Christopher sat in the dimly lit chamber, perched on the edge of the large bed. His breath was shallow and uneven. Each frantic heartbeat hammered against his ribs like a drum against a taut skin, a terrifying echo of the curse that had awakened. The moment his gaze had met hers across the altar, his dead heart had shuddered back to life. A single, agonizing beat that had forever shattered his existence
He closed his eyes, surrendering to the memories that flooded his mind, each one sharper than the last. The princess—his princess—was as stubborn as she was beautiful. He had sensed her presence before he even entered the room, an electric hum in the air that sang of her untamed spirit, a direct challenge to the ancient darkness he carried.
When he had finally stepped into the shadows, the air had thickened with an intoxicating scent—her natural fragrance, a blend of wildflowers and innocence, enveloped him, drawing him closer. It was a scent that spoke of deep forests and hidden power, clouding his mind and weakening the walls he had built.
He saw her bathed in the moon's pale light , her gaze fixed on a book in the dark. She was wearing a thin nightgown. The sight of her sent a jolt of desire through him, igniting a fire he struggled to contain. He had intended to instill fear, a reminder of the vast, insurmountable chasm between the cursed and the mortal, but when he got close, and her rare green eyes met his, his resolve crumbled.
He had reached for her and felt a connection that went beyond the physical. He could feel the heat radiating from her body, it was not just warmth but a spark threatening to ignite a fire within him that had been dormant for centuries. He was inches from her lips, their warmth an agonizing temptation.
"Mark her. Claim her. She is ours."
His demon whispered, a seductive growl that reverberated in his mind. He fought against it, clenching his fists, desperate to keep the beast at bay. But the hunger was insatiable, a primal urge that clawed at his insides, demanding release. He knew he was a monster; he had always known. But he had also always controlled his beastly side, not the other way around. Tonight, however, the mere scent of his wife had made that impossible. It was intoxicating. The beast wanted her, and he wanted her, too. How could he possibly hope to control the monster when his very being was drawn to the source of its awakening?
He felt the darkness creeping in, his vision blurring as his eyes deepened to an abyssal hue. The room around him seemed to darken, shadows twisting and curling like tendrils of smoke. Bloodlust surged through him, a ravenous need that threatened to consume him whole.
He was losing control.
With a sudden, desperate resolve, he knew he had to escape. He couldn't let her come back and see him like this, couldn't let her become the prey of the monster he fought so hard to suppress. In one swift motion, he leaped through the window, shattering the glass and plunging into the night.
The cool air hit him like a slap, invigorating and sharp. He soared through the darkness, the world below a blur of shadows and moonlight. He needed to hunt, to satiate the beast within before its gaze returned to her.
But even as he fled, the image of her green eyes haunted him, a searing reminder of the line he could never cross. The true danger wasn't lurking in the night outside; it resided within him, in the newly awakened heart that beat a terrifying rhythm only for her.