Page 3 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

The words hit her like a slap. She'd spent her entire life trying to build something of her own, believing herself to be nothing more than the daughter of a minor businessman. Learning her true heritage had tilted her world on its axis.

"I'm nothing like him," she hissed.

Darius's lips curved into a knowing smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Lie to yourself if you must, but don't lie to me. I can smell it on you—the ambition, the hunger. The Vale blood runs strong in your veins."

Her pulse quickened. Standing this close to him, feeling the dominance radiating from his Alpha presence, made it difficult to think clearly.

And he knew it.

"What do you want from me, Darius? Really?"

He stepped closer, invading her space with deliberate intent. "An alliance. Formalized. Your territory alongside mine."

"Business only?" she asked, the words escaping before she could stop them.

Something predatory flashed in his eyes. "For now."

The implication hung in the air between them, heavy with promise and threat. Serenity swallowed hard, knowing that whatever was brewing between them went far beyond business—had from the moment they'd first locked eyes across a crowded charity gala six months ago.

"I need time to think," she said, fighting to keep her voice steady.

"You don't have time," he countered. "The underworld doesn't wait for deliberation, Serenity. It devours hesitation."

She looked up at him, at the hard planes of his face illuminated by the city lights. "Is that why you brought me here tonight? To pressure me?"

"I brought you here," he said, his voice dropping to a growl that sent shivers down her spine, "because when it comes to the Vale Empire, you and I are now inextricably linked. Your enemies are mine. Your allies are mine." His gaze burned into hers. "Your future is mine."

No one owns my future,she thought fiercely, even as something primitive within her responded to his claim.

"You assume a lot, Castellano."

"I assume nothing. I know." He moved closer still, until she could feel his breath against her skin. "The question is—what are you going to do about it?"

His scent—sandalwood, whiskey, and something uniquely Alpha that made Serenity's pulse quicken traitorously.

"What I'm going to do about it," he growled, his face inches from hers, "is make damn sure you understand exactly what's at stake."

His body caged her, radiating heat and dominance, but Serenity refused to cower. She tilted her chin up, golden eyes flashing with defiance despite the way her Omega instincts screamed for submission.

"Get your hands off me," she hissed, pressing her palms against his chest. "Your territorial display might work on your underlings, but I'm not one of them."

Darius's laugh was low and dangerous. "No, you're not. You're something far more valuable." His gaze dropped to her lips. "And far more dangerous."

"I won't be a pawn in whatever game you're playing with my father's empire," Serenity said, fighting the tremor in her voice as his proximity sent waves of unwanted heat through her body. "I didn't ask for any of this."

"Yet here you are." His thumb traced her jawline with surprising gentleness. "In my penthouse. Wearing that dress."His voice dropped to a whisper. "Your body tells a different story than your mouth, little Omega."

"Fuck you," she spat, but the words lacked conviction.

"That's the plan," he murmured, his eyes darkening as his hands tightened on her waist.

Their lips clashed in a frenzy that was more war than kiss, each of them refusing to yield. Darius's mouth was fierce and demanding, consuming her with a savage need that matched her own. Serenity met his aggression head-on, her teeth sinking into his lower lip with enough force to draw blood. The metallic taste mingled with a rush of power, a rebellion that lit a fire in her veins. Instead of retreating, Darius growled low in his throat, a primal sound that vibrated through her like an electric current. If he'd wanted to subdue her, the effect was the opposite. Her Omega instincts surged beneath the surface, raw and untamed, but Serenity fought against their pull. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her submit—not yet. Not when the taste of defiance was so sweet.

Her fingernails dug into his chest, dragging across the expensive fabric of his shirt in a futile attempt to put space between them. The effort only seemed to fuel him, his grip on her waist tightening to keep her pinned against the wall. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, coaxing, demanding, as if daring her to let him in. Each push and pull was a test of wills, a struggle for dominance that neither wanted to end. But the heat between them was a living thing, impossible to ignore, and despite herself, Serenity's resolve began to waver. Her body betrayed her, softening into his, responding to the hard lines of his form with helpless urgency. She was losing the battle, but damn if she'd lose the war.

Darius shifted, his hands now splayed across her hips, pulling her flush against him with an insistence that left no room for doubt. He was claiming her, marking her with every bruisingkiss, and though Serenity knew she should resist, the raw intensity left her breathless. She gave one last, desperate bite to his lip—a final act of resistance before the pleasure overwhelmed them both. His reaction was immediate, pinning her even more tightly against the wall, as though proximity alone could bind her to him.

"Still fighting what you want," he said, voice rough as he trailed heated kisses down her neck. "Always the stubborn one."

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