All Chapters of Darkbound Mate: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Lynette’s POVThe soft clinking of the spoon against the ceramic cup is the only sound breaking the heavy silence in the room as I stir the tea. The faint hum of the heater drones on in the background, barely audible over the steady rhythm of my own heartbeat. The faint citrusy aroma of freshly squeezed lemons mingles with the delicate sweetness of honey, the sharper scent of Kassian’s sweat and the earthy spice of his cologne—creating a calming scent that fills the air. It’s almost ironic how soothing it is, given the storm of emotions swirling inside me.“Here you go, one cup of my sweet lemon tea,” I say brightly, my voice a little too cheerful to hide the nervous flutter in my chest. I place the cup carefully into his waiting hands, and for a brief moment, my fingers brush against his as he takes it. The contact is fleeting, but it sends a strange warmth skittering up my arm, igniting a tingling warmth that lingers on my skin.“Thanks,” Kassian murmurs, his voice low and gravelly.

“My parents got married for business,” he begins, his voice low and rough. The words come out strained, as if he’s dragging them from the depths of a painful memory. “It was never about love. Just an alliance to strengthen the family… bonds.” His eyes darken, and I swear I can feel the weight of his anger ripple through the room.“They fell in love—or at least, my mother thought they did—until she found out my father was cheating on her just months after their marriage. The betrayal killed her. Not physically, not at first. But it broke something inside her.” He pauses, his jaw tightening as a muscle in his cheek twitches.The faint hum of the heater fills the silence between us, and I become painfully aware of the way his fingers curl tightly around the armrest.“Of course, we had no idea about the affairs. Not until he walked into our lives one day with his new wife—and two daughters. One of them just a year younger than me, the other five years younger.”The bitterness in his tone

The soft hum of the SUV’s engine fills the silence as I lean my head against the cool glass of the window, watching the cityscape blur past. Raindrops streak the glass, catching the faint glow of the streetlights as we speed toward the studio. The muted sound of tires splashing against wet pavement creates a steady rhythm, blending with the low buzz of the heater. I close my eyes briefly, letting the faint scent of leather and Elliott’s cologne in the front seat fill my senses, but it does little to settle the turmoil within me.For days now—four, to be exact—I’ve been plagued by thoughts I can’t seem to escape. Kassian has found a way to infiltrate every corner of my mind, and it’s driving me insane. It’s not just his face, though that alone is enough to leave me breathless. It’s everything about him: his presence, his voice, his scent.Even in my dreams, he haunts me.The wet dreams are the worst. Each one is more vivid than the last, leaving me shaken and dissatisfied in ways I can

The interview went well—or at least that’s what I keep telling myself. Nellie asked all the expected questions about my health and the mysterious location of my treatment. I kept my answers vague, teasing the audience with the notion of a “secret haven.” Brushing those off felt easy enough.But then she asked about Rowan.The mention of him caught me off guard. My throat tightened, and for the briefest moment, my smile faltered. Nellie, ever perceptive, noticed and hesitated. Concern flickered in her eyes, and I could tell she worried she’d touched a nerve. “It’s not a sensitive topic,” I’d assured her with a light laugh, though the strain in my voice betrayed me.I told her the truth—or most of it. That Rowan and I were still friends, though things had gotten rocky before he… changed. Then, with a playful smile, I added that we were fixing it, even hinting at an upcoming “date.”The audience ate it up. Nellie beamed at my answer, the warmth of the crowd washing over us like applause

The tension in the car is suffocating, a thick, oppressive weight that presses down on my chest. It isn’t just any tension—it’s charged, electric, coiling through the air and wrapping around us like an invisible cord pulling tighter with every passing second.The car glides down a nearly deserted street, its headlights casting pale beams that carve through the inky darkness. Streetlights flicker as we pass, their amber glow reflecting faintly on the damp pavement, a reminder of the rain that had fallen earlier. The faint smell of wet asphalt seeps into the car, mingling with the subtle tang of Kassian’s cologne.Outside, the world feels quiet, almost eerie in its stillness. A stray leaf flutters across the windshield, carried by a light breeze that ripples through the trees lining the road. The occasional hum of another car passing by only serves to highlight the silence between us, thick and unyielding. It’s as though the entire world has faded into the background, leaving only the t