Page 43 of Caged By the Lich

We both freeze, the weight of his words hanging between us. Olvaar looks as shocked as I feel, like he can't quite believe what just came out of his mouth.

"I mean," he starts, his voice softer but still intense, "you're under my protection now. And I won't tolerate anyone treating you with anything less than the respect you deserve."

I feel my defenses rising, a familiar wall slamming into place. "I'm not yours," I snap, pushing away from the desk. "I'm not anyone's. That's the whole point."

Olvaar's eyes flash, swirling with streaks of angry blue. "That's not what I-"

"No?" I interrupt, my voice sharp. "Then what did you mean, exactly? Because from where I'm standing, it sounds an awful lot like you think you own me."

He growls, low and dangerous. "You know that's not true."

"Do I?" I challenge, pacing now. My heart's racing, adrenaline pumping through my veins. "Because last I checked, I'm still a prisoner here. Or have you forgotten that little detail?"

Olvaar's jaw clenches. "You're not just a prisoner anymore, Astrid. You know that."

"Then what am I?" I demand, whirling to face him. "What exactly is this... thing between us?"

He runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "I don't know," he admits. "But I do know that I care about what happens to you. Is that so hard to believe?"

I laugh, but it comes out bitter. "Yes, actually. It is. Because no one's ever cared before. Not really. So excuse me if I find ita little hard to swallow that suddenly, the big bad demon lord gives a damn about some human girl."

Olvaar's eyes narrow. "You're not just 'some human girl,' Astrid. You never have been."

"Stop it," I hiss, wrapping my arms around myself. "Just... stop. I can't do this. I can't let myself believe that you actually care, because the moment I do…" The words catch in my throat. I don't even know what I'm thinking or feeling anymore and it's all pouring out before I can process it.

"Astrid-" Olvaar starts, taking a step towards me.

I back away, shaking my head. "No. Don't. I can't... I can't let myself be vulnerable like that. Not with you. Not with anyone."

I back away until I feel the wall against my back, leaving me with no room to get away. Olvaar advances, his eyes blazing with an intensity that both thrills and terrifies me. He's close now, so close I can feel the heat radiating off his body.

"Astrid," he murmurs. He reaches out, gently tilting my chin up until our eyes meet. I gasp softly at the sight. His eyes are swirling with deep purple, so intense and unlike anything I've seen before.

"You can be anything with me," Olvaar says, his thumb tracing my jawline. "You're safe here. With me."

My heart pounds so hard I'm sure he can hear it. I want to look away, to run, to hide from the overwhelming emotions threatening to consume me. But I can't. I'm trapped in his gaze, drowning in those mesmerizing purple depths.

"I..." I start, but the words die on my lips. What can I possibly say?

Olvaar leans in closer, his breath warm against my skin. "Let go, Astrid," he whispers. "Trust me."

And in that moment, I do. All my doubts, my fears, my carefully constructed walls - they crumble away. I surrender to the tide of emotions I've been fighting for so long.

So I slide my hands up around his neck, leaning up and pulling him to me at the same time. Because there is one undeniable fact.

I want him.

Our lips meet, and it's like a spark igniting a wildfire. The kiss is fierce, passionate, filled with all the pent-up tension and unspoken feelings between us.

Olvaar's hands cup my face, holding me like I'm something precious. I clutch at his shirt, pulling him closer, needing to feel every inch of him against me.

And the tension between us seems to explode with that movement.

The kiss turns more passionate, and we dive in. I pull Olvaar closer, as close as physically possible, trying to get more of him. His hands tangle in my hair, tilting my head back as his lips claim mine with a ferocity that steals my breath.

His touch is electric, sending jolts of pleasure coursing through my veins. It's like he's burning me alive, and I want it. I crave it. I've never felt anything like the magic that seems to be flooding through me, igniting every nerve ending in my body. His lips, his hands, his very presence—it's all overwhelming, all-consuming.

I can't get enough of him. My hands roam his body, feeling the hard muscles beneath his shirt. He groans into my mouth, a sound that only fuels my desire.

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