Nightfall ✓

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A l e c D a i c h i

Fear.

The emotion seemed to reside in him these days. It was not her he was scared of. No. He'd been with her so long that fear just seemed to vanish one day. Some days she was good to him. Other days she wasn't. It was as simple as that.

Amara cherished him like one cherishes a new toy.

He feared losing the person he'd already lost. Prior to this, he was indifferent towards the person who owned him. Life wasn't good, sure, but it wasn't intolerable as well. At least, not all the time. But that sentiment had changed in a matter of days. All it took was one text.

Miles: She's getting married this Sunday.

[read]

Miles: I'm sorry.

[unread]

Perhaps it was his fault. He never thought a man – a stranger – so broken would have it in him to steal the person he had loved the moment he had seen. As it turned out, the man, the stranger, wasn't as broken as he thought he was. Maybe Theo Volkan would love her better than him, he'd reasoned one night.

But she didn't even give him a chance to try. She didn't even wait for him. Didn't he deserve that, at least?

"I wish you were more present, darling."

Amara never raised her voice... or hand when it came to him. He reckoned it was because he was compliant... unlike the boy who'd come before him. Even if he loathed every touch, every glance sent his way, he seldom voiced it out. All because he was afraid one rash decision on his part would drastically lower his chances of ever seeing her.

"I'm sorry," he apologised, parting his lips as she leaned down to kiss him softly on the mouth.

"I can have someone bring her over here, you know. I know how heartbroken she's made you. You're an adult now. Just like me, you can have lovers on the side–"

"No," he refused. "Absolutely not. I have other matters to attend to. Leading Varjot isn't a piece of cake."

And that was it. It would be the last time they'd talk about Clo Beauchamp for a few years at least. Things would go back to how they were.

At least that's what he'd thought initially.

Miles: She's left Crawford Hospital. Arrangement's in progression.

[read]

"One last night as mine and then you'll be free," Amara kissed his bare shoulder. "She will never cherish you like I did, pet."

As it turned out, Alec Daichi had never seen the true wrath of Amara until now.

From taking off his clothes and parading him around in front of guests to letting them take turns to pleasure themselves using his body, he almost forgot why he'd chosen to live so far anyway. It didn't matter that no one knew it was him. The future king of Varjot. The suffocating silk cloth hiding his identity and the dim lights in place to make sure this remained forever a secret did not matter.

He was losing himself.

"She's lost a child," Amara murmured to him as he lay in her bed, recoiling from the aftermath of being used again and again.

Perhaps he was unconscious. Perhaps delirious. But he detected a hint of sympathy in her tone. It made sense. After all, Amara had a miscarriage. His child. In a sense, he'd lost a child as well. A child he'd hated.

"I'm glad," he lied. "I'm glad he's dead. But I am more glad that you lost one as well. Can you imagine telling it who its father was? What would you say? A toy? Obsession?"

"Oh, sweetheart." She kissed the back of his neck, gently rubbing the balm on his lower back which throbbed in pain. "Don't you know today is the saddest day of my life? You're leaving me. Won't you be considerate? For a few moments, at least?"

A few moments.

He sat up, grabbing her by the neck and twisting her around on the bed. In one swift motion he was inside of her.

"I never want to see you again," he whispered as she dressed herself afterwards. "Never come near me or her, Amara."

She smiled, leaning down to place one last kiss on his lips. He wasn't obligated to part them now.

Those days were finally over.

Matias came to his room in the morning. Over the years, he stopped hiding the shameful bruises. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore except one thing.

"You'll have to see a doctor for that," his tone held concern and yet he was Amara's ever faithful servant.

"I won't be able to see her if I go see a doctor."

"She's married."

"I've endured all this for too long for that to stop me. She's coming to me one way or another. I don't care if she hates me. I loathe Amara. Did that stop her from having me?"

"You're not like that."

He chuckled, "I want a friend again."

"I know at least ten thousand people who'd walk on hot coals for that opportunity."

He shook his head.

"I want my best friend back. She doesn't belong with him."

"Well, she's coming up in the elevator now. You'll have time to rethink your decision when you see her."

He stood up, ignoring the pain his walk caused him. She was here. His lips twitched. Was he going to smile? Willingly? How many years had it been since he'd done that? He couldn't even remember. He wanted to laugh.

His eyes were glued to the door as he sat behind his desk, feeling the tension leave his shoulders for the first time in years.

A knock came and he must have said something because in the next moment, the door opened.

Just like that, she was here.

And he was home once again.