Chapter 11 Third POVSolas stood in the shadows, his gaze fixed on Elara as she knelt beside the pond in the center of his chamber. The soft, shimmering light of the moon filtered through the open ceiling, casting a pale glow over her figure. She had taken to sitting by the water’s edge, her fingers gently gliding through the surface, creating ripples that distorted her reflection.It was a curious thing to watch—a mortal with so much quiet resolve, enduring the conditions he had subjected her to with such stubborn determination. Days had passed since she first arrived in his domain, and though he had expected her spirit to begin unraveling by now, she remained unbroken. Solas found it both irritating and amusing.She had been given little food, barely enough to sustain her, and yet she had not complained. The stone floor was her only bed, cold and unforgiving, but she had not once cried out in discomfort. She bore her suffering in silence, her green eyes still bright with that infu
Chapter 12 Third POVElara’s body ached in ways she had never imagined possible. Each morning she awoke on the cold stone floor, her muscles stiff, her joints screaming in protest as she tried to stand. The chamber’s oppressive cold had seeped into her bones, making every movement a reminder of her slow decline. Days had blended together into a monotonous cycle of discomfort, hunger, and relentless fatigue. The meager rations Solas provided barely sustained her, leaving her weaker with each passing hour.Her mind, once sharp and filled with purpose, had begun to dull under the strain. Thoughts that had once been clear and determined now swirled in a haze of exhaustion. Every step was a battle, every breath a struggle to maintain the fragile thread of her resolve. And through it all, her hatred for Solas festered like a wound that refused to heal.She hated him for what he had done to her, for the cruelty he had inflicted. But more than that, she hated him for the games he was playin
Chapter 13 Third POVSolas stood in the shadows, his form blending seamlessly with the darkness that filled the corners of his chamber. He watched as Elara sat by the pond, her delicate fingers gliding through the water’s surface. She seemed lost in thought, her exhaustion evident in the way her shoulders slumped and her movements grew sluggish. Yet, despite her obvious physical decline, she continued to defy him, holding on to a stubborn strength that both frustrated and intrigued him.He had expected her to break by now. He had given her little food, no comfort, and nothing but the cold, hard stone to sleep on. Yet she endured. She clung to her resolve with a determination that should have crumbled days ago. But instead of falling apart, she had found solace in the most unlikely of places—the pond.Solas had noticed how she gravitated toward the water, how it seemed to calm her, offer her some measure of peace in this desolate place. It annoyed him, this small defiance. The pond w
Chapter 14Third POVElara slowly regained consciousness, her mind swimming through the haze of sleep and confusion. The first thing she noticed was the soft, warm surface beneath her—a stark contrast to the cold, hard stone she had grown accustomed to. The second was the gentle sensation of fingers running through her hair, tender and soothing.Opening her eyes, she found herself lying in a grand, four-poster bed draped in dark, silken sheets. The bed was massive, and she felt almost swallowed by its luxuriousness. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a few candles, casting flickering shadows on the walls. It took her a moment to realize where she was, but when she did, her breath caught in her throat.Solas was sitting beside her, his pale blue eyes focused intently on her. His expression was unlike anything she had seen before—soft, concerned, almost… caring. He continued to run his fingers through her hair, his touch gentle and reassuring."Elara," Solas said softly, his voic
Chapter 15 Third POV Solas watched over Elara as she lay unconscious on the bed, her breathing soft and even, a faint smile playing on her lips. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her, mesmerized by the peaceful expression on her face—a stark contrast to the turmoil she had endured since arriving in his domain. In that moment, she looked so innocent, so untainted by the darkness that surrounded her, and it stirred something unfamiliar within him.The bedchamber was dimly lit by a few flickering candles, their soft light casting long shadows that danced along the stone walls. Solas had always found solace in the darkness, in the quiet and cold of his cavernous home. But now, with Elara here, the darkness seemed more oppressive, more suffocating.He noticed the way she shifted slightly, her lips parting as if to whisper a secret. Then, the smile on her face grew, and her body arched ever so slightly, as if reaching for something—or someone. Solas's eyes narrowed as he observed her clo
Chapter 16 Third POVHelios watched with keen interest as Elara struggled against the pull toward the shadows, toward his wretched son, Solas. From his perch in the heavens, he saw her will faltering, her steps hesitating before she collapsed into unconsciousness. A cruel smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he observed her descent into the darkness. The girl was weak, just as he had expected.In the golden grandeur of his celestial chambers, Helios reveled in the satisfaction of his manipulation. His home in the heavens was a palace of pure radiance, walls forged from the first rays of sunlight, casting a perpetual glow that would blind any mortal who dared to look upon it. Tall, arching windows opened to the sky, allowing beams of sunlight to pour in, reflecting off the gilded surfaces of the room. His throne, an elaborate seat of blazing gold, was set atop a dais, encrusted with sunstones that shimmered with every step he took.The air was warm, always perfumed with the scent
Chapter 17Third POVElara’s eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The world around her was shrouded in shadows, the cold air clinging to her skin like a suffocating blanket. For a moment, she couldn’t remember where she was or how she had gotten there. The last thing she recalled was a sense of overwhelming dread, followed by darkness.As her vision slowly cleared, she became aware of a figure looming beside her. Solas. His face was expressionless, his icy blue eyes fixed on her with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. He was sitting beside the slab on which she lay, his head bent down, almost as if he were lost in thought.“What are you doing?” Elara’s voice came out hoarse, her throat dry and aching. She tried to prop herself up on her elbows, but her limbs felt heavy, as if they were weighed down by invisible chains.Solas remained silent, his gaze unwavering. The silence between them was thick, oppressive, pressing down
Chapter 18Third POVThe sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the small village nestled in the valley. The air was cool, the scent of the earth mingling with the last remnants of summer warmth. Life in the village continued as it always had—unremarkable, predictable, and tinged with the quiet resignation of those who had long since accepted their lot in life. But today, there was a palpable sense of relief in the air, a collective exhale of tension that had been building for weeks.The villagers gathered in the central square, the hub of all activity, where the day’s gossip was shared, and decisions were made. They spoke in hushed tones, casting furtive glances at the edges of the forest that bordered their home. The forest was dense and dark, its secrets known only to those who dared venture too far. And beyond the forest lay the mountains, towering and ominous, where no villager in their right mind would tread—save for the foolhardy or the desperate.Elara had been desp
Chapter 29Third POVElara ran her fingers through her damp hair, now freshly washed and braided, as she stood near the edge of the pond. The familiar sense of guilt still weighed heavily on her after the bath, and despite feeling physically renewed, her mind was troubled. She had made up her mind to apologize to Solas for her behavior the previous day, but now she couldn't seem to find him.Where could he be? she wondered as she glanced around the cavern.Pulling the simple, flowing dress she had found from the neatly folded pile onto her body, she felt a determination to put things right. Even though Solas had tormented her with his coldness and power, he had never gone beyond what she could handle. His care, hidden behind a mask of indifference, was becoming clearer now that she was rested and fed. She realized that she may have misunderstood him, and after all these centuries of isolation, maybe he, too, was struggling.“Solas?” she called, her voice soft at first, hesitant, then
Chapter 28Third POVSolas sat in the corner of his dimly lit chamber, his eyes never leaving the form of Elara, who lay curled up in his bed. He had kept to the shadows, hidden behind the dark veil that cloaked him, but his gaze had not wavered, watching her sleep through the long, quiet hours of the night. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, soft little exhales escaping from her parted lips, and Solas found himself leaning forward slightly, almost without realizing it.She was serene, entirely at peace in her sleep. The lines of tension that had marred her face earlier were now gone, replaced by a sweet, almost innocent calm. Her brow furrowed occasionally, her lips curling into a faint smile at times, and Solas couldn’t help but wonder what she was dreaming about. Was it something pleasant? Was it him? The thought sent a shiver through him, one he couldn’t explain.Why am I so enamored by her?It was a question that had haunted him since the moment he laid eyes on her, and to
Chapter 27Third POVElara awoke to a faint sliver of light filtering through the darkened cave, its soft glow reflecting off the still pond. She blinked, adjusting her eyes to the gentle shimmer as she slowly sat up, confusion momentarily clouding her thoughts. The last thing she remembered was collapsing into sleep, her body aching and sore from the torment of hunger and exhaustion. But now, as she stretched her limbs, she felt nothing but strength, as though the fatigue and pain had been swept away by some unseen force.She rose to her feet, expecting her muscles to protest, to feel the cold stiffness from sleeping on the hard stone slab. But there was none of that. No soreness, no discomfort. Just an overwhelming sense of energy coursing through her veins, as if she were somehow renewed.Elara frowned, running her hands over her arms, her brow furrowed in thought. How is this possible? She had been on the brink of collapse the day before, barely able to think straight, let alone fe
Chapter 26Third POVSelene sat atop her celestial throne, bathed in the pale glow of her moon as its silver light poured through the open arches of her ethereal home. She watched the waves below, feeling their pulse as they rose and crashed against the shorelines of a distant village. The tides were erratic tonight—wild, untamable—and no matter how hard she focused, she couldn’t subdue them. Her brow furrowed in frustration as she tried once more to ease the waters, her divine power coaxing them into serenity.But it was no use.A heavy sigh escaped her lips as realization settled over her. This wasn’t nature acting on its own. No, the tides were responding to something darker—someone darker. She clenched her fists as her suspicions grew certain.Solas.Her brother. The mere thought of him sent a bitter chill through her veins. It had been centuries since they had last crossed paths, but his presence lingered like a shadow on her realm, dark and consuming. He was still there, beneath
Chapter 25Third POVElara reveled in the hazy remnants of her fond memories, lingering on the comforting images from the village—the farmers’ market, the warm smiles exchanged over fresh produce, the laughter of children in the square. It was a fleeting moment of solace, a time when life was simpler and unburdened. But as she sank deeper into her slumber, those happy images began to fade, replaced by a chilling void.The darkness came swiftly, like a predator stalking its prey, creeping closer with every breath. Elara felt its weight pressing down on her, suffocating her. She couldn’t see, couldn’t hear—just the overwhelming sense of emptiness gnawing at her core. Panic surged through her as the shadows loomed closer, tightening their grip around her fragile form. Her body trembled in the dream, helpless against the suffocating abyss, her mind screaming for escape that never came.Just when she thought she could bear no more, a sudden wave of warmth enveloped her. It was like being wr
Chapter 24Third POVSolas stood in the shadows, his dark form barely distinguishable against the cavern walls. His eyes never left Elara as she lay on the cold stone slab, shifting restlessly. He watched her, his gaze sharp and unyielding, as she struggled to find sleep. The exhaustion was evident in every line of her body—her limbs heavy, her eyelids fluttering shut only to open again moments later.And yet, there was a stubbornness in her, a quiet resilience that refused to give in, even to the pull of sleep. Solas found himself intrigued, as he so often did when it came to Elara. What was it about her that made him linger in the shadows, watching her every move with such intensity?He had never been one for such idle curiosity. He had seen countless mortals, all of them weak in one way or another, succumbing to their emotions, their fears, their mortality. Yet there was something different about Elara. Something that made it impossible for him to turn away.Finally, after what seem
Chapter 23Third POVElara sat on the cold stone slab, feeling the warmth of the food settle in her stomach, the energy coursing through her veins like a lifeline. For the first time since her arrival in this dark, oppressive place, she felt a small measure of strength return to her body. The meal had done more than just sustain her physically; it had given her a fleeting sense of normalcy, a brief escape from the nightmare that had become her reality.Closing her eyes, she let herself sink into that feeling, allowing the memories of her past to wash over her like a comforting tide. She drifted back to a time when life was simple, when her biggest concern was choosing the freshest produce at the village market, and her greatest joy was cooking a hearty meal to share with others.In her mind, she saw herself walking through the village, her feet moving over the familiar cobblestone streets. She was dressed modestly, as always, in a simple dress that allowed her to blend in with the othe
Chapter 22Third POVSolas had been watching Elara for hours, his gaze never straying from her frail form as she sat by the pond. She was a sight to behold, even in her weakened state—a fragile human, caught in the web of gods, yet still clinging to life with a tenacity that both fascinated and frustrated him. The pond’s surface shimmered with the faint light of the magical barrier he had placed around her, a protective cocoon to shield her from Helios’s draining magic. Yet, even with that protection, Elara was barely holding on.His bride.The thought of her as his bride was a bitter pill to swallow, a reminder of the chain of events that had led to this moment. Elara had been chosen—no, sacrificed—by her village, sent to him as an offering. But Solas hadn’t accepted her as a mere offering. He had claimed her, bound her to him with a vow that was both a blessing and a curse.But what was the point of claiming her if she couldn’t even survive? The fleeting triumph he had felt in freei
Chapter 21 Third POV Elara’s eyelids fluttered, her consciousness teetering on the edge of a deep, dreamless sleep. She could feel her past, the memories she had so carefully buried, lurking just beyond the veil of sleep, waiting for her to lose her grip so they could slip through the cracks. They were always there, haunting her at the edge of her thoughts, ready to seize any moment of weakness and drag her back to a time she would rather forget. But before she could succumb to the darkness, a commanding voice cut through the silence, yanking her back to the present.Her heart raced as she jerked upright, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. She scanned the dimly lit chamber, her mind scrambling to make sense of her surroundings. The cold stone walls seemed to close in on her, the shadows deepening as her breathing quickened. But then her gaze landed on him—Solas. He was sitting by the pond, his back to her, his fingers lazily tracing patterns in the water.The sight of him shou