Narra

Chapter 7

The moonlight seeps through the thick canopy of Narra's forest, casting an eerie glow over the damp, mossy ground. In the depths of the woods, Severino and Narra lay entwined, locked in a kiss that feels more desperate than genuine, charged with tension rather than love. The air is heavy with the scent of wet earth, mingling with the thick hum of magic that clings to every shadowed inch of her domain.

Narra's hands roam over Severino's chest, her touch gentle yet possessive, as if she can bind him to her will. Her half-lidded gaze shines with dark hunger, a desire to consume him whole. She feels his body tremble beneath her touch, heat radiating between them as she presses closer. Yet something feels wrong—a faint resistance, a subtle shift in his energy that she can't quite place.

As she deepens the kiss, she senses an unfamiliar strength surging within him, pushing back against her control in a way she hadn't expected. The power he exudes feels foreign, unsettling, as if it's drawn from a source she doesn't recognize. Her grip tightens, her brows knitting together as she tries to ignore the dark feeling stirring inside her.

This isn't the Severino she remembers—vulnerable, captivated, willing to bend to her every desire. No, this man feels different, as if some hidden resolve lies just beneath the surface, a defiance she cannot suppress. The kiss grows tense, laced with suspicion and silent struggle, her possessive touch shifting from passion to something sharper, tinged with control.

A creeping unease shadows her thoughts. Severino's strength shouldn't have changed, shouldn't be pressing back against her like this. Yet here he is, firm against her embrace, an unseen force between them that she can't grasp. It gnaws at her, planting seeds of doubt and mistrust, twisting her desire into something darker, more desperate.

Narra pulls back just enough to study him, searching for any sign of deception. But Severino's expression remains calm, his eyes steady as they meet hers. Beneath his composed exterior, though, she senses it—the faint tremor of defiance, the hidden fire that threatens to break free.

"Severino..." she whispered, her breath ragged as she studied him, her fingers trailing along his jawline. "You feel... stronger. Where has this strength come from, my love?" she asked, her voice thick with suspicion, though she tried to mask it with sweetness.

Severino's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing. He can sense her wariness, the edge of doubt creeping into her touch. He forced a smile, tilting his head to kiss her neck, hoping to distract her from her growing unease. "It's because I'm with you," he murmured against her skin, his voice a low rasp. "You give me strength, Narra."

Her eyes narrowed, though she allowed the lie to linger. But she's convinced. The power she feels radiating from him isn't hers—it's something foreign, something that made her uneasy. Yet, for now, she played along, pulling him closer.

But in the back of her mind, Narra senses something else—an approaching presence, a mortal. Her lips curl into a slow, malicious smile as she realizes who it is. Adelfa. The storm she conjured is working its magic. Severino's precious lover has followed him, walking straight into Narra's trap.

Severino, lost in the moment, doesn't notice the shift in Narra's expression. His mind is focused on the dagger hidden within arm's reach, buried in the earth beneath them. He can feel the weight of it calling to him, the blade thrumming with power. This is his chance. As Narra's grip on him seemed to loosen, his hand twitched, ready to strike.

But before he can act, Narra's fingers twine into his hair, pulling his head back to meet her gaze. Her eyes gleam with an otherworldly light as she whispers a soft, melodic incantation. The words wrap around Severino like a silken web, pulling him under. His body goes slack in her arms, his mind clouded by the familiar enchantment she's used so many times before.