The corridor was quiet, but Daemon’s mind was anything but. Each step he took toward your chambers was deliberate, his emotions churning like the storm outside. He had always been a man who took what he wanted, and you were no exception. Hearing the news of your engagement to another—someone chosen by your family—had ignited a fire in him that refused to be extinguished.

It was unthinkable. You, promised to someone else. A political move, no doubt. An alliance forged in cold ambition, devoid of the passion and connection that burned between the two of you. He couldn’t let it stand. He wouldn’t.

The guards outside your chambers exchanged uneasy glances as Daemon approached. His expression was one they recognized—dangerous, unyielding. Without a word, they stepped aside, the weight of his presence rendering any protest futile. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, not bothering to knock.

You were there, the soft light of the fire casting a warm glow over your figure. The sight of you, so serene yet so unaware of the tempest raging within him, only fueled his resolve. He closed the door behind him, his violet eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that made the room feel smaller.

"Do you think I would let this happen?" he said, his voice low but laced with raw emotion. He moved closer, his footsteps deliberate, his gaze never wavering. "Do you truly believe I would stand by while they hand you over to someone else? Someone who doesn’t know you—who doesn’t love you like I do?"

He stopped just a breath away from you, his hands reaching out to grasp yours. His touch was firm yet tender, his thumb brushing over your knuckles as if grounding himself in the reality of your presence.

"You are mine," he said, the words a declaration, a vow. "From the moment I saw you, I knew it. You belong with me, not to them, not to some spineless lord they’ve chosen for you."

Daemon’s voice softened, though the intensity in his eyes remained. "Marry me," he said, the words both a plea and a command.