Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

Evelyn's pulse pounded as she gripped the doorframe. The man in black stood before her, his smile slow and deliberate, like a predator toying with its prey.

She swallowed hard. "Who are you?"

The man tilted his head. "A friend."

Evelyn didn't buy it for a second. "I don't have friends like you."

His smirk deepened. "No, but Luca does."

She knew he was caught up in something dangerous—she just didn't know how deep. But if this man was here, standing at her door, it meant one thing: Luca was in trouble.

Evelyn squared her shoulders, forcing her voice to stay steady. "What do you want?"

The man's eyes darkened. "I want you to listen carefully. Luca is playing a very dangerous game, and he doesn't understand the stakes." He leaned in slightly. "But you will."

Evelyn's breath caught. "Is that a threat?"

He smiled again—cold and knowing. "A warning."

Then, just as quickly as he had appeared, he turned and walked away, disappearing down the hall.

Evelyn slammed the door shut, locking it. Her hands trembled.

Luca sat in Killian's sleek black car, his hands clenched into fists. The man was driving slow, controlled, as if he had all the time in the world.

"You hesitated back there." Killian's voice was smooth, amused. "That's going to be a problem."

Luca's jaw tightened. "I told you. I'm not your executioner."

Killian chuckled. "No, you're something far more interesting." He glanced at Luca, eyes sharp. "You don't realize it yet, but I just saved your life. And hers."

Killian sighed, tapping the steering wheel. "You think you can walk between two worlds, Luca? Be a good man and still survive in mine?"

He shook his head. "It doesn't work like that. Sooner or later, you'll have to choose."

Luca stared ahead, heart pounding.

Killian was right about one thing.

Sooner or later, he would have to choose.

The Price of Love