Chapter 160: The Price Of Defiance
[Music Recommendation: Sebastian Plano - Fortanach]
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"No! I won’t!" Eve’s voice rang out, trembling yet fierce. "You cannot tell me what is good or bad for me, Ivan!"
Her eyes brimmed with tears again, but she refused to let them fall this time. Instead, she glared at him with burning determination. "I’ll fight it. I’ll fight with everything in my power to bring you back to who you were! And if you stand in my way...then I’ll fight you too!"
As her voice rose, her eyes blazed with molten gold, and a radiant glow began to pulse from her body. The air in the room thickened, and the very walls of the hotel began to tremble under the force of her awakening power.
Ivan sat frozen, staring at her silently. When her light reached him, it washed over his body like a cleansing wave, and for the first time since last night, he felt...lighter. The locket Evelyn had once given him began to shimmer faintly against his chest, resonating with her power, as if answering her call.
The darkness that had coiled in his chest began to loosen its hold on him slightly. His brows furrowed at the strange, tingling sensation. He raised a hand to his chest, and that was when he felt it. The locket was emanating warmth against his skin. Looking down, he saw it glowing faintly, and realisation struck him.
Eve, who had been watching him closely, followed his gaze and noticed the glow as well.
Ivan held the locket in his palm and whispered, "This must be it."
"What must be?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the locket.
He looked up at her, awe gleamed in his crimson eyes. "The thing stopping the corruption from taking complete control of my body...I can feel it." He cupped her face gently and continued, his voice low but certain, "It’s your power that’s protecting me."
Her anger ebbed at his words, her eyes widening before she responded resolutely, "Then...it’s decided, Ivan Ignia De Ashen. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay right by your side, and we’ll fight this through."
She clutched his robe tightly and leaned forward, her voice trembled with fierce emotions. "You better not ask me to leave again, because I swear I’ll fight you..."
And Ivan was utterly defeated by her resolve and let out a resigned sigh. "It won’t be easy, Eve. Even though your powers are helping me, the corruption is still there, and I don’t know what changes might occur in me when it takes a stronger hold."
"I’ll handle it. I’m not that weak, Ivan, not someone who runs away when things get tough," she replied without a trace of hesitation.
And he already knew that she wouldn’t leave, even if he asked her to. He knew she was resilient; his Eve was no weak woman.
But still, for her safety, he needed to say it. "Alright then, I won’t ask you to leave. But you need to promise me....promise me that if I ever lose control, if there’s danger, you’ll run. Go to Damien and Cece. Promise me you won’t stay then."
He spoke as if his life depended on her answer.
Eve fell silent for a moment before saying softly, "I promise to help you when things get tough."
She hadn’t agreed to what he asked, and he let out a low, disbelieving chuckle. His expression darkened, and he cupped her chin, bringing her face closer to his as he whispered, his voice edged with quiet desperation, "Eve...promise me that you’ll save yourself first."
Eve felt heat pool low in her stomach as his warm breath brushed against her lips. Her hands, acting on their own, slid up to his neck, then to the back of his head, tangling in his soft raven hair.
She met his ferocity with equal intensity, "I promise to save us," she whispered back.
And in that quiet defiance, her words said everything, that she would fight not just for him, but for what they were together. Their relationship.
Suddenly, something dark coiled within Ivan, and he crashed his lips against hers with such intensity that it felt like a punishment for defying him over and over again. Eve let out a soft whimper as he kissed her hard, as though he were trying to devour her very soul. Yet instead of fear, a thrill coursed through her veins. Her fingers tangled in his hair as she matched his fervent kiss with equal intensity, biting his lower lip until a low growl rumbled deep in his chest.
His other hand roamed all over her back before it reached her round ass, grabbing it, he gave it a hard squeeze, making her tremble at his electric touch.
He let go of her chin and dragged his other hand to grab her other round globe, pushing her close to him. Parting his lips away, he looked at her with feral intensity, "You’re about to be punished."
Saying that, he lifted them both off the floor in one swift motion and reached the bed in no time.
He dropped Eve onto the bed, letting her bounce slightly against the mattress as a gasp escaped her lips. Then, he loosened his robe, revealing the taut muscles beneath. Pulling the soft cloth belt free, he climbed over her.
"Raise your hands," he commanded in a low, deep voice.
Eve could see the faint darkness swirling within his molten red eyes, yet she raised both hands without complaint. Her heart thundered in her chest in anticipation. She knew he was under the dark influence, but she didn’t care, as long as he wasn’t in pain.
Ivan took both of her wrists and expertly wrapped his black cloth belt around them, one after the other, while Eve’s blue eyes wandered down to trace the sharp lines of his abdomen and the tension in his arms as he pulled the knot tight.
Once he tightened the knot around her wrists, he asked, "Too tight?"
Her gaze snapped back to his face, colour rising to her cheeks as she shook her head.
Keeping his eyes locked on her, he leaned over to tie the ends of the belt to the bedpost. When he was done, he gave it a firm tug and asked in a huskier tone, "Now?"
Eve swallowed hard. "No," she whispered.
A dark gleam flashed in his eyes as he lowered himself until his breath ghosted over her ear. "Try not to pull on it too much," he said, his voice deep and velvet-soft. "It’ll spare your wrists from bruising. Do you understand me?"
She gave him another slow nod, and he leaned closer....just an inch away from her lips. "Use that pretty mouth of yours, Eve."
"Yes," she replied, her voice trembling.
"That’s my good baby," he murmured, brushing his hand gently through her hair in appreciation before leaning down and letting his lips graze hers.
He let his hands trace over her wrists and arms with gentle pressure before moving down along the contours of her body. His fingers dragged slowly to her waist as he whispered darkly, "Do you know why you’re being punished?"
Eve’s breathing hitched when he wrapped his arms around her waist. Her throat bobbed as she breathed out, "Yes."
"Yes?" He pressed slow circles into her waist, then dipped his head beside her ear and whispered sinuously, "Then tell me."
Eve’s eyes fluttered shut at his tender ministrations, as though he were slowly setting her body ablaze. Her skin flushed crimson, and with her hands bound, all she could do was surrender to the wave he was building within her.
"B-because I wouldn’t agree with you," she breathed out.
That was when he tightened his grip on her waist and, with one swift motion, like she weighed nothing, he flipped her onto her stomach, making Eve let out another gasp of surprise.
Her hair spilled across her face, and a second later, she heard a sharp tear before the cool air brushed against her back. She realised her robe had been ripped apart like paper by his bare hands, leaving her only in her strapped, light-blue silk nightgown.
Her blue eyes widened in shock as she lifted her head to look back, only to find him looming over her shoulder.
He gripped her chin firmly and murmured, "So, let me ask you again...will you agree to what I asked you?"
His molten red eyes, swirling with darkness, watched her like a predator about to strike.
Eve knew he was giving her one last chance to get out of this situation, but she couldn’t bring herself to agree to what he was asking. She could never abandon him. If danger ever came, she would face it head-on rather than run away.
Her chest heaved as she met his eyes defiantly, even though her heart was pounding against her ribs and said with determination, "No."
For a brief, charged second, silence fell between them. Then his fingers loosened from her chin.
Rip!
The sound of fabric tearing for the second time sliced through the air.
