Maria.

"Damn it...!"

The curse slipped out of my lips before I could stop it, my entire body still trembling from what had just happened.

Adrien had marked me, he had activated it—The bond. I could feel it deep, overwhelming, undeniable, like something had snapped into place inside me, like an invisible chain had wrapped around my very soul and tightened binding me to him, completely and Irrevocably.

"No... no, no..." I whispered, shaking my head as panic surged through me. "This can’t be happening."

My fingers instinctively moved to my neck, brushing over the spot where his teeth had pierced my skin.

My heart pounded violently as I pushed myself to my feet. I needed to leave now, I needed to hide this, so no one could see it, no one could know.

"I’m not accepting this..." I muttered under my breath, backing away from the bed. "I’m not..."

The door burst open.

The loud sound made me flinch, my head snapped toward the entrance.

Davian.

He stepped in quickly, his presence sharp and commanding, his gaze instantly sweeping across the room.

It landed on Adrien, who was now suddenly asleep, like nothing had happened.

Davian’s brows furrowed deeply as he moved closer to the bed.

"What did you do to my brother?" he demanded, his voice edged with suspicion. "Why are his chains..."

"I didn’t do anything," I cut in sharply, the panic inside me quickly twisting into irritation. I scoffed lightly, folding my arms as I met his gaze head-on. "Does it look like I did anything to your brother?" I shot back.

His eyes snapped to mine dark and searching, then he took a step closer.

Before I could react, his hand came up, grabbing my chin roughly.

I gasped softly at the sudden contact.

"Davian...what are you..."

He turned my face slightly and then he froze completely, but his grip didn’t loosen, only his entire body stilled.

"Did Adrien...?" he murmured, his voice dropping, disbelief lacing his tone, his eyes darkening further as they lingered on my neck. "Or... shit. Why did he....?"

He didn’t finish his words, instead like a preying lion, he lowered his head.

My breath caught in my throat.

"Davian...wait..."

But it was too late.

A sharp gasp tore from my lips as his teeth sank into the same spot. My body arched slightly at the sudden sensation. It wasn’t just pain, It was something else.Something that sent a strange, heated wave rushing through me, making my knees weaken.

My eyes fluttered shut instinctively.

"Ah..."

Before I could even process it fully, his lips were on mine, crushing, demanding and possessive.

My mind went blank, everything faded into that moment. All other things were swallowed by the intensity of it.

I should have pushed him away, I should have stopped him but for a second...I didn’t, because it was more like an ancient pull, a natural occurrence.

Though that second was enough because just as quickly...We were torn apart. A force slammed between us, shoving Davian back with brutal strength.

I stumbled slightly, my breath uneven as my eyes flew open.

Adrien.

He was standing right in front of me. His chest rose and fell heavily, his body tense, like he was barely holding himself together.

His back was to me, shielding me from Davian.

My breath hitched.

His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his entire frame trembling slightly. As if he was fighting something.

Fighting himself to keep sane?

Was he really shielding me from Davian?

"Adrien... what’s wrong with you?"

Davian’s voice cut through the tension in the room, laced with confusion and something deeper, something unsettled—as his eyes remained fixed on his brother.

Adrien didn’t answer, he couldn’t, all he did was shake his head, slowly and repeatedly like he was trying to deny something... or maybe trying to hold something back.

His chest rose and fell unevenly, his fingers twitching slightly at his sides, his entire body caught in a silent struggle he couldn’t put into words.

My heart tightened at the sight.

Without thinking, I stepped forward, my hand reaching out to him as I touched him. The moment my fingers brushed against his back...He stilled instantly like a switch had been flipped.

The tension in his body melted away, his shoulders dropping as the storm inside him seemed to quiet.

Slowly, he turned around to face me. His eyes met mine, and for the first time since everything happene...they were clear, soft and then he smiled.

A genuine smile.

So pure, so unguarded, it caught me completely off guard.

My breath hitched.

His hand lifted, gently wrapping around mine as if it belonged there, his thumb brushing softly against my skin.

The simple touch sent a strange warmth spreading through my chest, something unfamiliar, something I didn’t want to acknowledge.

"Davian..." I started, forcing my attention away from Adrien as I turned toward him. "Adrien was attacked. I saw someone trying to inject him."

My voice steadied as I spoke, even though my heart was still racing.

"Shouldn’t you place guards to watch over him properly?"

Davian didn’t respond immediately, instead he just stood there, his fists clenching tightly at his sides, his gaze locked onto Adrien.

But the look in his eyes had changed, confusion, frustration, something darker like there was something he wasn’t saying.

His jaw tightened as he stared at the way Adrien held my hand... the way he looked at me.

"It’s not your place to tell us what to do." he said finally, his voice cold and sharp.

And without waiting for a response, he turned and stormed out of the room.

The door slammed shut behind him, the sound echoed leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

I blinked, staring at the door for a moment.

"What’s wrong with him?" I muttered under my breath, genuinely confused by his reaction.

Slowly, I turned back to Adrien, he was still looking at me, still holding my hand, that same soft expression on his face.

And suddenly, I felt that strange feeling again, as it filled my chest, warm, pulling and unsettling.

My thoughts slowly drifting to the day he gave me an earth shattering climax.

I stiffened slightly.

"No way, Maria... get yourself together," I muttered inwardly, shaking my head faintly as if trying to push the feeling and thought away.

This wasn’t right.

None of this was right.

Carefully, I guided him back toward the bed.

"Sit," I said softly, my voice gentler than I intended.

He obeyed without resistance, settling down like he trusted me completely, like I was the only thing grounding him.

And somehow...that only made everything feel even more complicated because I must not get attached to any of them, but this sudden bond keeps pulling me.