Sins of Dominion

Chapter 9: Dangerous Temptation

Evelyn

The greenhouse conversation with Isabella echoed in my mind long after I returned to my dorm room. Her words kept replaying, a constant reminder that this game Dominic was playing wasn’t just about breaking me—it was about seeing how far I could be pushed before I broke. And if I wasn’t careful, I could easily lose myself in the process.

I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to silence the racing thoughts in my mind. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and I reached for it, half-expecting another cryptic message from Dominic.

But it wasn’t Dominic. It was Carter.

Can we meet? I’m worried about you.

I stared at the message, guilt tightening my chest. Carter had come all this way to support me, and I had barely let him in on what was really happening. I knew I needed to talk to him, but a part of me also wanted to keep him as far away from Dominic as possible. The last thing I wanted was for Carter to get tangled up in this mess.

Sure. Where are you? I texted back.

I’m near the courtyard. Meet me there?

On my way.

I quickly pulled on my jacket and left my room, trying to shake off the unease that had settled over me. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the campus, and the air was cool against my skin.

As I walked towards the courtyard, I couldn’t help but feel like I was being watched. My senses were on high alert, every rustle of leaves and every whisper of wind making me glance over my shoulder. But there was no sign of Dominic, no sign of anyone following me.

When I reached the courtyard, Carter was already there, sitting on one of the stone benches. He stood up as soon as he saw me, concern etched into his features.

“Hey,” he said softly, stepping forward to pull me into a hug. “You doing okay?”

I nodded against his chest, grateful for the warmth of his embrace. “I’m hanging in there. Just… overwhelmed, I guess.”

He pulled back slightly, looking down at me with those warm, concerned eyes. “You don’t have to go through this alone, Evie. I’m here. Just talk to me, okay?”

I sighed, knowing that he deserved more than the vague answers I had been giving him. “It’s Dominic,” I admitted, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “He’s… he’s been messing with my head. I don’t know what he wants from me, but it’s like he’s always watching, always waiting for me to slip up.”

Carter’s expression darkened, his protective instincts flaring up. “That bastard. I knew there was something off about him. You need to stay away from him, Evie. He’s dangerous.”

“I know,” I whispered, the fear in my voice undeniable. “But it’s not that simple. He’s… he’s in my head, Carter. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like he knows exactly how to push my buttons, how to make me doubt everything.”

Carter’s jaw tightened, and he took my hands in his, his grip firm but gentle. “We’ll figure this out, Evie. You’re stronger than you think. We can go to the administration, report him—”

“No,” I interrupted, shaking my head. “That would only make things worse. Dominic has too much influence here. Going to the administration would just paint a bigger target on my back.”

Carter looked frustrated, torn between wanting to protect me and knowing that his options were limited. “Then what do you want to do? How do we stop him?”