Page 105 of Claimed In Darkness

It is not hatred.

It is something worse.

Recognition.

She knows what I am.

Aereth smiles but behind her, Zephiran appears.

Before Aereth can say anything,any lies or explanation, Zephiran stabs her in the heart.

As she bleeds black,she smiles and slowly fades away, turning into powder.

Her body disappears,and I come face to face with Zephiran. The look in his eyes is haunted but no sorrow.

He only hasme in his eyes.

"Naira."

His voice is hoarse, ragged, full of things I can’t name.

I turn to him, expecting anger, fury, something vicious.

But what I see instead?—

Is fear.

Not for himself.

Not for Aereth.

For me.

For what he just saw me do.

For what I have become.

For what the relic has made me.

A slow, cold realization slithers up my spine.

He is not looking at me like his enemy.

He is looking at me like his greatest fucking regret.

That is the moment I know.

That no matter how I tried to fight it, even if I have denied it, no matter how many fucking times I swore I would never let him own me?—

I was never supposed to survive him.

I am already ruined.

He was always meant to destroy me.

Or worse?—

I was always meant to destroy myself.

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