the scent and the shadow || book two

Juliette

He warned me we were doomed from the start, and I should have listened. But some fires burn too hot to resist.

Now, I'm trapped in a vicious cycle of desire, tangled up in Areston's dangerous world. Every kiss, every touch pulls me deeper, uncovering the demons we've both tried to bury.

This time, I'm not playing by his rules. The moment I walked back into Areston's life, I took control. He thinks he can own me, but he's about to learn-I'm not the same woman who left.

Now, I hold the reins. The power is mine.

But power comes with a price. I'm walking a dangerous line, tempting the beast inside him. And with every touch, every heated glance, I know he'll stop at nothing to claim me again.

Areston

I'm not a hero. I'm a man built from ruin, and Juliette is walking straight into the flames.

She thinks she can handle my darkness, but she has no idea how deep it runs. The more she tries to defy me, the more I want to devour her-mind, body, and soul.

She thinks she's in charge. That I can let her take control.

Wrong.

Juliette will always end up submitting, bending to my every will. Every second she'll spend trying to defy me will only tighten the chains around her. I may have given her the illusion that she's in control, but she will never be.

Not this time.

She's mine and will bend the way I like.

Trigger Warnings:

Consensual Non-Consent (CNC)
Graphic Sexual Content
Violence
Psychological Manipulation
Obsession/Stalking
Toxic Relationships
Dubious Consent
Abuse (Emotional/Physical)
Kidnapping/Captivity
Mental Illness
Anarchistic Themes
Murder/Death
Substance Abuse
Self-Harm/Suicidal Ideation
Childhood Trauma/Abuse
Torture
Sexual Degradation
Blood/Violence in Sexual Context
Power Imbalance/Authority Kink