Page 35 of Forbidden Knots

A lump formed in my throat, words caught like a knot, rendering me mute. Something was wrong in that house; I'd never questioned it until now. I wanted her to stay, to be far from the secrets it held, but I knew I would have to let her go, just for a moment, until I climbed back through her bedroom window.

Guilt gnawed at me, knowing it was partly my fault her mind was fractured. I had started this shattered illusion she lived in. I had broken her wings and bound her with shadows, making her life a storm because I needed a bit of rain to quench my thirst. But it was never enough. I always needed more.

"Then stay," I said softly, my voice steady. "Stay with me."

I didn't think about the consequences—not even for a second. I didn't think about Lotta searching for her, or her parents worried sick about their daughter with a madman next door, older by almost ten years. A man obsessed with her, watching her every move, willing to do anything to keep her and eliminate anyone who dared to touch her. So yes, I would damn well stay with her.

A soft smile touched her lips as she pressed her hands tighter against my back. I placed my thumb on her jaw, lifting herhead toward mine, and kissed her again. At that moment, all my worries dissolved. And it was just us.

I helped her out of the shower, wrapping her naked body in a soft towel. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, and droplets of water glistened on her skin. I lifted her effortlessly into my arms, her body warm and delicate against mine, and carried her to the bedroom. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room.

I laid her gently on the bed, the sheets cool beneath her. She settled beside me, her head resting on my chest, ear pressed against my heartbeat. Her fingers danced above my belly button, tracing the letters of my name with a delicate touch. I lay on my back, my palm cradling her head, holding her close. I leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, feeling the dampness of her hair against my lips.

The world felt like a better place with her in my arms. I knew I wanted nothing more than to spend every night like this, every morning waking up to her smile.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked, the silence between us growing heavy. I needed to hear her voice, to feel her touch. But she lay beside me, feeling like a numb doll.

"Sophie," she whispered, tears leaving a wet trail on my skin. "I can't close my eyes, those masks..." She swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "They are haunting me."

"Shh," I murmured, placing a gentle finger on her lips. "You are safe here," I reassured her, pulling her closer.

"Sometimes I feel like everyone is wearing a mask, pretending to be someone they're not, hiding who they really are," she said, her fingers drawing soft circles across my chest.

"Not her," I said, kissing her forehead. "She's been through so much. She watched our parents die, and that image haunts her. She tried so many times to..." My voice faltered, my heart sinking. Clearing my throat, I continued, "Trust me,I know."

"I saw her scars," she whispered, her voice tinged with fear. "But she scared me too."

I held her tighter, feeling the weight of her words. The world is filled with inexplicable reasons why someone would harm another. Yet, some choices lead to it—bad decisions that don't make us bad people, just victims of clouded judgment influenced by others.

"Is it wrong to be thankful?" she whispered, tilting her jaw towards me. "If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have found out that you are behind the Shadow mask."

A smile spread across my lips. "I wanted to break you just a little bit more, just enough so you would never escape when you let yourself go in my arms."

"I would've done it anyway," she confessed, her voice soft. "I broke myself first, but you broke me more."

Even if I didn't want to confess it, she broke me too. All this time, I had kept everyone at arm's length, but with her, I wanted the world. No, I wanted the universe, but only with her by my side.

Shegave meherself, and suddenly, Ididn't need anythingelse.

The world seemed insignificant in comparison.

She was bigger thanthe world;she was mywhole universe

TWENTY

Storm

Ihad never seen him sleep before. He was always the one watching me, and now, I found myself watching him. His face, usually so guarded, was relaxed in his sleep. I couldn't fathom why someone like him would be interested in someone like me. I never saw myself as special, just adept at pretending.

Gently, I slipped from his embrace and stood, dragging the sheet with me. My fingers traced the cool paint of the shutters as I peered through them, watching the tranquil street below. Not a living soul was out there; not a sound disturbed the night. I closed my eyes, gripping the wood as if it were my lifeline. Fragile, yet strong.

My mind wandered to Sophie. Her actions were driven by fear—fear that I would take Tristan from her, just as life had taken her parents. A part of me despised myself for it, but another part was so selfish that I didn't care. I wanted him. All of him. And now that I had him, I found myself wanting even more.

To the left, a small house with a garden came into view. It seemed unfamiliar as if I had never passed that side of the city. Everything seemed to pull me towards the sea, towards theport, as if my mind and body were seeking an anchorage. To the right, a hill loomed, thunder rumbling in the distance. The darkness seemed to draw me in, a shadowy magnet. I looked back at the bed where Tristan slept peacefully, his quiet sighs were a soothing rhapsody for my restless heart. Turning again, I noticed a woman in a light blue dress moving through the forest, her steps unsteady. She limped towards the edge of the city, curls bouncing behind her shoulders.

"Sophie," I whispered, realizing this might be my cue to leave. I moved away from the window but kept watching her. Instead of heading for the front door, she continued further down the street.

Rubbing my tired eyes, I tried to grasp reality. But this was real; she was there, dragging herself towards the end of the city. My thoughts raced, my heart pounding so hard I feared it would wake Tristan. I wanted to see what drove her, and why her blows hurt the most.

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