What He Shouldn’t Care About
1308 Words
The door shut behind them with a dull, final thud.
Nyx barely registered the sound.
Pain came first.
It spread in waves—sharp, pulsing, relentless—every movement dragging fire across her back. Her legs threatened to give out, but she locked her knees, forcing herself upright as the guards shoved her forward one last time before letting go.
“Stay,” one of them muttered.
Then they left.
Just like that.
Silence swallowed the room.
Nyx stood there for a second—two—three—before her body betrayed her.
Her knees buckled.
She caught herself against the edge of the basin, breath tearing out of her chest as the sudden movement ripped through her wounds. A sharp hiss slipped between her teeth.
“Damn it—”
Her grip tightened on the stone.
She refused to fall.
Not now. Not alone.
Slowly—carefully—she lowered herself onto the floor instead, back pressed against the cold wall. The contact sent a violent jolt of pain through her, but she bit it back, squeezing her eyes shut.
Just breathe.
But even that hurt.
Each inhale scraped against her ribs, shallow and uneven. Blood had soaked through the fabric at her back, clinging, sticky and warm.
For the first time since the hall—
Her control slipped.
Not outwardly.
But inside.
A c***k.
A quiet, dangerous one.
Her fingers curled against the floor.
He did that.
The thought came uninvited.
Argus.
Not just the pain—but the way he watched. The way he measured her like something to be studied, not broken in rage but reshaped with precision.
That was worse.
Nyx exhaled slowly, forcing the thought away.
A soft creak broke the silence.
Her eyes snapped open instantly.
The door.
It opened just enough to let someone slip inside—quiet, careful, like they weren’t supposed to be there.
Nyx tensed.
Ready.
Even like this.
But then—
“Mason?”
He froze at the sound of his name.
For a moment, he looked like he might run.
Then he stepped in fully, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
“I—” His voice faltered. “I shouldn’t be here.”
Nyx let out a weak, humorless breath. “Then leave.”
He didn’t.
Instead, his gaze lifted—and for the first time since she met him—
He looked directly at her.
And everything in his expression changed.
Gone was the quiet obedience.
What replaced it was something raw.
Something unsettled.
“You’re bleeding,” he said.
Nyx almost laughed.
“Sharp observation.”
But it came out rough. Strained.
Mason didn’t react to the tone.
He stepped closer instead.
Slowly. Cautiously. Like approaching something wounded—and dangerous.
“Turn around,” he said softly.
Nyx stilled.
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
Mason hesitated. “If you don’t—”
“I said no.”
Her voice sharpened, even through the pain.
A beat passed.
Then—
“You’ll get an infection.”
The words were quiet. Certain.
Nyx’s jaw tightened.
“I’ll survive.”
Mason exhaled, tension flickering across his face. “That’s not the point.”
Silence stretched between them.
Nyx studied him.
Really studied him this time.
There was no fear in his eyes now.
Only concern.
And that—
That was unfamiliar.
Dangerous in a different way.
“You shouldn’t care,” she said flatly.
Mason didn’t look away.
“I know.”
Another pause.
Then, quieter—
“But I do.”
The words landed heavier than they should have.
Nyx frowned slightly.
“Why?” she asked.
Mason hesitated.
Like he didn’t have a good answer.
Or maybe too many.
“I just… do.”
Nyx stared at him for a long second.
Then—slowly—
She shifted.
The movement sent a sharp wave of pain through her, but she ignored it, turning just enough to expose her back.
“Make it quick,” she muttered.
Mason didn’t waste time.
He moved immediately, grabbing the clean cloth and water from the basin. His hands were steady—but careful, like he was hyper-aware of every movement.
The first touch of the damp cloth against her back—
Burned.
Nyx sucked in a sharp breath, her fingers digging into the stone.
“Sorry,” Mason said quickly.
“Just do it.”
Her voice came out tighter than she wanted.
He nodded, even though she couldn’t see it.
Then he continued.
Gentle.
So much more gentle than anything she’d felt since entering this place.
He worked in silence at first, cleaning the blood carefully, avoiding pressing too hard. Every now and then, Nyx’s body tensed, a sharp inhale slipping out—but she didn’t pull away.
Didn’t tell him to stop.
Because—
It helped.
“You should have knelt.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Mason paused.
“I know.”
Nyx let out a slow breath. “Would’ve been easier.”
“For them,” he said.
Not for you.
The unspoken words hung between them.
Nyx’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“They would’ve stopped sooner.”
Mason resumed cleaning, his movements slower now.
“Maybe.”
Nyx tilted her head slightly, ignoring the pull in her muscles.
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“I’m not.”
A pause.
Then—
“He wasn’t trying to stop.”
Nyx went still.
Mason’s voice stayed quiet.
Measured.
“He was watching you.”
Her chest tightened slightly.
“I noticed.”
Mason’s hand stilled for just a second before continuing.
“He does that.”
Nyx frowned. “Enjoys it?”
“No.”
The answer came too fast.
Too certain.
Nyx caught it.
“Then what?”
Mason didn’t respond immediately.
He wrung out the cloth, his gaze lowering again—not avoiding her this time, but thinking.
“Testing,” he said finally.
Nyx’s expression hardened.
“I’m not something to be tested.”
Mason’s jaw tightened slightly.
“I know.”
Silence settled again.
He finished cleaning the worst of the blood, then reached for a clean strip of cloth.
“This will hurt,” he warned.
Nyx let out a dry breath. “Everything already does.”
Still—
When he pressed the cloth against her back to bind the wounds—
Pain flared sharply.
Her body jerked slightly before she forced it still again.
Mason noticed.
His grip softened instantly.
“Almost done.”
His voice had changed.
Quieter.
Closer.
Nyx didn’t respond.
But she didn’t pull away either.
He finished wrapping the cloth carefully, securing it in place without tightening too much.
When he was done—
He didn’t move right away.
His hands hovered for a second before pulling back.
“You shouldn’t have endured that alone,” he said.
Nyx let out a quiet, tired breath.
“I didn’t have a choice.”
Mason’s gaze lifted again.
“You did.”
Nyx turned her head slightly, just enough to look at him over her shoulder.
Their eyes met.
“You think kneeling would’ve changed anything?” she asked.
Mason didn’t hesitate this time.
“Yes.”
Nyx studied him.
Then—
“No.”
The word was firm.
Certain.
“If I bend once, I don’t stop.”
Mason’s expression shifted slightly.
Understanding.
“You’re going to make this harder for yourself,” he said.
Nyx turned forward again, resting her head back against the wall.
Silence stretched between them.
But this time—
It wasn’t heavy.
Mason stood slowly, stepping back.
“I should go.”
She just watched as he slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
And for the first time since she arrived—
It felt… different.
Not safe.
Not yet.
But—
Less alone.
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