Ephyra snorted. "It’s not entirely impossible." Ever since she transmigrated, anything was possible for her. "And please don’t call me by my full name like that. It sounds weird."
Lyle didn’t respond, his violet eyes gleaming with an unsettling stir as he stared at her. A stir that deepened when Eira didn’t waver under his gaze, instead meeting him with defiance and anger.
"I not only heal fast; my strength, speed, and intelligence are beyond what most can comprehend. But no," Lyle said with a smirk, "I’m not a demon or a werewolf, Ephyra." His tone was mocking, but there was a chilling edge to it. "I’m simply... different."
Eira crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Different how?" The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the NovᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt
Lyle’s smile widened as he leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed, yet his presence suffocating. "That’s something you don’t need to know."
Liam cleared his throat, interjecting before the tension escalated further. "Lyle’s condition is a result of a combination of his ASPD and his body’s reaction to certain treatments we’ve administered over the years. His healing ability, enhanced strength, and other... anomalies, are all part of a much larger picture."
Eira’s brow furrowed. "Let’s say I believe you. What kind of treatments are you talking about?"
"Experimental," Liam admitted. "We’ve pushed the boundaries of medicine and biology, but there are consequences, some of which you’ve already witnessed."
"Consequences?" Eira repeated, her voice sharp. "Like him losing his mind and dragging me into all this shit?"
Jania, still chuckling from Eira’s earlier wild theory, finally composed herself. "It’s not that simple, Ephyra. Master Lyle’s... attachment to you is not just because of his condition. You play a role in keeping him stable."
Eira stared at her, the pieces slowly clicking together. "So... you’re saying that’s why I’m here. I’m not just a tool for his treatment... I’m the treatment."
Liam nodded, his expression somber. "Without you, Lyle’s condition will worsen. It’s already worsening. His ability to control his impulses—his violence—will deteriorate. That’s why you’re so important. You can calm him in ways nothing else can."
Eira recoiled slightly, her instincts screaming at her to run. "So, I’m a drug to him?"
Jania shook her head. "Not a drug. More like an anchor."
Lyle’s gaze remained on her, his intense violet eyes never wavering. "You’re the only thing keeping me from losing control completely. Whether you like it or not, you’re bound to me, Ephyra. And fortunately for me, and unfortunately for you..." He tilted his head. "I can’t let you go. You’re mine now, Ephyra Allen."
Eira stared at him, her mind racing, heart pounding in her chest. She knew she was trapped in this situation—tethered to a man whose very existence was bound to hers in ways she never asked for.
Shit! Shit! Shit! How the fuck didn’t Ephyra know she had a fucking scent that could cure a fucking disorder?! She just wanted to get revenge and have freedom, but the cure to Lyle Aelion’s illness definitely meant that he would never let her go! When a person who has been in pain for so long finally finds relief, they hold onto it with a desperation that borders on obsession.
Calm down, calm down, Eira. It’s alright, let’s just find a way for ourselves.
With that, she leaned back and looked straight at him, her voice quiet but firm. "And what if I don’t want to?"
Lyle smiled coldly. "Of course, you don’t want to, but do you have a choice? Besides..." He glanced at the tablet in front of him, swiped over the surface, and immediately a holographic screen displaying almost all of Ephyra’s information appeared over the device. "You have a stepmother who wants to kill you, a stepsister who wishes for you to disappear, a father who doesn’t have any affection for you, a fiancé..." He paused and chuckled.
"A fiancé who hates you and is in love with your stepsister. And lastly, no family members. The only thing that belongs to you is the wealth your mother left for you, and even that was on the verge of being taken by your family."
Ephyra’s lips twitched and she hissed, "Get to the point."
"Like what I said earlier, you don’t have a choice. So, do you want to do this the hard way or the easy way? If you choose the easy way, I can get what I want easily, and I can give you whatever it is you want. You just have to name it, even if it’s wiping out that family of yours."
Eira narrowed her eyes at him. "How do you know I want them... gone?"
"Because it’s obvious," Lyle responded indifferently as he picked up a glass of wine and took a sip.
"And if I say no?" she challenged.
Lyle didn’t hesitate. "Then I’ll take what I need regardless. But trust me, Ephyra, I’ll make sure it’s much worse for you. I’m not offering you a choice out of kindness. I’m offering it because I know it’s the easiest way for both of us."
Eira’s fingers, resting on the table, clenched tightly into a fist. Her blue eyes glared at him as she felt her pulse quicken, her entire body tense with frustration and fear as Lyle’s calm yet menacing words washed over her. He sat there, relaxed, as if everything he said was already decided as if her fate was sealed by his will alone.
She now understood what it meant to be overwhelmed by someone more powerful than herself.
Lyle continued, "You want power, freedom. You want to take control of your life, and I can give you that. No more running, no more hiding, no more pretending you’re weaker than you are. With me, you can have it all. We both know you won’t succeed alone. You’re smart, but you’re not invincible, Ephyra. But I am."
She clenched and unclenched her hand before breathing out. She leaned back, crossed her legs, and raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly will I get in return if I agree?"
Jania and Liam, who had been watching the two exchange veiled words of insult and mockery, now stared questioningly at Lyle. They knew that Lyle saying anything Ephyra wanted would be given to her wouldn’t be assuring, as they were only words to her. So they wondered what Lyle had in mind.
Lyle’s lips curled into a sly smile as he placed the wine glass down with a soft clink. He leaned forward slightly, the light catching the sharp angles of his face. "Marry me. Everything that is mine will be yours, and everything that is yours will be mine, Ephyra Allen."