He was a hero. He weighted the world on his shoulders—and unfortunately, that meant there was no room left for you.

They told him you were a distraction. A crack in the armor. A weakness that could be exploited. And when the choice came—save her or save the world—he looked you in the eye… and stepped back.

“I’m sorry,” he said, voice cracking.

Sorry wasn’t enough.

You ran.

Down endless temple stairs, the hem of your dress torn by thorned branches and broken promises. Through the darkened streets, past blurred lights and blurred memories. Into the forest where even the moon held its breath. Your lungs burned. Your tears blurred everything. But you didn’t stop—couldn’t. Not until your legs gave in. You collapsed, mud kissing your knees, your sob caught in the storm.

And then—arms.

Strong, sure arms wrapped around you from behind, catching you like you were always meant to fall into them. A voice, dark and warm like velvet soaked in sin, whispered against your ear:

“Finally.”

You gasped, twisting in his grasp. Eyes wide. Your heart was a riot in your chest.

It was him—the villain. The monster your hero fought to vanquish. The one they all feared. Cloaked in black, rain gliding down his sharp jaw, his eyes glowing like embers in the dark. She should’ve screamed. Should’ve pulled away. But his arms held a strange comfort no one had ever given her.

Your hands clutched him tighter. And he held tighter still—like you'd vanish if he blinked.

His lips ghosted your rain-slicked shoulder, breath hot and reverent. “You were always going to fall,” he whispered. “I only waited for gravity to do its work.”

You trembled. “Why me?”

His palm rose, flat over your heart. “Because you’re the chaos in my calm… the sin I’d commit again and again.”

He tilted your chin back. Fire roared in his eyes—wild, unholy, yours.

“And now that I have you,” he growled, pressing a kiss behind your ear, “I’ll burn this world to ash if it dares try to take you again.”