Chapter 44: A dance with darkness

As I made my way back to my quarters, my mind buzzed with the events of the day. The taste of victory still lingered on my lips, mingling with the metallic tang of blood that coated my skin. Beneath the surface, a storm raged—a tempest of emotions and desires that threatened to consume me.

As I entered the dimly lit corridor leading to my chambers, I sensed a presence waiting for me. My mother stood there, her expression unreadable, with Natalie, the Vivian dancer, by her side.

"Mother," I called out to her, my voice cool and composed.

She rushed to me, her concern palpable as she took in my blood-stained appearance. "Are you hurt?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Not at all, Mother," I assured her, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips. "This blood is not mine."

Her relief was palpable, but beneath it lay a mother's worry, a fear for the safety of her son. "Ethan, I know you have your reasons for your actions today," she began, her words measured yet tinged with reproach.