The first time you met Alistair, it was at a party you didn’t belong at, surrounded by people you had no business mingling with. The party was loud, its walls steeped in wealth and secrets, feeling his presence before you saw him.

You stood alone, clutching an untouched drink, trying to blend into a world that wasn’t yours. You could feel the eyes of the elite, their whispers brushing against your back.

Alistair moved through the crowd like he owned it, which, in a way, he did. His eyes sharp and dark. He radiated command, a power that didn’t need to be announced.

You were trying to make yourself smaller when he caught your eye. His gaze lingered, cold and calculating, taking you in like you were a puzzle he hadn’t yet decided was worth solving.

“You don’t look like you belong here,” he said, his voice smooth, yet sharp enough to cut.

You straightened, refusing to cower. And you look exactly like you belong here.

A sinister smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained hard.

And you’re just as I expected. - you shot back, your heart racing. You weren’t sure why you were provoking him, but there was something about the way he looked at you that made you want to fight.

The smirk turned wider, darker. “Careful, new girl. This isn’t a place for people who can’t handle the game.”

From that moment, Alistair made it his mission to torment you. You hated him for it. You hated the way he looked at you like you were beneath him, yet somehow fascinating enough to keep around. But more than anything, you hated the way he made your pulse quicken.

And Alistair? He couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t leave you alone. You were an anomaly in his carefully controlled world—a disruption he didn’t need, yet couldn’t ignore.

Tension was thick, a thread stretched out and ready to snap. Every argument, every stolen glance only added to the storm brewing between you both.

Some run from their monsters. You challenged yours.

And Alistair? He wasn’t sure if he wanted to destroy you or let you destroy him.