CHAPTER 14 — The First Promise
866 Words
Mirabel’s breathing slowly steadied, but Adrian didn’t move.
He stayed right there—so close she could feel the heat of his body, the quiet dominance in his presence, the protective storm wrapped beneath his calm.
His finger slipped from her lips, but his hand remained near her face, lingering like he didn’t want to let go.
“Adrian…” she whispered, her voice small, unsure, trembling.
“Yes?” he murmured.
“Why does it feel like you’ve been watching me… even before this? Why does it feel like you know me?”
A shadow flickered across Adrian’s eyes—soft, then gone.
“That feeling,” he said quietly, “is the truth trying to reach you before you're ready to hear it.”
Mirabel blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“You will.”
He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “But not yet.”
Her heart fluttered wildly at his touch.
Adrian stood from the bed, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt with slow, precise movements. Even something as simple as that looked powerful. Controlled. Dangerous.
He walked to the foot of the bed.
Then he turned.
“Mirabel, I’ll need you to trust me.”
Her stomach tightened. “You’re asking a lot from someone who was betrayed by the two people she loved most.”
Adrian’s expression softened—just a little.
“I’m not asking for everything,” he said. “Just enough.”
He stepped closer.
“Enough for you to let me protect you.”
Mirabel looked down at her hands, fingers trembling. “Why me?”
Adrian tilted her chin up gently until she met his gaze.
“You survived something meant to destroy you,” he said. “And something in you called to me before you even opened your eyes.”
Mirabel swallowed, her chest aching with confusion and curiosity. “Called to you? How?”
Adrian’s jaw flexed, his eyes shifting into something deeper. Something that almost felt… forbidden.
“You wouldn’t believe me yet,” he said softly.
“Try me,” she whispered.
He exhaled slowly, like he was holding back a truth too heavy for the room.
“Mirabel, the night I found you… I wasn’t looking for anyone. I was passing through that forest on my way to handle something else.”
His voice deepened.
“But then… I heard you.”
Mirabel frowned. “But I wasn’t conscious. I couldn’t speak.”
“You didn’t need to speak,” Adrian murmured. “Your heartbeat did.”
Her breath hitched.
“That’s impossible.”
Adrian leaned closer, lowering his voice until it wrapped around her like smoke.
“There are things in this world far beyond what you think is possible.”
She stared at him, her pulse racing.
He watched her reactions closely, his eyes dark and unreadable.
Then he said something she didn’t expect:
“You are not alone, Mirabel. Not anymore.”
Her chest tightened with something fragile and unfamiliar.
Hope.
She wanted to believe him.
She needed to believe someone.
“Adrian…” she whispered, “I’m scared.”
He leaned down slowly, cupping her cheek with a gentleness that didn’t match the storm in his eyes.
“I know.”
His thumb brushed her skin, sending a warm shiver down her spine.
“I’ll keep you safe,” Adrian promised quietly. “Not just from Esther… or Kelvin… but from anyone who tries to break you again.”
Mirabel felt her eyes sting. “Why?”
He watched her for a long, breathless second.
Then, in a voice so soft she almost missed it, he whispered:
“Because losing you is not an option.”
Mirabel’s lips parted.
Adrian hesitated only for a moment…
Then he leaned in—closer, closer—until his forehead rested gently against hers.
Her heart pounded painfully.
His hand slid down to her neck, thumb brushing her collarbone, sending sparks through her whole body.
He whispered one more thing:
“This is my first promise to you.”
Mirabel swallowed, tears sliding silently down her cheeks.
“I won’t let anything take you from me.”
Slowly—achingly slowly—Adrian pulled back.
But his eyes never left hers.
And his presence stayed wrapped around her like a shield.
A knock at the door shattered the thick silence.
A doctor peeked inside, eyes widening when he saw Adrian standing by her bed like a dark guardian.
“Um… Miss Mirabel,” the doctor said, “we need to run one more test. Can Mr… ah…”—he glanced nervously at Adrian—“…your companion step outside for a moment?”
Adrian didn’t move.
Mirabel touched his hand weakly. “It’s okay… I’ll be fine.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed, clearly displeased—but she squeezed his hand again.
Finally, he leaned down and pressed a soft, warm kiss to her forehead.
Not rushed.
Not accidental.
A claim.
A promise.
“I’ll be right outside,” he whispered, his breath stirring her skin.
Mirabel watched him leave the room.
And for the first time since her nightmare began…
She didn’t feel alone.
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- Writer
