Page 17 of His to Break
“I understand that,” I cut in sharply, leaning forward with elbows resting on my knees. “But you’re playing with fire here.” My gaze remains locked on her as I study her reaction; she needs to comprehend the magnitude of what we’re discussing.
“Fire? Or power?” She retorts, crossing her arms defiantly.
My pulse quickens at her words; there’s a flicker of something fierce in her eyes that sends an involuntary thrill through me. “Power can consume you,” I warn softly, trying to temper the heat between us before it spirals out of control.
She shakes her head as if dismissing my concern outright. “I won’t let it consume me. Not anymore.” The determination in her voice resonates deeply within me; it ignites memories of my own rise from servitude in the Abyss—a time when I learned to wield power deftly but never without consequence.
Kara continues pacing while I remain rooted in place, tapping my fingers against the armrest rhythmically—a physical manifestation of my internal turmoil. She’s a storm gathering strength; how do I harness that without getting swept away?
“We can use their fear against them,” Kara declares passionately now, gesturing animatedly as if conjuring visions of rebellion with every sweeping motion of her hands. “They underestimate us—underestimate me.”
I catchmyself watching how she lights up at every word spoken—a leader rallying troops before battle—but beneath it all lies a subtle danger I cannot ignore: If this continues unchecked…she may grow powerful enough to challenge even me.
“Kara,” I say slowly now, leaning forward slightly so our gazes lock firmly once more. “Your ambitions will bring challenges beyond our current scope.”
“Then we face them together,” she replies fiercely without hesitation.
A flicker of pride swells within me despite myself; how quickly she has evolved from mere survival instincts into bold ambition—I should want nothing more than to support her yet feel this gnawing fear lodged deep inside my gut.
And yet…as powerful as that sounds…the shadow looming over our fates still hangs heavy above us both—reminding me daily just how precarious our dance around freedom truly is…
She’s transformed, no longer the timid slave I first encountered. The power that thrums beneath her skin feels intoxicating, yet it also sends a warning bell ringing in my mind. If the dark elves discover what she is, they won’t hesitate to kill her or exploit her abilities for their own gain. And if Kara slips out of my control, so does my chance at freedom.
I cross the room, moving toward her with purpose.
“We’ll need to move quickly,” I say, keeping my voice calm but firm. Her eyes lift to meet mine, reflecting determination and something else—something dangerously alluring.
She nods, ready to embrace whatever comes next.
I place a hand on her shoulder, feeling the warmth radiate from her skin beneath my touch. “You’re the key to all of this, Kara. We can’t risk losing you.” My words are carefully chosen; I want her to feel indispensable.
The fire in her gaze deepens as she stands taller under my grip. It’s satisfying to see how far she’s come—the way she now exudes strength that was once buried beneath layers of fear and oppression. I remind myself that this power can be a double-edged sword.
But just as our moment solidifies into resolve, the door bursts open with a resounding crash.
A group of dark elves strides into our chamber, their expressions cold and unreadable—each one wearing the same haughty disdain reserved for lesser beings like us.
“You’re to come with us,” one commands, his tone clipped and authoritative.
My body tenses instinctively as dread unfurls within me like poison ivy creeping up a tree. I glance at Kara; we share an urgent look—a silent acknowledgment of danger looming just beyond these walls.
“What do they want?” she whispers under her breath.
“Show me around,” I reply tightly through clenched teeth. “They plan to sell me off.”
Her expression shifts from confusion to horror in an instant; I see her resolve falter just slightly before she steels herself again.
“Azrael,” she murmurs urgently, “we can’t let that happen.”
“No,” I agree sharply, narrowing my eyes at the approaching dark elves. “We can’t.”
As they beckon for me to follow them into the dimly lit corridor beyond our chamber door, I feel that heavy weight of the contract bearing down on me more than ever. My freedom hinges on Kara—on this alliance we’ve forged—but if they take me away now…
I start walking forward while keeping my posture tall and confident; if there’s one thing these dark elves respect, it’s strength.
“Stay,” I growl when Kara starts to follow.
15
