Dark Desire-Caught between duty and desire (englisch version

Chapter 9

I stepped slowly into Despia's chambers and saw her standing by the window, gazing out into the distance. She seemed calm, almost serene, but I could see the tension in her shoulders, the nervousness that betrayed her otherwise composed posture. It wasn't easy for me to speak with her now, not after the last time we'd been in this room, when so much unspoken emotion had lingered between us. The kiss, the words left unsaid... everything still hung in the air like a heavy, sweet perfume.

I took a deep breath, then stepped closer. "Despia?" She turned around slowly, her green eyes studying me intently. She said nothing, merely waited.

"There's something I need to explain to you," I began cautiously. "Something you should know before things spiral out of control."

"Sounds like this isn't going to be a particularly pleasant conversation." A hint of bitterness crept into her voice, and she crossed her arms over her chest, as if trying to shield herself.

"No, it isn't." I took another step forward, my hands buried at my sides to keep them from trembling nervously. "It's about the plan. The plan to stop Lux and Zeus."

"The plan that everyone knows about except for me?" she interrupted, the bitterness now clearer in her tone. "Do you think I'm too weak or... too insignificant to be included?"

"No, Despia, it's not like that." I reached out a hand, hesitated, then let it drop back to my side. "We didn't mean to exclude you as an insult. It was only to protect you. If the plan goes wrong..."

"I'm just as much a part of this as all of you," she said firmly, looking directly into my eyes. "I have the right to know what I'm getting myself into."

I nodded slowly. "You're right. And that's why I'm here—to explain everything to you."

Her eyes narrowed, but she held back and let me speak. I told her about the false marriage, meant to be a trap. How we planned to let Lux believe he was winning, only to reveal the truth at the last moment, capturing him and Zeus and putting Hera on the throne of Olympus. I explained that we would try to resolve as much as possible without bloodshed—but that we were prepared to take any measures necessary to protect her.

When I finished, a long, tense silence stretched between us. Despia stared at me, her expression unreadable, and then sank heavily into the armrest of her chair.

"So, I'm the bait," she finally said quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Despi..." I wanted to say something, but what? What could I say to soften the truth? Because, in essence, she was right.

"It's okay," she interrupted, shaking her head. "I understand the reason. I understand that this is a chance to stop them and end it all without a war. But..." She looked at me, and I saw the pain in her eyes, the conflict.

"But you hate the idea." It wasn't a question, and she shook her head.

"Yes, Corvin. I hate the idea." Her voice was soft, almost pleading. "It feels like I'm sacrificing myself. And even though I know you'll be there... what if it goes wrong? What if Lux sees through it and I end up truly bound to him? What if you don't get to me in time?"

"That won't happen," I said firmly, stepping closer and kneeling down in front of her so I could look directly into her eyes. "I will be there. Ares, Hera, your parents... We won't abandon you. We'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

"And what if he hurts me?" Her voice broke, and I felt a cold stab in my chest. She wasn't blaming me, wasn't making impossible demands. She was simply voicing the fear we all shared.

"Then I'll kill him, Despi," I said softly, but with all the determination I could muster. "I swear it. I'll kill anyone who even dares to lay a finger on you."

She looked at me for a long moment, then closed her eyes and bowed her head. "I'll go along with it, Corvin. But... I'm just scared. I'm afraid that everything we're doing will only lead to more destruction. That in the end, we'll lose more than we're trying to save."

I gently placed a hand under her chin and lifted her head, forcing her to look at me. "I'm scared too, Despi," I whispered. "But I'd rather fight by your side and lose than do nothing and watch you be taken by someone like Lux. We have to try. For you. For us."

"For us..." She whispered the words back, as if trying to understand their meaning. "Corvin, what if I take this step and destroy everything between us? What if I end up hurting you?"

"Despi, I'm strong. You won't break me so easily." A soft smile tugged at my lips, and I leaned in closer. "Give us this chance. Please."

She looked at me for a long time, and then—before I could comprehend what was happening—she leaned forward and rested her forehead against mine. Her breath brushed against my lips, and my heart stopped.

"Just... promise me you won't leave. No matter what happens." Her voice was quiet, trembling, but firm in its resolve.

"I'll stay," I said, touching her cheek, my thumb gently caressing her skin. "I will never leave your side."

Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, she tilted her head and pressed her lips softly to mine. It wasn't a passionate kiss, not a wild storm. It was simply... a promise. A promise that she would fight. A promise that she trusted me.

A promise that we would face this together.

"We'll make it," I whispered against her lips, feeling her nod slightly, her fingers clutching my shirt as if she never wanted to let go.

"Yes... together."