

“I spoke with the security agency today,” I start.

Keep it professional. You can’t control them. They are all adults.

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