Bloodbound to the hybrid king

Lesson one.

Anara.

The sparring hall was colder than I expected — all high stone walls and polished black floors, faint silver wards carved into every surface.

I stepped in slowly, my arms folded, trying not to show how unsettled I really felt.

Darius was already waiting in the center of the room. Jacket tossed aside, sleeves rolled to his elbows, his tousled dark hair falling slightly into his storm-gray eyes.

He looked completely at ease — like he belonged in this kind of darkness.

When he saw me, his lips curled into a faint grin.

“Took you long enough,” he teased, his voice low and smooth.

I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms tighter.

“You’re not much of a gentleman, are you?”

“Ah,” he said lightly, starting to circle me. “I see what he likes about you already. That mouth of yours.”

That earned him a sharp glare, but he only chuckled and stopped a pace in front of me, arms crossing loosely over his chest.

“So…” he drawled. “Any idea what you’re actually capable of? Or are we starting from scratch?”

I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let him see my uncertainty.

“I can handle myself.”

I said even though recent events have said otherwise.

Darius tilted his head, his eyebrows raised like he's trying to study me.

“That’s cute,” he murmured. Then, louder: “We’ll see about that.”

He stepped closer — just enough that I could feel the strange heat radiating off him — and his grin turned sharper.

“Don’t look so tense, sweetheart. I don’t bite.”

“Not worried about you biting,” I shot back, my chin lifting defiantly. Then took a little pause before continuing

“Worried about you choking on your own ego.”

For just a moment, he laughed — a real laugh, low and wicked — before gesturing to the center of the hall.

“Alright, little witch,” he said. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

He stopped in front of me, close enough I could catch the faint scent of smoke and something darker.

“Tell me,” he said, tilting his head. “Do you even know what those shadows of yours really are?”

I cleared my throat before speaking up

“They’re mine. That’s all I need to know.”

Darius’s grin sharpened.

“Good answer. But you don’t act like they’re yours. Not yet.”

My glare deepened.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He stepped even closer now, his voice dropping low and dangerous.

“You’re scared of them,” he said.

“You think you can control them by fighting them back. By pretending they’re not inside you, whispering in your head. You’re wrong.”

He leaned down just slightly, his storm-gray gaze pinning mine.

“Rule one,” he said.

“Stop pretending. Stop pushing them away. The shadows don’t belong to me. They don’t belong to Lucien. They’re yours. Act like it… or they’ll eat you alive.”

I swallowed hard, my fists clenching at my sides — because deep down, I hated how much of what he said was true.

Darius straightened, backing away with that same maddening smirk.

“Now,” he said, clapping his hands once as the shadows in the corners of the room began to stir, reaching hungrily toward my feet, “let’s see if you can actually prove it.”

The shadows in the corners thickened as if they’d heard his command, sliding across the polished floor like living smoke, coiling around my ankles.

I tensed, instinct screaming to push them back — to fight them off.

Darius’s sharp voice cut through my thoughts.

“Don’t you dare,” he warned, eyes glinting. “Don’t fight them. Not this time.”

The shadows twisted higher, curling around my calves, my wrists, brushing against my skin like cool silk and molten fire all at once. It made me shiver.

Darius started to circle me again, slow and deliberate, his arms folded behind his back like a predator stalking his own hunt.

“They’re waiting for you,” he murmured. “Waiting to hear what you want. Waiting to see if you’re worthy of commanding them.”

The darkness tightened suddenly, as though impatient — and I gasped softly, my breath rising in my chest.

“Don’t panic,” Darius said calmly, almost lazily. “That’s how they win. Let them in. Tell them what you want.”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, and drew a slow, shaky breath.

“Enough!”I commanded, my voice hoarse but firm.

The shadows froze. Then, like a dozen black serpents obeying their queen, they slithered back down my legs and pooled harmlessly at my feet, pulsing faintly with power.

Darius’s smile widened, something darker and sharper flickering in his expression.

“Well,” he said softly. “Maybe you’re not completely hopeless after all.”

I exhaled and straightened my spine, though my heart still pounded. The shadows quivered at my feet, waiting — ready.

Darius stepped closer, tilting his head at me, studying my face.

“But don’t get cocky,” he added, voice low and dangerous.

“You’ve barely scratched the surface. Tomorrow we will see if you can make them hurt something without breaking yourself in the process.”

My gaze shot up at him, heat flaring in my chest.

“Don’t underestimate me,” I hissed.

That earned me a chuckle — but his eyes stayed locked on mine, sharp and unrelenting.

“Oh, sweetheart,” he said. “I wouldn’t dare.”

I sounded very confident. But deep down,I knew. I knew I had no control over them.

“You can control them anara”he said as if reading my mind.

It was the first time he called my name and it rolled off his tongue way too smoothly.

“how did you—”

“it's literally written all over your face”he said and I let out a small chuckle.

He stepped back, and picked up his jacket from where he kept it, then adjusted his clothes.

“That’s enough for tonight. Rest. Tomorrow…” he let his words linger as he walked toward the door, his voice carrying back to me, cool and teasing, “…we’ll see if you’re brave enough to make them bleed for you.”

I roll my eyes at his cockiness

The door closed behind him with a soft click, and I stood there alone in the quiet, shadows still coiled at her feet, whispering faintly in the silence.