Chapter 211: The Darkness Lingers

The Hollow One was gone.

But its shadow still lived inside her.

Bella could feel it.

In the quiet moments.

In the way the night air pressed too tightly against her skin, the way her own reflection in the mirror seemed to flicker—just for a second—like something else was looking back at her.

She wasn't possessed anymore.

She wasn't cursed.

But something inside her had changed.

She wasn't sure if she was still herself.

And worse—

She wasn't sure if she wanted to be.

"You're doing it again."

Dante's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

She turned from the window, watching as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his blue eyes sharp.

"Doing what?"

"Thinking too much."

Bella scoffed, shaking her head.

"You worried I might grow a second head? Maybe claws this time?"

Dante didn't laugh.

Didn't smirk.

He just watched her.

Unblinking.

Unmoving.

Because he knew.

"You're not broken, Bella."

Her throat tightened.

Because she wanted to believe him.

She really did.

But when she closed her eyes, she could still feel it.

That moment.

The moment she had almost let go.

The moment she had almost become something else entirely.

"Aren't I?" she whispered.

Dante was in front of her in two steps.

His hands curled around her wrists, firm, grounding, unrelenting.

"No."

Bella swallowed hard.

"How can you be so sure?"

Dante's jaw tightened.

"Because I know you."

His voice was low, steady, absolute.

"And I know you don't belong to the dark."

Bella let out a hollow laugh.

"You dragged me out of it once, Dante. But what if next time, you're not fast enough?"

His fingers tightened on her skin.

"Then I will chase you into the dark myself."

Bella stilled.

Because he meant it.

Meant every word.

"You don't get to doubt yourself, Bella."

His voice was rough, edged with something dangerously close to desperation.

"You don't get to run from this. From me. From us."

Bella's breath shook.

Because she was so fucking tired of running.

But what if she couldn't stop?

What if she didn't know how?

"I don't know if I can be what they want me to be."

Dante exhaled sharply.

"Then be what I need you to be."

Bella's chest ached.

Because that was the problem.

Dante didn't need a Luna.

Didn't need a queen.

Didn't need a warrior.

He just needed her.

And she wasn't sure if she could give him that anymore.