Lumina’s slippers made no sound as she stepped through the threshold of Adam’s chamber.
The silence pressed against her ears, heavy and unnatural. She could tell the maids had been sent away by Rhynera and must have taken them to the palace. Her fingers brushed against the edge of the doorframe as though to ground herself.
The command came like a blade through the dark, and his voice left no room for hesitation.
She obeyed, her hands folding neatly before her, listening to the sound of his breath. "You summoned me," she said softly, her head tilting slightly toward him.
Adam’s boots struck the stone floor in slow steps. She felt the heat of him as he stopped just close enough that she could sense his shadow over her.
"I did," he said, and there was a thread of mockery in his tone.
"Because you seem to think you can ignore my orders... despite seeing how I could hurt your husband."
Her lips pressed together, her sightless eyes turning toward him. "I have obeyed where it was just," she replied quietly. "But I will not betray my husband."
Adam chuckled, a low, dark sound that sent a chill through her. "Betray," he echoed, as if savoring the word.
"I asked you to watch him and tell me more about him and instead, you give me silence. Is this the loyalty of a Celestial princess?"
"It is the loyalty of someone who still has honor," she said, her voice calm despite the racing of her heart.
The air shifted, and she heard the sound of a dagger sliding free from its sheath. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, as he slowly pressed it against her throat.
"I brought you to this realm, Princess Lumina," Adam said softly, dangerously. "Do you think honor will save you? Perhaps pain will loosen your tongue or I should leave marks where Ashen will see them. Let him wonder whether I hurt you and cause another uproar."
Her breath caught, fury sparking inside her chest like wildfire. She had been patient long enough, swallowing every humiliation for the sake of peace. Now he threatened to harm her, to use her as a pawn against her own husband. Follow current novᴇls on novel{f}ire.net
"Get your hands off me, coward!" she snapped, her voice rising as she shoved him back but this time, the push carried more than her strength.
A sudden, invisible force flared from her palm, throwing Adam a step backward.
A furious snarl followed his sharp intake of breath. "You dare!"
Before he could advance, she reached for her blindfold, then silk slid free, and her sightless eyes, low, lowing as she turned toward him. Adam froze mid-step seeing this.
"Stop," Lumina said, her voice suddenly layered.
Adam’s body locked in place, his chest rising and falling with ragged, unwilling breaths. His own hand trembled as if resisting an invisible pull.
"What are you doing to me?" he asked and a sly grin plastered her face.
"I wouldn’t make you lose all your memories because I am going to make this a warning to you." she let out, no matter how Adam struggled for the invisible force controlling him it wasn’t working.
"Give me the antidote," she commanded, she was here for it and not causing other issues if he wouldn’t do it in a simple way then she was ready for him to use the other way.
He fought her control, jaw clenched tight. The dagger slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor as he stumbled back toward the desk, each step strained and halting as though dragged by unseen chains. She stood utterly still, her gaze fixed on him.
"Now," she said again, sharper this time.
With a hiss of frustration, Adam yanked open a drawer. The faint clink of glass followed, and then a bottle pressed itself into her waiting palm.
She curled her fingers around it, her heart pounding, but her voice remained cool.
"Never mess with me again.," she said softly.
The door creaked, and Ceryes’s voice came from the hallway. "My lord, do you require..."
"Come in," Lumina said before Adam could speak.
Ceryes hesitated, but obeyed, stepping inside. As soon as he crossed the threshold, Lumina turned her face toward him, as she also took control of his actions.
"Release me," she told him, Ceryes stepped forward and gently freed her arm from Adam’s grip. Adam’s teeth ground together as he watched his own guard obey her.
Lumina straightened her posture, clutching the bottle close to her chest. Her blindfold dangled from one hand, but she did not bother to hide her blazing eyes.
"Listen to me, Adam," she said quietly, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "If you ever lay a hand on me again, if you ever threaten me again, I will not stop at simply disarming you. Do not mistake my restraint for weakness."
For a moment, silence reigned. Adam’s face was flushed with fury, but he could not move under her control.
Lumina turned slightly toward the doorway. "Take me out," she told Ceryes.
He nodded, falling into step beside her. Together they walked toward the hall, her steps measured, her breathing steady. She felt Adam’s eyes on her until the door shut behind them.
When they reached the corridor, she stopped. "Where is the Rhynera room?"
Ceryes hesitated, still under the thrall of her power. "In her chambers, my lady."
He obeyed again without question, leading her down the long, dim hallway. When they arrived, Ceryes gestured to the door. "Here."
"Thank you," she said, then pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Lumina let out a slow breath, then smirked faintly. "Perfect," she murmured.
She turned back toward Ceryes, her sightless gaze still glowing faintly.
"You will forget that I was ever in Adam’s chamber today."
"Yes, my lady," he replied flatly, still under her control.
"Throw a lit candle onto the bed," she instructed,
Ceryes moved toward where the kit candle was already displayed, not thinking twice he picked up the candle and did as she commanded, the candle tumbling onto the soft sheets where it immediately began to scorch the fabric.