The Boundaries of Possession - Chapter 15
Elysia bit her lip and stormed out of the ballroom. Holding the hem of her skirt slightly, she descended the stairs with an unusually agitated expression. Everything she had worked for had crumbled in an instant, like a sugar cube dissolving in hot coffee—she had allowed herself to be used by him.
The first thing she blamed was her own ignorance. She had known perfectly well that their methods differed. While she operated discreetly and underhandedly, Andreas preferred direct confrontation.
When she handed the fare to the hired coach, the coachman tipped his beret slightly, casting her a suspicious look. It wasn’t an unfamiliar gaze to an omega who frequented various social events.
“Where shall I take you?”
“Take me to the Brillen manor.”
There was silence for a moment. When Elysia peeked out the window, wondering why the coachman hadn’t responded, a large hand suddenly covered half of the window.
Elysia froze in fear, unable to scream. The hand soon disappeared, and Andreas’s face appeared in its place.
“Step out for a moment.”
Elysia narrowed her eyes and looked at him through the window, disbelief evident on her face.
“For someone who’s going to inherit the throne, you’re being incredibly rude.”
“Following you to your estate would be even more inappropriate, wouldn’t it? Or am I wrong?”
Elysia glared at him but stopped when she thought of her father. Without a word, she stepped out of the carriage.
Andreas stood before her, arms crossed, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. His posture was slightly more relaxed than usual, perhaps due to the alcohol he’d consumed. In a way, it worked to her advantage.
“I’ll say it again—my family never promised financial or military support.”
“I doubt someone as smart as you misunderstood my intentions.”
It only took him two long strides to close the distance between them. The smooth, elegant lines of his figure, as if carefully sculpted from clay, drew her gaze unwillingly. His sharp, blade-like eyes were fixed on her. Elysia narrowed her eyes, trying to read his intentions. Despite the cold, dark night, his presence was vivid and overpowering.
“Are you really so dull that you need an explanation?”
‘There’s something I need you to firmly establish for me.’
So that’s what he had meant. Elysia struggled to maintain her composure. The atmosphere felt eerily similar to the one at the meeting. His eyes, like those of a predator, knew exactly where to bite to bring her down. She refused to let him win.
When she met his deep green gaze, it felt like she was being drawn into an abyss. The sensation was unnerving. Without hesitation, he took half a step closer and tilted his head slightly.
His warm breath heated the air between them. The subtle scent of champagne wafted past her.
“The Elysia I know doesn’t need explanations.”
His low voice was a whisper, and the faint smile on his lips made something inside her sink. His head lowered slightly, and the air between them shifted into something unfamiliar. The faint fragrance she detected wasn’t just residual from someone else—it was unmistakably his pheromones.
“Am I wrong?”
His long, silvery-gray lashes half-covered his intense green eyes. The slight parting of his lips left her confused, and the thickening pheromones made her head spin.
Time seemed to slow. Even the soft breeze seemed to be mocking her, Elysia thought.
Suddenly, distant laughter broke the moment. Startled, Elysia stepped back, creating distance between them. Andreas’s eyes widened briefly, and while he glanced behind him, she took the opportunity to climb back into the carriage and slam the door shut.
“How shameless you are.”
Her face burned despite nothing having actually happened. She turned to the opposite window, unable to face him.
“I’ll remember everything you declared tonight.”
Elysia tapped the window toward the coachman, signaling him to move. The coachman finally urged the horses forward. There was no response from Andreas. Even someone as predatory as him wouldn’t chase after the carriage like an actual beast.
To him, her emotions likely held no value worth pursuing. Elysia exhaled a long breath.
