He couldn't stop watching her. Nyx had made it his personal game to watch Theia the moment Zen left for training. He'd go to the tavern, sit in the far corner and sip whiskey as soon as it opened. Theia knew he was there, but she ignored him all the same. She didn't know that he watched her at home, too.
It was fascinating to see the way she fell apart within just two weeks of his arrival. When she was home, she'd sit on the couch and watch the fire until her eyes grew heavy, then she'd go to her bed and stare at the ceiling until she fell asleep. He had wanted to destroy her the way she destroyed him, but the task had been far too simple.
Nyx realized that the night she begged him to kill her. The next morning, Zen noticed the bloodied dagger stabbed into the wood of the porch. Nyx had no explanation for her and just took it inside, sending her off to training. Theia was far past the chance of help. He'd taken her mind and shredded it just by simply being around.
What he found interesting was how her habit of sleeping around actually stemmed from her trying to get out of her own mind. She hadn't pursued anyone else since Nyx was at Nic's house, though that hadn't stopped them from flirting with her. Theia ignored them or forced a smile, and they'd get bored enough to move onto someone else.
That's how their relationship had started- Theia wishing to forget what a shit hole her life was. She'd beg Nyx to fuck her until she forgot her own name. Soon enough, she enjoyed sleeping beside him, and then slowly fell in love with him. He was still convinced it was some sort of ruse to keep her close to his family until she got what she wanted.
Nyx sat at the edge of the bar, sipping his third glass of whiskey as he watched Theia serve customers. Her hair was messy, her eyes shadowed by exhaustion. It reminded him of what she looked like when he first met her. Someone sat beside him carelessly, their shoulder hitting Nyx's. His whiskey sloshed onto the counter, and Nyx shot them a dirty look. His brow lifted when he realized it was Silas.
"Heir," Silas acknowledged, settling on the stool and tapping the counter. Every night that Nyx had been in this tavern, Silas hadn't stepped foot inside. His curiosity was peaked.
"Camp lord," Nyx responded, using his title just as Silas had. The male ignored him, knocking his fist on the counter again. Nyx glanced down the bar to see Theia filling glass after glass and hurrying to get them onto the counter, not even bothering to check for payment. The bitch Elena didn't bother to come to work tonight, despite it being the busiest of the week. She had complained about working the next day alone, seeing that Theia would be in Velaris with Nyx.
Hearing Silas knocking again has Nyx whipping his head around. "Do you not see that she's busy? Give her a fucking break."
Silas shot him a look of disdain. "Yeah, I see her."
Nyx rolled his eyes and looked down at his emptying whiskey glass, including the spilt liquid around it. Disgusted at the alcohol touching the sleeves of his shirt, Nyx rose on the stool and reached for the wet cloth on the other side of the bar. He wiped up the mess Silas had made before tossing the cloth back over.
Theia chose that exact moment to walk over. She shot Nyx a dirty look as she grabbed the cloth and moved it to the other counter before turning to Silas. Nyx watched the realization come over her face, her eyes dancing between the two.
"What can I get you?" She asked Silas, her voice wavering slightly. Silas shifted on his seat and glanced at Nyx before leaning forward.
"I miss you, Theia. I was a fool to leave like that, I just was so angry at how you were acting."
Theia cleared her throat and glanced at Nyx. "This isn't the place, Silas. Can you just come by my house tonight?"
Nyx kept his eyes on Theia, watching her every reaction. He wanted to know if she loved this male, if he was a toy for her, or if she even bothered to care. He saw the flicker of pain in her eyes, the way she dug her nails into the varnish of the bar.
"No, I want to say it here, now. I want to be with you, Theia. I was a fucking idiot, I should've stuck around. Please, just give me another chance. I don't want to waste a year on this," Silas pleaded, reaching out for her hand. Theia immediately pulled them away, her eyes glistening.
"I would like to talk about this privately," she responded, her voice thick. Nyx didn't fight his grin as he watched her. Theia glanced at him, watching as he slowly sipped the whiskey before turning back to Silas.
"I'll fuck you so good tonight, I promise. Please, I miss the taste of you, how you feel around me."
Nyc nearly choked on his whiskey. His grin widened as he turned to study Silas closely. His eyes were glazed and red, his body weight uneven on the chair. The bastard was drunk and turned on, and Theia was his easiest option. Nyx scoffed, turning back to watch Theia.
Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth, her legs shifting back and forth. Nyx's eyes narrowed on her hips. She was pressing her thighs together. He let out another suppressed laugh as he leaned back in the seat. He didn't expect a show tonight, but seeing Theia fall for Silas's drunken antics was amusing. If she was that desperate to be fucked, Nyx would do it himself.
"Just come over tonight," Theia muttered, blinking away whatever emotion had been in her eyes. Silas let out a breath as she turned to walk away, his shoulders slouching. Nyx watched him with a raised brow. Silas began to slip from the bar stool, but Nyx caught his arm.
"Do you really think she's going to change? Come on, Silas. She just wants to be fucked," Nyx mused, nodding his head toward Theia. Silas's eyes slid from him to the female.
"So do I," Silas responded with a shrug. Nyx frowned, glancing between his eyes. Silas wasn't a drunken fool, he was manipulating her. Nyx's anger rose, that damned possessiveness taking over.
"If you care about your job, or even your life, I'd suggest you stay far away from Theia's house," he growled, shoving Silas away. The male stumbled from the stool, eyes wide on Nyx. Before Nyx could say anything else, Silas rushed from the tavern. It was simple when his father was feared. Nyx was set up to be treacherous, and it led to many people being afraid of the smallest threat.
Nyx leaned forward, turning his eyes back to Theia. He liked being the one in control, especially if he only had one more night to mess with her. She'd be dead tomorrow, he was sure of it. He was going to convince Silas to stay away from her anyway, but the male had made it easy.
Nyx watched Theia for hours until the tavern closed. She told him to leave, which he did after paying for the drinks he watched her hand out in a frantic, and made his way to her house. He stood outside the door like he had the night he took back his father's money, leaning against the door and staring up at the stars. Soon enough, he heard the crunch of her boots and her heavy sighs.
Nyx brought his head down to see Theia approaching, a frown on her lips as she watched him.
"Get away from my house, I'm not supposed to meet you until sunrise," she spat, trying to shove past him.
"He's not coming," Nyx responded, tilting his head. Theia took a step back, her brows furrowed as she studied him.
"Silas? Why?"
"Because I told him not to," Nyx answered nonchalantly. The feisty female shoved at his chest with a grunt.
"Why the fuck would you do that?" She shrieked, glaring up at him.
"Because he was manipulating you. As soon as you walked away, his entire demeanor changed. He just wanted to fuck you," Nyx challenged. Theia scoffed and crossed her arms.
"What makes you think I wanted anything more than that? I don't doubt that your father will lie tomorrow to save his own ass, and you'll kill me. I could've at least had fun on my last night alive," Theia snapped, shoving him to the side and unlocking her front door.
Nyx smoothly followed her into the house before she realized, making her yelp when she turned from slamming the door shut. He stepped forward, his eyes on her lips as she stumbled back against the door.
"If you want to be fucked so badly, just ask," he cooed, running a knuckle along her jaw. Theia glared up at him, her lips in a pout and her cheeks flushed.
"You hate me, and I hate you. I'd rather see a dagger in your chest than your cock in me," Theia spat. Nyx grinned as he watched his finger trace her jaw. His nose scrunched as he spoke.
"Doesn't that make it more appealing? Having me fuck you like I want you dead? You're going to die tomorrow, as you say, so why not enjoy your last night alive?"
Theia shoved his hand away from her face, though he caught the trail of goosebumps from where his hand touched her. "I'd enjoy it far more if you were choking on your own blood."
Theia moved to slip around him, but Nyx blocked her. He'd offer one last time, and leave if she denied him again. He'd been on edge without having any release other than his own fist, he'd kill to fuck Theia one last time.
"Don't you remember what it was like? When you'd be screaming my name, writhing and moaning beneath me? Do you remember what it felt like to have me fucking you so deep, you'd feel me right here?"
Nyx pressed his fingers against her lower stomach. He grinned as her lashes fluttered, an unsteady breath falling from her lips. His tongue ran along his lips, his fingers slipping down as she made no move to stop him.
"Tell me, Theia. Do you want me to fuck you? Say no and I'll be gone."
Her eyes opened slowly, meeting his gaze. He nearly moaned at the sight of her dilated pupils and hooded gaze. Her cheeks grew even more red, her pink lips parting in a soft gasp when he ran his fingers along the waistband of her pants.
"Will you hold it over my head if I let you?" She asked, staring up at him with eyes that had him nearly panting. Nyx grinned.
"You'll be dying tomorrow, love. I think it doesn't matter what I say about it then."
Theia's eyes fluttered shut once more, her body arching to his touch. He remembered how well she sang for him, how much her body responded to his touch. Dead or alive, love or hatred, Theia would always be Nyx's. Another push had Nyx dropping his head down, nuzzling his face into her neck as he pressed one soft kiss to her pulse point. He didn't stop his groan at the shuddering breath she released.
Her hand hesitantly reached out, her finger tips grazing the fabric of his shirt before she laid her palm against his abdomen. How poetic that her palm laid over the scar she had left a week before. Nyx chuckled against her skin, letting his tongue flick over the pounding pulse.
"Let me fuck you like you hate me," Nyx murmured.
Theia scoffed, her hand closing into a fist around his shirt. "I don't think I could ever hate myself as much as I do right now."
And then she turned her head and kissed him.