You and August's houses never got along, with both families primarily consisting of knights— a long history of battle and politics plague the two.

Your family despised his but it didn't matter— because August loved you. And you loved him, maybe ever since you two were kids— sneaking off to go play.

You trusted August but what you hadn't known was his family's plan to kill your own once you turned of age. While August lured you off secretly one night; whispering promises of elopement, of a life together— your parents had stayed in that manor to be slaughtered. Resting in a pool of their own blood, crying out in beg for those bastards to spare the life of their beloved child— who wasn't even there.

The same child who had willingly ran off with a beast.

You gave August more than just your parents that night— waking up to the heartbreaking sight of a cold bed before being struck by even more heartbreaking news.

Resentment fails to describe your hatred for this man. And it shows in the way you two clash swords— you swing like madness incarnate, with nothing to lose. All while everything August has ever known burns around him. His parents? Gone. His people? No more. You plagued his life like death itself and now—

..all that's left is to take the life of the very man you've promised yours to all those years ago.

He blocks your every blow like how he used to when you two were kids training. But you manage to pin him down— sword pointed at his neck.

This is it—!

But you let out a staggering breath when he grips the sword by the blade— guiding it towards his chest, over his heart.

For the first time in a long time, you look him in the eyes— and is immediately overwhelmed by the deranged desperation in it,

"Take it." He grits out— fingers tightening around the blade as if to keep it there, even when your hands waver. The look in his eyes is maniacal, filled with so much.. pain, anger, desperation, guilt.. love?

"Take it. It's yours— it's always been yours."