"I Have Never Loved You"

⚠️ Content Warning

This chapter contains graphic violence, blood, emotional distress, and themes of self-harm that may be disturbing to some readers. Please proceed with caution.

"Eva, run!"

Eyan's voice tore through the night like a war cry, raw and desperate.

Eva's head snapped in his direction just in time to see the massive black wolf—Mara—barreling toward her across the palace courtyard at full speed.

Heart hammering, breath ragged, Eva scrambled to her feet. Her legs trembled as she ran, barefoot on cold stone, stumbling once, then again. She fell hard, scraping her palms. But she pushed up—ran. Not fast enough.

Mara was upon her.

And then—steel met flesh.

Eyan leapt between them, his blade cutting through the beast with one swift stroke. Mara collapsed with a dying snarl at his feet.

Eyan whispered under his breath, voice shattered. "Forgive me…"

Blood sprayed the marble, warm and cruel.

Eva staggered forward. "Kyel—are you okay?"

Eyan's body shook violently. His hand trembled on the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white. His eyes were bloodshot, fighting madness.

"Don't come near me! Run, I said RUN!" he roared, his voice no longer entirely human.

He was still fighting… for her. For himself.

Eva backed away in shock, every instinct screaming to flee. And she did—she turned and ran again.

But halfway down the broken colonnade, something made her glance back.

Her heart stopped.

Eyan was standing still, his sword turned toward himself—pointed at his own heart.

"No…" she breathed, spinning and running back toward him. "No, no, no—Kyel!"

She grabbed the blade just as he was about to drive it into his chest.

"What are you doing?!" she cried, her hands gripping the sword, fresh blood pouring from her palms.

"Let go!" he shouted. "Why are you here?! I told you to run!"

Eva sobbed. "I'm not going. I'm not leaving you like this."

"I have to kill myself," Eyan growled, voice cracking. "I'm losing control—LET GO!"

"No! You can't leave me!"

Suddenly, the sword twisted. His muscles jerked unnaturally. Eyan was on top of her, pinning her down, the blade pressed against her throat.

His entire body trembled as he screamed in agony, trying to hold himself back. "No…no…no!"

And then—he let go of the sword, yanked a dagger from his boot, and stabbed it clean through his own hand, pinning it to the palace stones.

Blood gushed like a fountain.

"Eva!" he shouted. "There's another dagger at my waist—take it!"

She hesitated, crying. "Your hand—Kyel, your hand!"

"Just do what I say! Take it!" he begged, teeth gritted against the pain.

Her fingers closed around the dagger. Her hand trembled violently.

"Now…" His voice dropped, guttural and raw. "Put it in my heart. You have to kill me before I kill you."

Eva shook her head. "I… can't."

"You have to. Once I'm gone, the others—Fen, Talon—they'll disappear too. But if you hesitate, they'll come back. They'll tear you apart."

Tears streamed down his cheeks now too.

"I don't want to hurt you. Please… do it."

Eyan guided her hand, pressing the dagger tip to his heart.

But Eva grabbed it with both hands now, resisting. Her hands bled, trembling, shaking.

"Don't make this harder than it already is…" Eyan whispered.

"Don't go… please don't leave me," she cried, her body curling toward him.

"Shhh… Eva, don't cry. Even when I'm gone, you won't be alone. I promise. You have my word."

She sobbed, holding the blade in place, but unable to move it.

Eyan tried pushing the dagger in himself—but her strength held him back.

He let out a soft, broken laugh. "You're strong… aren't you?"

"Please, stay," she whispered. He leaned his forehead against hers, their breath mingling in the cold air.

"I can't stay. I have to go."

"No," she whispered. "You're not going anywhere."

"Eva…" He gritted his teeth. "Do it. Kill me."

"No…!"

Eyan screamed, "Why won't you listen to me?!"

He panted, chest heaving, voice shaking. "Just one last thing… Can you call me Eyan? Just once. Before I die. Please…"

She shook her head violently. "No... I won't call your name if it means letting you die."

But then—he froze.

His eyes flicked toward the palace. His body went rigid.

"They're coming back," he whispered. "The wolves."

He looked down at her—face twisted, wet with tears. "Are you hesitating because you think I love you and I'm doing this for you?"

His voice hardened. Cold. Sharp.

"Sorry to disappoint you... but I never loved you at all. It was all an act. Every smile. Every touch. Every word... a lie. I never felt a damn thing for you."

Eva flinched like she'd been stabbed.

Eyan's lips trembled, but he kept going. "You know what my biggest regret is, Eva? It's meeting you. I wish I never met you."

Her grip faltered.

Her hands loosened.

Her fingers slipped.

And that was all it took.

SCHHLLK.

The dagger plunged into his heart with a sickening sound.

Eva gasped in horror, her eyes wide.

Blood gushed from his mouth, down his chin.

But then—

His lips moved.

"…I love you, Eva."

And his body fell.

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