In the Shadow of the Crown

The night air felt different as Eliza dashed through the open door, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum of rebellion. The key to her chains the key to her freedom was pressed tight in her palm. She had no idea why Raen had given her that key, why he had left it there for her to take, but she wasn’t about to question it.

Eliza ran. The cool night sky seemed like a veil of freedom, one she hadn't felt in so long. She could still hear the echoes of Raen's voice in her mind, the dark promises he’d whispered, and the way he believed he could own her.

But now, now she was free.                                                      

Her breath hitched as she reached her mansion, the tall stone gates looming before her like an iron barrier between her and everything Raen had tried to make her into. She walked briskly to the door, barely sparing a glance at the guards. Her escape had gone unnoticed, for now.

Once inside, Eliza called for her butler.

"Find someone," she demanded, her voice cold. "Find someone who can break this damn collar and choker. I want them destroyed. Now."

The butler, a man who had served her family for years, nodded immediately, though his eyes betrayed concern. "As you wish, my lady."

Eliza retreated to her room, the weight of the chains still fresh on her body, even though they were no longer around her wrists or neck. There was a part of her that couldn’t forget them - the burn of magic, the constant reminder of Raen’s control. Even now, she felt his presence in her bones, his grip tightening as if the chains had never truly left.

But she would not let him win. Not yet.

***

Meanwhile, Raen had retreated to his own private quarters, his eyes narrowed as he turned over the idea of Eliza’s escape. It made no sense, and yet it did. She had taken the key. She had run.

But Raen was patient. She could try to flee, but he knew this world, this game, far too well. His mind worked quickly, and he had already sent a servant to find something more effective, something more powerful than what he had used before. A device to remind Eliza of her place.

He would make her want to come back.

A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. It was his butler, the one who had been entrusted with the task.

"My lord," the butler began, "I have secured the device you requested."

Raen’s eyes flicked to him. "Show me."

The butler presented a small, intricate contraption - a collar, much like the one Eliza had worn, but with a more sinister design. The moment it was placed around the wearer’s neck, it would not just restrain them physically; it would bind them emotionally. Eliza would feel it every moment, every breath, the tension pulling her back to him.

"The collar," the butler explained, "is made to be invisible to the wearer. Only you will be able to see it. Once in place, it will be impossible for her to remove it. It will press on her chest, on her heart, and remind her that you own her. It’s designed to make her... crave your presence."

Raen smiled, a cold, cruel expression that spoke volumes.

"You’ve done well," he murmured. "Now, leave me."

The butler bowed and exited the room, leaving Raen alone with his thoughts. He held the collar, inspecting it as though it were a weapon. He had won once; this time, he would ensure that Eliza’s escape was nothing but an illusion.

***

Eliza closed her bedroom door behind her, the familiar scent of lavender and wood filling her senses as she paced the room. Her fingers shook slightly as she moved toward the bed, feeling the tightness of the room’s air press against her chest. She needed to do something….anything other than think about Raen.

In her mind, there was a storm of emotions. Part of her felt relief, but another part an insidious part felt the emptiness of his absence. His touch had burned her, and yet there was a dangerous comfort in it.

No. She would not let him control her.

She went to the bell by the door, summoning the maid to her side.

"Prepare a bath for me," she ordered, her voice firm. "I need to wash away everything that happened."@@novelbin@@

The maid, with her usual efficiency, nodded. "Right away, my lady."

Soon, Eliza found herself sinking into the warm water, the steam swirling around her, calming her mind, or at least, attempting to. But as the hot water embraced her, so too did the memories of Raen.

His lips on her skin, his hands binding her, the way he spoke to her like she was both treasure and prisoner. It made her sick, and yet… the heat surged again.

"Stop it," she muttered to herself.

But the heat lingered.

After the bath, Eliza dressed quickly in the simple gown her maid had prepared for her. She was ready for a quiet meal to distract herself, a moment to gain control of her thoughts again. But as she entered the dining room and took her seat, something felt off.

The food was rich and heavy, the wine deep and warm. She had barely taken a few bites before the heat from earlier began to rise again. A flush covered her skin, and her thoughts began to haze. She felt a strange ache deep in her body, an unfamiliar hunger gnawing at her.

Her body moved without her permission, the sudden yearning taking over. The room was too warm, the air too thick. She barely realized when she stood from the table, her legs unsteady as she made her way to the door.

But as she reached it, the door opened. And there, standing in the doorway, was Raen.

He stepped inside without a word, his eyes dark with knowledge.

"You can’t run from me, Eliza," he whispered, his voice smooth, like silk wrapped in iron. "Not now. Not ever."

***

Raen had found her, just as he knew he would. And that night, in the dim light of her mansion, Eliza’s thoughts became as tangled as the chains she had left behind. What had happened? What had she done? Why did it feel like something inside her had changed?

But when she woke the next morning, it was as though nothing had happened at all. No memories. No traces of the night before. Only the hollow ache inside, the pull that would always lead her back to him.

The battle for Eliza’s heart had only just begun.