𝙱𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 02: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝 (𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎𝚍)

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Her life. The weight of those words hit Elara like a punch

to the chest. She backed away further, shaking her head.

"You want me to give you my life? What does that even

mean? Are you going to kill me?"

Darius chuckled, a sound that was both soothing and

terrifying. "No, Elara. I won't kill you. Your life will go

on, as it always has. But once you sign, you'll belong to

me. Every breath you take, every step you make-mine.

In return, you'll be safe from the things that seek to

destroy you."

Her throat tightened. "And what if I refuse?"

Darius's smile faded, his eyes darkening with something

sharp and dangerous. "Then you'll be alone when they

come for you. And trust me, Elara, they will come."

The room seemed to close in on her. The walls felt like

they were moving closer, suffocating her, as though the

very air had turned against her. She wanted to run, to

escape, but she knew she couldn't. Not now.

"What's coming for me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Darius took a step toward her, his gaze never leaving

hers. "The shadows have been watching you for months.

There are things in this world, Elara, that feed on fear,

on suffering. They've tasted yours, and they won't stop

until they've devoured everything you are."

Elara's breath hitched in her throat. She had felt it, the

creeping darkness that lingered in the corners of her life,

the unsettling presence that haunted her every move.

But she had tried to ignore it, tried to pretend it wasn't

real. Now, hearing Darius confirm her worst fears, the

terror she had been suppressing rose to the surface.

"And you're offering me what? To keep me alive, but as

your prisoner?" she asked, her voice shaking with anger

and fear.

"Not a prisoner," Darius said softly. "A partner."

Elara let out a bitter laugh. "A partner? That's what you

call it?"

He shrugged, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You'll

live, Elara. You'll be free to make your own choices,

within reason. But there will be...obligations."

She stared down at the contract, her mind spinning.

Could she trust him? Everything about him screamed

danger, yet the alternative-the thought of facing

whatever hunted her alone-was even more terrifying.

"What if I want out?" she asked, barely daring to hope.

Darius's smile returned, slow and predatory. "There is no

'out,' darling. Once you sign, we're bound. Forever."

Her heart pounded in her chest, her pulse a deafening

roar in her ears. Forever. The word echoed in her mind,

suffocating her.

"What happens if I sign?" she asked quietly.

Darius stepped closer, his presence wrapping around her

like a vice. "You'll be protected. You'll never have to look

over your shoulder again. I'll be there, in the shadows,

watching, keeping you safe from what lurks in the

darkness."

His voice was hypnotic, his words sliding over her like

silk. Elara could feel herself wavering, the line between

fear and temptation blurring.

"I need time to think," she said, her voice cracking.

Darius studied her for a moment, his gaze piercing. Then,

with a small nod, he stepped back, though his eyes never

lost their predatory gleam.

"You have until tomorrow night," he said. "Then the

choice will be made, one way or another."

Without another word, he turned and disappeared into

the shadows, leaving Elara alone with the contract still

clutched in her trembling hands.

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