Page 10 of Bound By Crimson

Chapter Ten

No Arguments

July turned to August.

It had been nearly two months since Lyric last saw Kai. But he never truly felt far.

Their days and nights were threaded together by constant texts, phone calls that stretched into the quiet hours, and small gestures that made the distance bearable.

Most nights, after closing the shop and visiting her parents’ grave, her phone would buzz the second she stepped inside—like he knew she’d just walked through the door.

Tell me how your day was.

I can’t stop thinking about you.

Soon.

She had memorized his voice through the phone—the possessiveness in it, the rare softness that only seemed meant for her.

---

In the first week of July, Rowan had called one last time.

“I just wanted to say goodbye,” she’d said gently. “I leave for New York today. ”

Lyric had paused, her fingers tight around the phone. “I…. I’m sorry, I just wasn’t ready to meet. I just… need more time.”

“I understand. I hope someday we can talk again.”

The call ended.

Lyric hadn’t heard from Rowan since.

---

At first, they were easy to ignore—texts from Eric.

Eric: I ended things with Rowan. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I made a mistake.

A few days later:

Lyric, you’ve changed so much. You’re absolutely stunning. You’ve always been the one.

Later:

Come on, Lyric. I know you’re trying to make me suffer, but haven’t I suffered enough? You and I were meant to be together. We both know it. Let’s stop fighting fate.

That was when she told Kai.

---

She sat on her bed, fingers tracing the edge of her phone. “I should have told you sooner.”

His voice was instantly alert. “What’s wrong?”

“Eric’s been messaging me.”

She read him the texts. All of them.

“I’ve ignored every single one,” she said quickly. “I want nothing to do with him.”

For a moment, Kai didn’t speak. When he did, his voice was low. Controlled. Dangerous.

“He’s not to come near you. From now on, Thomas will drive you. Everywhere.”

“Kai—”

“No arguments.” His tone gentled, but the possessiveness didn’t ease. “It’s for my peace of mind. I won’t let him have any chance to upset you. You’re mine now. ”

Lyric hesitated—it should have sounded terrifying. Instead, it calmed something deep in her.

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Good.”

---

By mid-July, Thomas had become part of her day.

He drove her to work in the mornings, waited while she picked up coffee, dropped her at the Velvet Cauldron, and took her home at night after her usual visit to the cemetery.

At first, it had felt excessive.

But soon it felt… safe.

For the first time in a while, someone was taking care of her.

---

Mid-August.

That morning had started like any other.

Thomas waited at the curb as Lyric grabbed her usual coffee.

But as she stepped outside, Eric was waiting.

“Lyric.” His voice was strained, desperate. “Please. Just five minutes. You can’t keep avoiding me.”

She stiffened. “Yes. I can.”

“We had something. You know we did. I can’t believe I let Rowan get in between us. She’s gone now. It’s just us.”

Lyric moved to step around him, but he blocked her path.

“You owe me that much.”

Lyric narrowed her eyes. “Oh, I owe you?”

Thomas appeared at her side. Silent. Solid.

Relief flooded her veins for a split second. She hadn’t known how to get past Eric without causing a scene. Thomas had solved it without a word.

“This way, ma’am.” His voice was polite but unmovable.

Eric sneered. “What the hell? You’ve got a driver now? What, you some big shot or something?”

Lyric didn’t reply. She brushed past him and slid into the car .

As Thomas pulled away, she allowed herself a faint smile.

For once, Eric was the one being left behind.

---

As they turned toward the shop, Thomas must have sent Kai a message immediately.

Her phone buzzed.

Kai:

Thomas told me what happened. I’m flying home. I already warned him to stay away from you. No one takes what’s mine .

And Lyric—the moment we locked eyes; it was already decided. You are mine .

Her breath caught with a flicker of panic.

She typed quickly: No, please don’t. It’s handled. You have nothing to worry about. I’m not interested in Eric. It’s over.

The screen remained silent.

No reply.

For the first time, the silence didn’t scare her. Her stomach fluttered with a thrill she couldn’t deny—but under it, a faint ripple of fear. He would always protect her. But what if his protectiveness had no limits? And what if she was already in too deep to pull back?