The tension between them had always been an undercurrent, simmering beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. But lately, it had become impossible to ignore. Daisy sat at the edge of the Sovereign’s grand meeting hall, her eyes scanning the room as the powerful figures debated alliances and power plays. She could feel his gaze on her-intense, unwavering, and maddeningly familiar.
Ezekiel was there, standing among the few who had been granted access as external advisors. His focus was razor-sharp, but Daisy could tell it wasn’t on the room’s politics or the Sovereign’s plans. It was on her. Always her.
After the meeting concluded, Daisy made her way through the winding halls of the Sovereign’s estate. Her steps were deliberate, echoing against the cold marble floor. She didn’t want to acknowledge his presence trailing her, but she knew he was there. He always found a way to close the distance, and today was no different.
“Do you think you can avoid me forever?” Ezekiel’s voice cut through the silence, low and edged with frustration.
Daisy paused but didn’t turn around. “I’m not avoiding you. I simply don’t have time for your persistence.”
“That’s what you call it?” he challenged, stepping closer.
She finally turned, her mask of indifference firmly in place. “I call it a nuisance.”
Ezekiel smirked, though there was little humor in it. “A nuisance? Then why do you keep looking back?”
Her silence was damning, and she hated that he always seemed to find the cracks in her carefully constructed armor.
“Why are you here, Ezekiel?” she asked, her voice colder than the air between them.
“I could ask you the same question,” he replied, his gaze softening. “Why are you still letting him control you? You’re stronger than this, stronger than him.”
Daisy stiffened at his words. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know you,” Ezekiel said, his voice quieter now. “I know the fire you have. You’ve built walls so high even you can’t see over them anymore. But I’m not here to break them down. I’m here to remind you that there’s still someone who cares about the person behind them.”
She felt her resolve waver for a fraction of a second before she forced herself to regain control. “You’re wasting your time.”
“I don’t care,” he said firmly.
Daisy stepped back, but Ezekiel mirrored her movements. She could feel the heat radiating from him, and it unnerved her how her pulse quickened.
“You can’t keep doing this,” she said, her voice almost a whisper.
“Doing what?” he asked, leaning in slightly, his gaze never leaving hers.
“This. Acting like you care. Acting like you can fix something that isn’t broken,” she said, her voice gaining strength as she tried to build her defenses again.
“I’m not acting, Daisy,” Ezekiel said, using her name like it was a lifeline. “And you’re not broken. You’re hurt, you’re guarded, but you’re not broken.”
Her heart betrayed her by skipping a beat, but she refused to let him see it.
“You don’t know what I’ve done,” she said, her voice shaking slightly despite her efforts.
“I don’t care,” he replied. “Whatever it is, whatever you think makes you unworthy of help, I don’t care. You’re still you.”
She laughed bitterly, a sound devoid of humor. “You think you know me, Ezekiel, but you don’t. The person you’re holding onto died a long time ago.”
“No,” he said, his voice resolute. “She’s standing right here.”
Daisy turned abruptly, her back to him as she tried to steel herself. But before she could walk away, she felt his hand on her wrist, gentle but firm.
“Let go,” she said, her tone icy.
“Not until you stop running,” he said.
She yanked her arm free, spinning around to face him. “You think you can save me? That you’re some sort of hero here? You’re just as lost as I am, Ezekiel. Don’t pretend otherwise.”
The words were meant to wound, but instead, they seemed to solidify his resolve.
“I’m not trying to be a hero,” he said, stepping closer again. “I’m just trying to be someone who doesn’t give up on you.”
The vulnerability in his voice caught her off guard, and for a fleeting moment, she let her guard slip. But it was only a moment.
“Don’t,” she said, her voice barely audible.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t make me feel something,” she said, her voice cracking just slightly.
Ezekiel reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek, just above the mask. It was a fleeting touch, but it felt like it left a brand.
“You already feel something,” he said softly.
Daisy’s breath hitched, and for a moment, she thought about letting the mask fall-not the one on her face, but the one guarding her heart. But then the Sovereign’s words echoed in her mind, a chilling reminder of the consequences of weakness.
She stepped back, putting distance between them once more. “Stay away from me, Ezekiel,” she said, her voice firmer now. “Whatever you’re looking for, you won’t find it here.”
And with that, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.
Ezekiel watched her go, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. He wasn’t giving up. Not now. Not ever. If anything, her resistance only strengthened his determination.
As Daisy disappeared into the shadows, Ezekiel vowed to break through whatever walls she had built-even if it meant tearing down his own in the process.