Eyan stumbled back a step, fear flashing in his eyes like a cornered animal.

  Eva advanced, her gaze locked on him with predatory intent. “Your Majesty,” she purred, voice laced with unmistakable hunger, “then let us resume… precisely where we left off.”

  Panic clawed at Eyan’s throat. His mind raced— “Lady Eva, mind your words,” he stammered, voice cracking. “I might… I might misunderstand.”

  “You did not misunderstand,” she replied, stepping closer still, her breath warm against his skin. “I meant every syllable. Let us start anew—from the very beginning.”

  Eyan swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly. His eyes darted to the door—salvation, just a few strides away.

  Eva followed his gaze, a sly smile curling her lips. As he lunged desperately for the door, heart pounding in terror, she extended her leg with precise timing. He tripped, crashing face-first onto the cold stone floor with a pained grunt.

  “Ahh!”

  Before he could scramble up, Eva was on him—straddling his back, her weight pinning him down. She seized one wrist, yanking it behind him—

  

  The metallic snap of cuffs echoed like a death knell.

  Eyan’s breath hitched in horror. “What are you doin—?”

  She twisted his other arm back, ignoring his frantic struggles.

  Both wrists now bound tight behind him. His cheek ground against the floor, sweat beading on his forehead.

  From beyond the door, a knight’s voice boomed: “Your Majesty? What was that sound? Is everything all right? We’re coming in!”

  Eyan’s mouth opened on instinct, a cry for help bubbling up. But then the thought hit him like a slap—.

  “Don’t come inside!” he shouted, voice strained but steady. “Everything is fine!”

  Eva leaned down from behind, her lips grazing his ear in a whisper that sent shivers down his spine. “Well done, Your Majesty.”

  A hysterical laugh escaped him, born of sheer panic. “What is the meaning of this, Lady Eva? Why have you bound my hands?”

  “So His Majesty cannot flee from me.”

  He laughed again, the sound edged with desperation. “You think these flimsy cuffs can hold me?”

  With a surge of adrenaline-fueled strength, he twisted sharply, rolling onto his back. Eva slipped off him, tumbling to the floor with a surprised gasp. He bent his knees, slid the cuffed wrists under his feet in a practiced maneuver, and brought his arms forward. Then he pulled—muscles bulging, veins popping—until the chain shattered with a resounding crack.

  Eva’s jaw dropped, eyes wide. “How did you—?”

  He sat up, panting, mind a whirlwind of fear and confusion. “Lady Eva, you must leave now. If anyone discovers you here, like this, you’ll be in grave trouble—imprisoned, or worse.”

  She smiled, undeterred, rising to her knees. “I did not come here to leave, Your Majesty. I will not depart until I have finished what I started.”

  Panic surged anew, his heart slamming against his ribs. “Wha—?”

  She pounced, capturing his lips in a fierce, demanding kiss.

  Eyan’s world tilted. Terror flooded him—he scrambled backward on the floor, dragging himself away until his back slammed into the unyielding wall. Eva pursued relentlessly, her lips sealed to his, tongue probing insistently as she pressed her body against him, trapping him completely.

  Her hands were a blur.

  

  New cuffs—stronger, unyielding—snapped around his wrists. She hoisted his arms above his head and locked the chain in the wall.

  Only then did she break the kiss, both gasping for air, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

  “You cannot escape now, Your Majesty.”

  Eyan stared at her, chest heaving in ragged bursts. “Have you lost your mind?” he demanded, voice trembling. “Untie me immediately!”

  He yanked viciously at the restraints. The cuffs constricted, digging into his flesh like vices.

  “What’s happening?” he gasped, struggling harder, pain shooting up his arms.

  “Do not waste your breath,” Eva murmured. “The more you resist, the tighter they become. It will only make breaking free impossible.”

  Panic gripped him fully now, his eyes locking onto hers in wild desperation. “Lady Eva… have you been possessed? What are you doing?”

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  She crawled closer, her fingers trailing softly over his face. “I am not possessed, Your Majesty. I simply crave you so intensely… I cannot restrain myself any longer.”

  His voice broke in shock and fear. “What did you say? You… you what?”

  She leaned in, her lips hovering mere inches from his. “I want you.”

  His entire body tensed, a scorching heat igniting in his core and spreading like wildfire through his veins.

  Eva’s hand slipped under his shirt, fingers gliding over the taut ridges of his abs. He jerked against the chains.

  “Stop!” he pleaded, voice laced with panic. “Remove your hand—now!”

  She paid no heed, her palm ascending to his chest, where she squeezed a nipple between her fingers—twisting just enough to elicit a sharp gasp.

  Heat flushed his face crimson. “Don’t… touch me—please!”

  Eva withdrew only to seize the fabric of his shirt and tear it open with a savage rip. The garment fell away, exposing his bare chest—muscles rippling with every frantic breath.

  “This is harassment!” he rasped, desperation mounting. “Lady Eva, I could have you thrown in prison for this—”

  “Then do it,” she challenged, her voice a sultry whisper. “What stops you, Your Majesty? Summon your knights. Have me chained in your stead.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut, teeth gritted, mind screaming.

  “You used to cower when I merely met your gaze,” he forced out, trying to regain control. “Now you’re bold, fearless. Lady Eva… are you truly unafraid of what I might do to you for this?.”

  Her smile deepened. “Indeed, I am no longer afraid… because I have fallen deeply, irrevocably in love with you.”

  The words struck him like a thunderbolt. “What? How… and why?”

  “I cannot explain it,” she confessed, her hand now tracing patterns on his exposed skin. “But every time I behold you, I envision us entangled in bed—your body thrusting into mine, claiming me utterly. The mere thought drenches me with desire.”

  His ears burned scarlet, heart thundering like a war drum. He couldn’t believe the vulgarity spilling from her lips.

  Eva’s fingers danced over his bare chest, then she leaned in and sank her teeth into one nipple—hard, unrelenting.

  Pain and pleasure exploded through him. He thrashed violently against the cuffs, body trembling uncontrollably, a guttural moan escaping despite his efforts.

  She pulled back, only to claim his mouth again—deep, invasive, her tongue tangling with his in a wet, sucking frenzy. She bit his lip hard, drawing a bead of blood.

  Restraint shattered in that instant; panic warred with overwhelming lust as he kissed her back fiercely, their mouths slick and messy with saliva.

  When she finally withdrew, their lips were swollen, strings of spit connecting them still.

  Eva nuzzled his neck, kissing the sensitive skin before biting down—marking him with a bruise that would surely show.

  His body betrayed him fully now; his erection strained painfully against his Pants, throbbing with urgent need.

  Her hand trailed lower—over his heaving chest, down his quivering stomach, slipping boldly into his pants.

  Eyan’s eyes flew open in abject terror.

  The internal battle raged, desire screaming against duty.

  ,” he thought, fear choking him.

  “KNIGHTS!” Eyan shouted.

  The chamber doors burst open with brutal force, wood slamming against stone walls.

  Steel rang. Boots thundered. The knights rushed in—then froze. Their eyes widened. Their mouths fell open. Silence crashed down like a blade.

  Their Emperor was sitting on the floor, his upper body bare, silver hair disheveled— his wrists bound in dark metallic cuffs.

  And in front of him—

  Eva.

  Eyan’s voice came sharp, strained. “Hold her back.”

  The knights snapped out of it. They lunged forward, grabbing Eva’s arms, twisting them behind her back with too much force.

  She was dragged down. Her knees hit the floor hard. Her face pressed against the cold marble.

  “Ah—!” Eva cried out in pain.

  Eyan’s eyes widened instantly. “What are you doing?!” he barked. “I told you to hold her back, not—!”

  Before he could finish— “HIS MAJESTY HAS BEEN ATTACKED!” a knight shouted.

  Another voice echoed, panicked. “Call everyone! All knights, come now!”

  “No—no—wait!” Eyan snapped, panic slicing through his authority. “Don’t call everyone—!”

  Too late.

  More knights flooded in.

  And froze.

  Again.

  Every single one of them stared.

  Their emperor.

  Half-dressed.

  Cuffed.

  Sitting on the floor like a criminal caught red-handed.

  Eyan lowered his head slowly. His ears burned. His face felt like it was on fire.

  , he thought darkly,

  He tested his wrists. The cuffs didn’t budge. They tightened.

  Eyan inhaled sharply. “Are you waiting for an invitation?” he snapped, voice tight with fury and embarrassment. “Hurry up and remove this.”

  Behind him—

  Eva bit her lip. Barely hiding her laugh.

  The knights rushed forward, drawing blades, using magic, pulling, striking— Nothing worked.

  The cuffs didn’t crack.

  Didn’t loosen.

  Didn’t even scratch.

  A knight swallowed hard.

  “Your Majesty… it’s not budging. What… what should we do?”

  Eva cleared her throat. “I can help.”

  Every head snapped toward her.

  The knight frowned. “…You?”

  Eva lifted her head slightly, eyes innocent. “Yes.”

  “And how,” another knight demanded, “do you remove these?”

  Eva hesitated. Then smiled sweetly. “Oh. To remove them,” she said calmly, “His Majesty has to kiss the person who put them on.”

  Dead silence.

  Eyan’s head snapped up. “What?!” His face went crimson. “That’s nonsense. You’re lying.”

  “I’m not, Your Majesty,” Eva said softly. “These are . You probably don’t know about them. A lot of people use them at night—”

  “Stop,” Eyan cut in sharply. “Don’t say another word.”

  He exhaled. Blushing. Hard.

  “…Fine,” he muttered. “Come here.”

  Eva smiled.

  The knights hesitated, then released her.

  She walked toward him slowly and sat down in front of him, knees brushing the floor.

  Eyan looked away. “Everyone,” he ordered stiffly, “close your eyes.”

  The knights obeyed instantly.

  Eyan hesitated. His heart raced.

  Then he leaned in—

  And pressed his lips to Eva’s. It was brief. Soft. Unbelievably slow.

  Eva lifted her hand calmly, touching the cuffs. The metal shimmered. Then dissolved— collapsing back into a small metallic ball.

  Eyan pulled back immediately. He stared at his wrists. Free. “…It actually worked,” he said quietly.

  Eva smiled. “I told you I wasn’t lying.”

  Before he could say anything—

  Hands grabbed Eva again. The knights seized her arms. “Then, Your Majesty,” one said firmly, “we shall take our leave.”

  “Wait—!” Eyan stood up abruptly. “Where are you taking her?”

  “To prison,” the knight replied. “Where else, Your Majesty?”

  “Prison?” Eyan protested. “There’s no need—she’s a delicate woman—”

  The knight glanced at Eyan’s bare chest. “Your Majesty… look at yourself. This did that to you.”

  “She’s not delicate,” another knight added grimly. “She’s dangerous.”

  Eyan whispered under his breath, “…That’s true.”

  The knights bowed. And dragged Eva away. The doors closed.

  Silence returned.

  Eyan sat heavily on his bed, both hands covering his burning face.

  “…Eva,” he muttered. “She’s insane.”

  Then, quieter—

  “I really thought I was going to die.”