The Boundaries of Possession - Chapter 39
Elysia struggled violently the moment those strong arms pulled her into a tight embrace.
Before she could even register what Andreas was doing, her instincts took over—she shoved at his chest with all her strength.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Her golden hair shimmered under the daylight, reminiscent of a sunlit desert.
Andreas was overwhelmed by déjà vu once more, as if a distant memory was trying to resurface.
Then, suddenly, a sharp pain struck his head. He pressed a hand to his temple, stumbling back two steps.
Elysia, her flushed cheeks still warm, widened her eyes in surprise.
“Andreas?”
It wasn’t enough.
Just once more—if he embraced her again, he might be able to grasp it.
Andreas reached out desperately toward Elysia.
She flinched.
Ah.
With a short sigh, he withdrew his hand, which had been left hanging awkwardly in the air.
Subtle gazes had begun to follow them.
Elysia didn’t look pleased—rather, she seemed troubled.
For the first time, he had been so caught up in reclaiming something lost that he had failed to consider the situation.
Now, it only appeared as though he had forcibly grabbed her.
“…Damn it.”
Even as he cursed under his breath, the heat on Elysia’s cheeks and the lingering stares around them showed no signs of cooling.
For the first time, people had seen the youthful duke’s raw desire.
“I thought if I did this, something might come back to me.”
At his words, Elysia’s pale eyes widened.
Her blue irises trembled like wildflowers swaying in the wind.
“Come back to you…? Are you remembering something?”
Andreas’s expression hardened at the look on her face.
That had been a mistake.
What was the point in admitting he had lost his memories?
Especially in front of someone intelligent enough to use it against him.
“It’s nothing. I misspoke.”
Elysia parted her lips as if she had something to say—but then, she closed them again.
Andreas suspected that she, too, had chosen the best course of action for herself.
With her head lowered, she turned on her heel and walked away, almost as if escaping.
He did not stop her.
***
It was an endless, gnawing hunger.
The beginning of desire was like unlocking a door that had been kept sealed deep inside.
And now, it had begun.
Andreas lay awake, unable to sleep, his throat dry and irritated.
His body burned and cooled in waves, reminiscent of his first rut cycle.
With no way to quench the thirst, he bit down on his lower lip, forcing himself to endure it.
It was humiliating—to be reduced to this state over someone who wasn’t even his.
The very thought of Elysia had thrown him into disarray, shattering the composed self he had worked so hard to maintain.
Seeing himself like this was utterly pathetic.
Andreas pressed his palms over his face, letting out a breath as he looked down at the evidence of his own disheveled state.
His dignity—his pride—was crumbling from its very foundation.
Even the smirk that had so easily found its way to his lips before had completely vanished at the mere thought of her.
Wouldn’t it be easier to drown himself in something else?
He reached for a bottle of liquor, only to stop before pouring.
What if the strong scent of alcohol erased that lingering sweetness from his mind?
The thought alone was unbearable.
He pushed the glass away entirely.
His throat was parched, yet all he drank was water.
The clearer his mind became, the more his thoughts spiraled into extremes.
He needed to control himself.
Why was he allowing himself to be consumed by someone like her?
He had always prided himself on suppressing unnecessary emotions, but in front of that strange, unpredictable woman, he found himself unraveling.
Andreas slowly lowered his silver-gray lashes.
Logic dictated that he should regain control.
That was the only choice.
For now, all he could do was compose himself and wait for the next opportunity.
“Hern, are you outside?”
It took some time before Hern finally knocked on the door.
Andreas opened it, his gaze scrutinizing the man before letting out a quiet sigh.
How pathetic it was that even with people by his side, he still couldn’t trust anyone completely.
“Why did you call for me, at this hour?”
Hern glanced toward the candle sitting nearby.
The wax had melted over the edge, dripping down in thick layers.
Judging by its state, Hern could guess that Andreas had been lost in thought for quite some time.
Andreas laced his fingers together, resting his arms on the desk as he gave his command.
“Keep an eye on that omega.”
