Chapter 2
993words
The scent felt invasive, as if trying to penetrate her skin and tag her very being.
When the corridor suddenly opened up, Ella's breath caught in her throat.
She stood at the edge of a massive chamber shaped like a hollowed heart. Metal pillars soared upward, supporting an invisible ceiling, but they weren't wrapped in cables—luminous vines coiled around them instead. Translucent fungal growths cascaded from above like living chandeliers, dripping phosphorescent light.
Below, guests clustered in small groups, their voices swallowed by the vastness, returning as distorted echoes. Tech and nature twisted together in disturbing harmony—luxurious, primitive, alive.
Ella tugged at her ill-fitting waitress uniform, balancing a tray of iridescent drinks as she scanned the crowd. The Kaelen elite towered over everyone—gorgeous and radiating dominance with every gesture. But what froze her blood were their "accessories."
Nearly every Kaelen male had a human woman at his side. Despite their stunning gowns and perfect makeup, their faces were empty. Some stared blankly, as if their souls had been hollowed out, leaving beautiful shells. Others watched their "masters" with fawning attention, terrified of missing a command.
These were the "bound mates" Raven had mentioned. Songbirds in golden cages, their wings clipped no matter how beautiful their feathers. Ella's chest tightened as she forced herself to look away and search for Lina.
Then she spotted her.
Lina perched on a bench of woven light beside Xavier. Her aquamarine gown made her pale skin luminous, like some delicate water flower. Head bowed, she concentrated on slicing a translucent purple fruit with a silver knife. Each movement was precise, practiced—a performance she'd clearly rehearsed countless times.
Xavier chatted with another Kaelen, one hand resting on the back of Lina's head, fingers absently combing through her dark hair. The gesture wasn't loving—it was possessive. A man stroking a prized pet.
Rage surged through Ella's veins. The Lina she knew had eyes that sparked with excitement during debates, who challenged every assumption. Not this broken doll who couldn't even raise her head.
A sliver of fruit slipped from Lina's knife, landing on the plate's edge. Her body tensed instantly, shoulders flinching like a frightened animal.
Xavier didn't break his conversation or even glance at her. His hand simply slid from her hair to her cheek, his index finger wiping a drop of juice from the corner of her mouth with gentle firmness. Then—as Ella watched in horror—he slipped that finger, coated with juice and Lina's saliva, into her mouth.
"Clean it."
He didn't speak aloud, but Ella read the command from his lips and Lina's response—humiliated yet obedient as she extended her tongue.
The display of ownership and humiliation hit Ella like a physical blow. Rage and disgust churned in her gut. This was Lina's "academic partnership"? This "bonding"? It was psychological torture—the systematic destruction of a brilliant mind!
Perhaps Ella's stare burned too hot. Lina, head still bowed, suddenly looked up. When she spotted Ella among the servers, her vacant eyes widened with shock and fear—then darkened with something worse: despair. She dropped her gaze, her body beginning to tremble.
The subtle change didn't escape Xavier. He paused mid-sentence, following Lina's gaze toward Ella. His eyes swept over her like a cold searchlight—not surprised or angry, just knowingly indifferent. Then he bent down and whispered something to Lina, his tone almost gentle. Her trembling instantly ceased.
Ella couldn't wait another second.
The last thread of her restraint snapped. Her eyes locked onto a serving bot pouring drinks nearby. She moved toward it, calculating angles, and at the perfect moment, "accidentally" slipped.
CRASH!
Her tray of drinks and crystal glasses smashed into the expensive bot. It short-circuited instantly, shrieking alarms and buzzing as its arms flailed wildly, creating perfect chaos.
Chaos—exactly what she needed.
While all eyes turned toward the commotion, Ella darted through the crowd toward Lina.
"Lina, now!" she hissed, reaching for her friend's wrist.
Her fingertips had barely brushed Lina's cool skin when an overwhelming force clamped around her own wrist. The grip was crushing, threatening to shatter bone.
Ella turned in horror. Carlos loomed behind her, though his golden, predatory eyes weren't even focused on her but on the chaos beyond. His thin lips barely moved as he spoke, his calm voice carrying the force of thunder:
"At my gatherings, the rats always reveal themselves first."
Lina collapsed to her knees with a thud. She crawled to Xavier, clutching his leg, her voice breaking with tears: "Master Xavier… please, I beg you. She's my friend. She only wanted to help me… please…"
Xavier bent down, gently lifting her from the floor. He dabbed her tears with a silk handkerchief, movements elegant, voice soft—but his words cut like ice: "My dear, I explained the rules." He glanced at Ella, his eyes utterly emotionless. "We never interfere with another's hunt."
Hunt.
The word chilled Ella to her marrow.
Carlos finally looked down at her, yanking her up and pulling her close. Forced to meet his gaze, Ella saw herself reflected in those golden eyes—a tiny figure burning with rage and fear.
He leaned in until she could smell him—musk and exotic spice, aggressively male. Without speaking, he buried his face against her neck and inhaled deeply, shamelessly, taking in her scent now sharpened by fear and fury.
The gesture was primitive, territorial—a predator claiming prey.
Ella felt like livestock being appraised, stripped of humanity.
"Hmm…" Carlos straightened, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. Noting her defiant glare, his mouth curved into a cruel smile as he declared:
"You're loud, but you smell… alive."
He paused, his grip tightening as if trying to brand her bones.
"Now you're mine."
