Nikolai had always been captivated by birds. Their elegant wings, the way they soared effortlessly through the sky-it was a kind of beauty that never ceased to amaze him.
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He often watched them from his window, imagining what i...
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
You stood at the ledge of the building, the cool night air brushing against your skin as the city lights flickered below. Your wings stretched slightly, feathers rustling in the breeze. Next to you, Nikolai leaned dramatically against the ledge, his jester hat slightly askew, a grin tugging at his lips. There was something both charming and unsettling about him, the way he could shift from playful to dangerous in a heartbeat, and for some reason, you adored that about him.
"What else can you do with your portals, Kolya?" you asked, your eyes gleaming with curiosity as you glanced at him.
Nikolai's eyes sparkled with mischief at the question. He twirled around in an exaggerated fashion, throwing his arms wide. "Oh, Dove! I can do so much with them. A lot of chaos!" His voice was filled with that signature mix of playfulness and madness, the kind that always kept you guessing what he might do next.
He didn't disappoint. Without warning, Nikolai threw himself off the ledge, his cloak fluttering wildly around him as he plummeted toward the ground below. But before you could react, he disappeared mid-fall, his body vanishing into the shadows as if he had been swallowed by the night.
You blinked, a laugh bubbling up from your throat. This clown really was something else.
Before you could wonder where he had gone, you felt a tug at your waist. You looked down and saw Nikolai's hand emerging from one of his portals, fingers curling around your hip with a possessive grip. He pulled himself through the space, his body emerging beside you once more as if nothing had happened. His revolver appeared in his other hand, spinning lazily on his finger.
"Tadaaa!" he exclaimed, winking at you as he twirled the gun in a showy flourish. "I can be anywhere I want. And anywhere you are." His voice dipped into something darker, more dangerous, though his smile remained playful.
"Impressive," you murmured, tilting your head as you admired the ease with which he used his ability. "But don't think you can sneak up on me that easily."
Nikolai's grin widened, and in a blur of motion, he vanished again, only to reappear directly behind you, his chest pressed against your back. "Who said I needed to sneak up on you, Dove?" he whispered in your ear, his breath warm against your skin. "Maybe you want me to catch you."
Your heart skipped a beat, but you refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his sudden closeness affected you. Instead, you turned your head slightly, eyes narrowing as you gave him a coy smile. "Maybe I do," you teased, your voice lilting with challenge. "Or maybe I just like playing hard to get."
Nikolai chuckled, his hands lightly brushing your waist as he leaned even closer. His proximity sent a shiver down your spine, but you held your ground, determined not to let him win this little game of cat and mouse. "Oh, Dove," he purred, his voice dripping with a mix of seduction and danger. "I think we both know you're just as bad as I am. You like the chase, the chaos. You thrive in it."
