THE WIFE GAME

Sophia was a woman on a mission.If he wasn't going to fall in love with her, she would make him.That night, she came up with a whole plan. She would start slowly, gently, subtly – but enough to drive him crazy.So, operation "Wife" had begun.

The next morning, Sophia entered the dining hall like a vision out of a fairy tale. The light-toned dress hugged her waist perfectly, and her hair was flowing and shiny. She smelled of lavender and something sweet, seductive.Darian was sitting in his usual spot, staring into his coffee.He didn't even lift his gaze when she entered.But then he felt… her.The scent. The presence. The energy that spread like something threatening to completely shatter his peace.

Sophia smiled brightly and gracefully sat next to him, very close.Too close.Darian narrowed his eyes."What are you up to now?"She blinked innocently at him."I don't understand what you mean, dear husband."He jumped."What did you say?""Oh, nothing special… I just think we should show a little love for each other. Don't you think the court should see how much we love each other?"Her smile was so sweet it could give him diabetes.

Darian set his fork down and slowly looked at her."Sophia…""Yes?""What are you trying to do?"She just exhaled and gently took his hand under the table.He froze instantly.Darian didn't know what shocked him more – the fact that she was holding his hand or the fact that… he didn't have claws.

He didn't say anything. He just let her play her game while he tried to figure out what the hell was going on.Throughout the day, Sophia didn't leave his side.As they walked through the halls, she hooked her arm around his."You know, you're so tall. I feel so safe next to you."Darian coughed. The guards stared at him as if they expected him to suddenly be replaced by someone else.While talking to the courtiers, Sophia occasionally touched his shoulder, patted his hand, and even ran her fingers through his hair with the comment:"Your hair is so soft… How do you do it?"He just stared at her.

At dinner, she rested her head on his shoulder."You're so warm, Darian… I could stay like this forever."He almost spilled his wine.But he didn't say anything.Inside, he had a million questions.Why? Why her? Why her touch? Could it be that…He looked at her as she happily ate and laughed with the maids....that he was falling for her?

____

Darian already had his limits. Today, Sophia crossed them. All day, she had been touching him, calling him sweet names, acting like his wife in front of everyone. At first, it was confusing, then... bearable. Maybe even pleasant. But now? Now it was driving him crazy. There was something about her constant skipping around him, her touching, her smiling eyes that looked at him as if she didn't see a monster in him. It was dangerous. Not for her. For him. Just when he thought he could endure one more day of this game, Sophia cheerfully leaned on his shoulder again as they walked down the hall. "You know, Darian..."

"Stop." She flinched. She looked at him, surprised by his tone.

"What?" He pulled away from her, his face cold, his gaze sharp. "Enough of this." Sophia blinked.

"But..."

"Don't play with me, Sophia. This act of yours, this... fooling around. Stop. Now." She felt her heart tighten. She hadn't expected him to be this harsh, hadn't expected him to... care. She looked at him for a few moments but didn't say anything, simply turned and walked away without a word. That night, Darian knew he had made a mistake. He felt it the moment he was alone in his chambers.

Something was different. Something was coming back.

He sat at his desk and slowly removed his glove. The claws returned. But now... now there was more. He raised his arm and felt a cold dread. His shoulder. The skin was changing, darkening, becoming something inhuman. "Not now..." He couldn't deal with this right now.

He stood up and walked down the hall, didn't know what had made him do it. Maybe guilt. Maybe something deeper, something he didn't want to name. But soon he found himself in front of her door. He knocked.

"Sophia." Nothing.

"Sophia, open the door." Silence. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "I'm sorry." Still nothing. There wasn't a single sound from inside. His heart tightened.

"Sophia, open up." Again, nothing. He shook his head and returned to his chambers. I'll try again tomorrow. Tomorrow... Nothing. He knocked. He called. Nothing.

"Sophia, stop sulking." Again, nothing. This wasn't normal. Something didn't feel right. He grabbed the handle and pulled the door. Locked. Darian clenched his jaw. He leaned closer.

"Sophia, if you don't open this door, I'll break it down." Silence. Enough. He pulled his hand back and slammed the door with all his strength.

The crash echoed down the hall.

The door broke open.

Behind it – an empty room.

The bed untouched.

Nowhere to be seen.

His gaze immediately fell on the window.

Open.

He hurried over and looked down.

A rope.

She had lowered herself down the damn rope.

His hands shook.

Not from anger.

From... panic.

Sophia had run away.