Page 8 of Crushed Vow

He stepped closer, shadows falling across his face.

“You think I haven’t suffered?” he said, eyes narrowing. “You think I didn’t bleed every day you were gone? I’ve torn this world apart looking for you. And you want to talk to me about choice?”

“If you try to force me, I swear—I’ll slit my wrists right here and make you watch me bleed.

His jaw locked. “Don’t say that.”

“Why not?” I snapped. “It’s the only thing you’re afraid of, isn’t it? Losing control.”

He looked away, exhaling through his nose like he was holding something back. Then, softer—barely audible:

“I’m not as untouchable as I used to be.”

That pulled me up short.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He didn’t answer right away. Just ran a hand down his face, his knuckles white, as if the words cost him something.

“Let’s just say,” he said, voice low, “my sins caught up with me.”

I blinked. “Caught up how?”

Cassian’s eyes lifted to mine—dark, bruised with exhaustion I hadn’t noticed before. “It means I don’t have time to play games anymore, Charlotte. I’m here. I found you. And I’m not walking away.”

My breath hitched.

“I’m not asking for your forgiveness,” he added. “I’ll earn it. However long it takes. But don’t threaten to hurt yourself just to get away from me. I’ve already watched too much of myself rot without you.”

The words hit harder than I expected. And I hated that they did.

“You chained me,” I whispered, my voice thin and shaking. “Mocked my scars. Hid the truth about my mother.”

He didn’t flinch. Didn’t offer excuses. Just nodded once—like he’d already accepted that every word was a nail in his coffin.

“I’ll carry that to the grave.”

“Then go carry it somewhere else.”

His eyes didn’t move from mine. “I wake up screaming your name.”

I froze.

He took a step forward. “I sleep on your side of the bed. I haven’t touched another woman. I can’t. You’re in my blood, Charlotte. I’d cut myself open just to prove it.”

“I don’t care.”

Another step.

I screamed. “GET OUT!”

My hands flew to my head, yanking my hair, my breath coming in frantic, shallow bursts. My heart felt like it was trying to claw its way out of my chest.

Cassian stopped, his face pale. “Charlotte—what are you doing?”

“I don’t know!” I cried, voice raw and rising. “Sometimes I forget where I am. Sometimes I see things that aren’t there. And sometimes... sometimes I scream at shadows and call them by your name.”

My legs gave out. I dropped to my knees on the cold floor, shaking so violently I could barely breathe. The sobs came fast, brutal—like my body was trying to tear the pain out of itself.