Kidnapped - A Beautiful Blessing

y, each hallway and corner heavy with the ghost of recent events. Sasha stood in the vast space, the weight of her thoughts p

d over her skin, tension melted from her body. Droplets traced delicate paths down her spine, carrying away the remnants of the morning's conf

hers. For a brief moment, she hesitated, fingers grazing the fine fabrics before instinctively reaching for one of Darius's T-shirts. The material was soft, worn in a way that hinted at frequent use

t her attention. The room was bathed in golden light, the afternoon sun streaming in, casting soft shadows

ngs catching the sunlight. Multicolored butterflies flitted gracefully through the air, weaving intricate patterns of movement as if engaged in a silent waltz. Rows upon rows of flowers stretche

to that untouched world. She needed air-needed a moment

s before. The sleek countertops gleamed under the warm glow of the overhead lights. She busied herself making a milkshake, the hum of the blender filling th

the world around her shifted. The air was different here-crisp, alive, tinged with the rich scent of earth and blossoms. Sunlight filtered thro

n the sheer tranquility of it all. This peace was foreign to her. For years, she had been tangled in a web of decepti

e wind tangle through her hair. Time blurred as she lost herself in the quiet beauty surrounding her. Eve

eside her, forgotten as she pulled her knees to her chest. Her gaze drifted, landing on a single fallen leaf lying mere

st. A re

med. She exhaled, long and slow, her body growing heavier with each passing second. The garden, the warm

ed. The distant hu

realized it, sl

sunset. A gentle breeze whispered through the air, carrying with it the lingering warmth of the afternoon, now tempered by an unmistakable evenin

r had quieted, the once lively chirping of birds fading into distant echoes. The scent of earth and faintly lingering flowers clun

d into an unnatural stillness in her absence. She walked into the kitchen, her fingers tightening slightly around the empty glass

he phone Darius had given her. It sat exactly where she had left it on the bedside t

mach cl

e power button. The screen flickered to life, illumin

st the sudden dryness in her throat. Then,

he hell ar

Laced with res

er thumb hovering

ause, she typed

ping in th

take the

nd-guess herself. Setting the phone down, she

hind a veil of scattered clouds. The once-lively garden she had found solace in earlier had stilled, the wind barel

an approaching engi

guards moved swiftly, unlocking and pulling the heavy gates open, allowing the vehicle to glide inside without

pulse qu

s the door creaked open. She didn't ne

He stood tall, his expression unreadable, but there was something shar

smooth but carried a mocking undertone, a qui

s tone unnerve her. "Yeah. Normal humans do sl

ction. It wasn't quite a smile, more of a g

prefer sleeping at n

eyes. "Then maybe you s

could press further, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Without hesitation, h

the device, his words low and measured. It wasn't a conver

es pa

expected knock echo

r knocked. He never asked

he called ou

crisp black-and-white uniform, her po

ows lifted

le near the window. The dishes were arranged with meticulous care, the meal steaming and fresh. After ensurin

ared at

erved like this before. The formality o

p her from eating. She sat down, picking up the silverware, the first

of Darius's looming presence-somewhe

l black button placed beside her plat

echoed throu

xpression unreadable as she cleared the dishes with the same silent effi

ke the feeling that she w

n building with each passing minute. Sleep remained elusive, teasing her just beyond reach. With an exasperated sigh,

ustling of the trees outside. Drawn by an

n the ethereal light, each leaf and flower bathed in shades of silver and shadow. A gust of wind slipped through the tin

of an old painting-beautiful yet burdened with secrets.

n finally began to pull at her that she realized how late it had become. With a slow exhale,

e her, the sharp ring of a p

pped open, d

sn't he

s Dar

lay on the table, its screen glowing brightly as it vibrated insistently. But befo

eath h

ri

s broad chest bare-**his shirt discar

alarm. She scrambled out

the blade against his own skin, his jaw clenched i

his skin streaked with crimson, the de

oing?**" she demanded, her

red, barely glancing at her.

disbelief. "You coul

tration bled into his words,

done thi

n't waver. "

n't you call

problem w

hly and yanked the bullet free. The small piece of

ly. Instinct took over. She surged forward, pressing her ha

gaze flicked up to hers, somethin

ot like I'm going to use this opportunit

e left him. "Then what's your pu

ched her hand back. "I don't know how to st

ss blood, reaching for the antiseptic. But as he

sing was

she searched for anything that could be of use. Finally, her fingers closed around a soft

im-his normally powerful frame slum

the wound, watching in morbid fasci

sured despite the obvious pain. But his eyes-dar

she asked, her vo

sed by her sudden concern. "Some ene

. "With a gun? So

expression was brief, fleeting. B

rt, folding the clean part before pressing it back against his wound. Carefully,

t followed was

eks. Close enough to feel the warmth of his skin, the s

watching her with unreadable in

re the way her pulse quicke

second longer, she knew they both felt it-**