Malric’s Pov
Her voice tore through the chamber, sharp as a blade.
“Untie me, Malric! Now!”
The sound of her desperation clawed at me. Delilah’s wrists strained against the binds, her chest heaving as she glared at me like I was the cruelest monster alive. Maybe I was.
“Do you think screaming at me changes anything?” My tone was low, measured, but the storm inside me raged. I couldn’t let her see it. Not now.
“I don’t care what you think,” she snapped, fury in her eyes. “I don’t care what you are. I’m leaving. I will not stay here—”
Her words sliced me open. Every syllable, a reminder that she wanted distance from me. That she saw only chains when I was offering her… what? Even I didn’t know anymore.
“You’re not going anywhere.” The words came out harsher than I intended, a snarl t
