Bounded To The Mad King.

The battle was over. The blood had dried, the enemy vanquished, but the war inside her raged on. Kalista stood at the center of the royal court like a storm that had not yet passed-bruised, bloodstained, armor dented, her shoulder-length hair tied back in a rough ponytail. A crimson smear streaked her cheek-someone else's blood, most likely. Her jaw was clenched. Her heart, riotous. She looked every bit the warrior she was. And yet, she was unraveling. Atop the throne lounged King Varian, lazy and maddeningly composed, draped in silk the color of midnight. His silver eyes glinted beneath heavy lashes, a soft smirk painted on his lips-lips that knew too many of her secrets. He looked more like a courtesan than a king, too beautiful, too untouchable. Kalista wanted to scream at the way he made her feel like prey even now. "Your Majesty," she said, voice like cracked stone. "My duty to you is done. I've fought in your name for four years. That chapter is closed. I'm leaving." Her sword clattered to the marble, the sound echoing like a funeral bell. The blade landed at the bottom of the steps beneath his throne. Varian tilted his head. "Is that so? And what, may I ask if the reason?" His voice was velvet laced with iron, deadly soft. Kalista's hand twitched at her side. This man. This gods-damned man would be the end of her. She had come here as a spy. Disguised as a knight, tasked only with observing the King of Kudevell and ensuring he was worthy of her sister. That was all it was supposed to be. But then... something happened. Somewhere between blades and ballrooms, between midnight patrols and stolen glances, she lost herself. She fell for the man she was sent to judge. And that was the greatest betrayal of all. "I don't need a reason," she said tightly. "I'm free to walk away." "You're lying," Varian murmured, standing now, descending the steps with slow, deliberate grace. "But I'll play along. For now." Her jaw clenched. "You don't own me." "Oh, but I do," he said, pausing just in front of her. "From the moment you fought me at the training grounds. From the moment your name slipped from my lips like a sin. You've belonged to me." He brushed a finger across her cheek, smearing the blood like war paint. Her breath caught. "You blush so easily, little knight," he murmured. "It's charming." "I'm not blushing," she snapped, stepping back. "I'm disgusted." He leaned close, lips at her ear. "Then why do you smell like want?" Her entire body betrayed her. Heart pounding. Breath short. Her thighs clenched without permission. Saints , she hated him. "On your knees," he whispered. She flinched, heat crawling up her neck. "You think I'd kneel to you?" "I think," he said, his hand cupping her jaw with terrifying gentleness, "you want to be ruined." And she did. Saints, she did. Her composure cracked. She spun away from him like the ground beneath her feet had crumbled. "I need air," she said, voice hollow. "You can't run from me, Kalista," he called, lazy and low. "Watch me." She bolted. Boots thundered against marble, then stone. Past servants who turned away. Past guards who didn't dare stop her. Her heartbeat outpaced her fury. "Kalista!" Melio stepped into her path, sword half-raised. "Don't—don't go. He needs you." "He has you," she said, her voice sharp and glassy. "Melio, goodbye my friend." She hugged him and squeezed him. Melio returned the hug and felt tears brimming in his eyes. "Keep him alive for me." She didn't wait for his answer. She turned. Ran. Through the woods, past the city's edge, to the sound of rushing water and old, buried memories. The hidden cave. Her secret. She dove into the waterfall's veil, armor falling piece by piece until she slipped into the pool beneath. Cold water closed over her, silencing the world. Underwater, memories assaulted her. His voice. His smirk. His fury. The way he looked at her like she was the only war he couldn't win. Why him? She broke the surface with a gasp and a scream. She laughed, wept, cursed him to every god she knew. "Damn you, Varian! Why did things have to be like this!" She ran a hand through her face frustrated as she paced back and forth in the cave "I should have never came here. I should have stopped. And then- She froze. That scent. Smoke and spice. He was here. "s**t," she whispered, spine going rigid. Her armor-gone. Her skin—bare but for soaked linen. Her pride-fractured. She turned slowly, arms crossed over her chest. Still a warrior. Still defiant. Even naked in the water, she glared like a queen. Varian was undressing. His armor dropped to the cave floor like discarded lies. Every inch of him deliberate. Lean muscle, pale skin, lips that haunted her dreams. "I knew you'd come here," he said, stepping into the pool, water licking at his thighs. "Get out," she snapped. "I don't think so princess." He shakes his head. Stopping in front of her. "You're trembling," he said, voice thick with heat. "Is it the cold?" "It's you, damn you." Kalista looked for an exit, anything as long as she got out of there. He smiled, dark and vicious. "Then stop pretending you don't want this." "Stop! Leave me be." she pleaded. He didn't , there was no stopping this man. She knew how dangerous he was, she'd been with him all these years. "Why can't you just leave me alone?" emotions threatened her eyes. She can't be doing this, she needs to escape, her heart paced and the sound of her beating heart increased. "Because I can't breathe without you, I can't think without you." he said, stepping close enough to feel her shake. His fingers found her jaw. Her pulse roared. Her body betrayed her again, aching for him. "You're mine," he breathed. "And all that fight in you? All it does is make me want to claim you harder." His eyes darted from her eyes to her lips, and before she knew it, he had kissed her. His mouth didn't just crash into hers—it claimed her.