Manipulated Court

Pain and Betrayal

The days passed in a dull, repetitive blur. April had spent two weeks locked in her father's manor, a prisoner of her own mind. Every attempt to think, to remember, only brought a wave of emptiness. She could barely recall why she'd ever felt so strongly about helping the humans or why their faces seemed to flicker in the back of her mind like distant ghosts. Even Tamlin, who had always been a constant presence in her life, barely spoke to her now. His guilt hung between them like a silent wall. He knew what he had done to her, and though she could sense his regret, he did nothing to change it.

That evening, she decided to take a bath. The warm water soothed her tense muscles, but it couldn't touch the ache inside her. Afterward, she slipped into her silk nightgown, letting her wet hair hang down her back as she sat at her vanity. Her reflection stared back at her—hollow, empty. She grabbed her brush, absently running it through her hair, trying to ignore the gnawing loneliness and confusion in her chest.

As she brushed, a strange sensation prickled at the back of her neck. The hairs on her arms stood on end, and a sudden chill swept through the room. She froze, her heart pounding as she glanced into the mirror again.

Behind her was a dark, shadowy silhouette.

A strangled scream tore from her throat as she spun around, her breath coming in sharp, panicked gasps. Her mind raced, instinctively reaching for any defense. But then the figure stepped forward into the soft light, and her scream died in her throat.

It was Nyx.

He stood there, tall and imposing, his night blue eyes gleaming with an almost predatory intensity. A soft, mocking smile curled his lips as he gazed at her. His voice slipped into her mind, smooth and amused.

Pretty, as always.

April's chest heaved, anger and fear warring inside her. But this time, instead of succumbing to the confusion and the strange pull he had over her, she lashed out. Her voice was harsh, sharp, as she barked, "What do you want?"

The smile faded from his face. His eyes darkened, the playful glint gone, replaced by something far more serious. He stepped closer, his voice no longer in her mind but spoken aloud, low and dangerous.

"You can't run from the truth, April."

Her body stiffened, her heart hammering painfully in her chest. "I don't know what you're talking about," she spat back, though the trembling in her voice betrayed her.

Nyx's gaze never wavered as he took another step forward. "You do. You feel it. You know something's wrong." His tone was sharp, cutting through her denials. "I can see it. The conflict inside you. The truth is clawing at you, but you're trying to push it away."

April shook her head, standing and backing up instinctively until her legs bumped against the edge of her bed. Her heart raced in her chest as she pressed herself against the wall, fear growing like a storm inside her. "You're wrong," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "There's nothing wrong."

But Nyx wasn't listening. His eyes locked onto hers, and he closed the distance between them in two long strides, boxing her in between his arms. He placed both hands on the wall, caging her with his body. His scent, dark and intoxicating, filled her senses, making her pulse race even faster. She was trapped, completely at his mercy.

Her body trembled with fear. She could feel the raw power radiating off him, the intensity of his presence overwhelming. His face was so close to hers now, she could feel his breath on her skin.

"I'm going to show you," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm going to bring it all back."

"No," she whispered, shaking her head desperately and a tiny tear dacing down her red cheeks. "Please, don't."

But Nyx wasn't asking for permission.

Before she could react, his hands moved to her temples, gently but firmly pressing against her skin. April's breath hitched as a cold, dark pressure seeped into her mind. The sensation was immediate, sharp and invasive, like dark claws digging into her skull. His magic swept through her consciousness, prying at the memories that had been buried deep within her.

Pain shot through her head like lightning.

April screamed, her voice raw and broken as the agony ripped through her. "Stop!" she sobbed, clutching at his wrists, trying to push him away. But Nyx was relentless, his magic digging deeper, searching for the memories that had been stolen from her.

Tears streamed down her face as the pain intensified, white-hot and unbearable. It felt like her mind was being torn apart from the inside out. Her body shook violently as she gasped for breath, each sob a new wave of agony.

"Nyx, please," she whimpered, barely able to form the words through the pain. "It hurts."

But he didn't stop. He pushed deeper, determined to uncover the truth that had been hidden from her.

And then, suddenly, it was too much.

A blinding flash of pain seared through her mind, and everything went black.

April's body went limp, her head falling forward as she passed out, crumpling into Nyx's arms.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The room fell silent, save for the sound of April's ragged breathing as she lay unconscious in his arms. Nyx's heart raced, his hands trembling slightly as he realized what he had done. He hadn't meant to push her so far, hadn't known she would react so violently to his power. His magic had touched something deep, something fragile within her, and it had broken her.

He had hurt her, April, her mate.

He carefully laid her down on the bed, guilt gnawing at him as he watched her pale face, streaked with tears. She looked so small, so vulnerable in that moment. He knelt beside the bed, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her damp forehead.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice heavy with regret.

But the damage was done.