Bound By Blood.

ch.21~Doomed from the start.

"That was a slick trick, even for you.

Can't say I'm not impressed.

At least I got a dance."

Translated recovered correspondents between Death Eater Mattheo Riddle, to Order Member Alexandra Brooks.

Hogwarts, 1997.

Alexandra.

"I want you."

His words hung in the air, electric and charged, like a storm cloud.

I fought to draw a breath, each inhalation feeling like a futile attempt to reclaim the ground I'd lost.

The tension between us ricocheted off the walls, blending confusion with a disarming heat that threatened to consume me.

He stepped closer, the space between us shrinking in a way that made my heart race with both fear and exhilaration.

My thoughts spiraled, grappling with the truth of his confession.

How could he say this now?

After everything... the fights, the schemes, the lines drawn in the sand.

Yet, in that moment, he was also something extraordinarily dangerous and tempting.

His gaze bore into mine, raw and unapologetic.

Those dark eyes, usually alight with a spark of cunning, now reflected an intensity that felt almost tender.

I forced my trembling legs to take a step back.

No.

This wasn't happening.

"You can't just—" I stammered, but my words got lost as he fully stepped into my room, shutting the door behind him.

"Why not?!" he challenged, his voice steady, unwavering.

"Because you're insane!" I spat, my anger boiling over. "You think you can just waltz in here, after everything we've been through, and expect me to... to what? Want you too?"

He took another step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm not asking you to want me!" he yelled, his voice laced with confusion. "I'm telling you the fucking truth. I can't hide it anymore!"

I laughed, a bitter sound. "You don't want me," I sneered. "You want to know you've won. That you broke me. You want the satisfaction of breaking me down."

He flinched at my words, but his expression didn't change. "That's not fair," he said, his voice cold

"Fair?" I spat, my anger boiling over. "You're the one who's been playing games with me for years. Publicly degrading me, my friends, critiquing everything I do! You hate me, Riddle! You hate everything I am and everything I stand for!"

He took another step closer, his eyes flashing with anger. "I don't hate you," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "I was just trying to get a rise out of you. You're always so damn uptight, always so perfect."

I laughed again, a cold, hard sound. "Stop! You're lying," I said. "You've been planning this for years. You, Theodore! You've been waiting for the perfect moment to strike, to make me fall for you. And now that you've got me right where you want me, you're going to use it to manipulate me further."

He took another step closer, his eyes burning with intensity. "Theo?!" he scoffed. "You weren't a game to us! Not to me!" then, and only for a second, I seen him... give up.