The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 199: I Really Like You, Donovan

Esme exhaled softly, her breath hitching as she gazed up in awe, utterly transfixed by the sight. The sheer beauty of it left her speechless, with her mind momentarily going blank as she lost herself in the spectacle.

That was until she felt a warm sensation against her cheek. The unexpected peck drew her back to the present, and she turned instinctively, her eyes meeting the man who had brought her here. His lips curled into a disarming smile, his presence as effortlessly captivating as the view itself. He had already shifted back to his human form, standing tall with a quiet confidence.

Caught off guard by the intensity of his gaze, Esme quickly averted her gaze, a wave of uncharacteristic shyness creeping over her. Before she could step away, his arms slid around her waist, pulling her firmly against him, whilst his warmth seeped into her skin, steady and grounding.

Only then did he lift his gaze to take in their surroundings, his breath slow and measured. He always passed here during his usual early morning runs but never thought much about it until today.

"What do you think?" he asked, his voice low and expectant.

Esme offered a small, satisfied nod before admitting, "Better than I imagined." She let her eyes roam over the impossible landscape before them, wonder still flickering in her expression.

"How did you even find this place? It looks... so unreal."

Donovan said nothing at first, merely releasing her waist and stepping aside to face her fully. Then, with a quiet certainty, he extended his hand toward her. Esme slipped her fingers into his without hesitation, his grip firm, and the contrast between his roughened palm and her softer skin was unmistakable.

Without a word, he guided her forward. She watched as he called upon his powers, dark, tiny threads unfurling from his other fingertips, coiling and stretching toward the scattered pieces of wood nearby. The movement was almost hypnotic, fluid and effortless, as if the very shadows obeyed his silent command.

But the more Esme stared at it, the more she realized something was different about his powers. Those dark threads he controlled... they used to be red before, no?

"Don," Esme called softly. "Have you always had this power as a child?"

"No," he replied, using his powers to stack up the firewood. "This power isn’t exactly mine to begin with, it belonged to the true bearer. After that day when he nearly overtook my body in the palace, this power stayed behind. Took me a while to control and wield till it finally yielded to me."

"Oh," Esme blinked, unsure of whether to be worried or amused that he was able to tame the true bearer’s power by himself.

Once the gathered wood was stacked high, Esme took over as she crouched beside the pile. She retrieved two stones and struck them together with practiced precision. On the third, sharp strike, a single ember sparked to life, catching onto the dry wood, and she smiled triumphantly.

Within moments, flames crackled and spread, bathing their surroundings in a golden glow.

Donovan simply snapped evergreen branches from the nearby trees, methodically layering them to create a thick, insulated surface against the cold. Meanwhile, Esme took the heavy coat he had given her and spread it over the spot where the firewood crackled, crafting a makeshift seat for them. From this vantage point, they could watch the aurora dance across the sky with undisturbed clarity.

This hadn’t been planned— not by either of them— but tonight, they were willing to make things work.

As the fire flickered, and the scent of pine filled the air, Esme patted the open space beside her in silent invitation. The moment Donovan finished his work, he joined her, settling close. His resourcefulness with the evergreen bedding he made around them, coupled with the steady warmth of the fire, made the coat unnecessary.

Without hesitation, she leaned into him, and he pulled her into his embrace, sharing his body heat instinctively. Her head found its place against his chest, where the steady, rhythmic pounding of his heartbeat filled her ears. His face remained impassive as ever as he stared ahead, but the cadence of his heart told a different story.

"Don?" Esme’s voice was gentle, almost hesitant, as she gazed up at the shifting Aurora’s painting the night sky. "Are you disappointed with the world?"

She didn’t look at him when she spoke, keeping her eyes glued on the celestial display. "When you got your sight back... I assumed you’d be a lot more curious about things, but you didn’t seem fascinated by anything. For example, I’d be delighted to finally see what snowballs look like, or what a tree looks like, the moon, the sun, but it was as if nothing in this world could stir you."

Donovan’s lips curled into a faint, almost wistful smile. "I am fascinated," he murmured, his tone quiet yet certain. "Like you said, there’s plenty in this world worth marveling at, but that’s not why I wanted my sight back." He turned slightly toward her. "I wanted to see the people I view as family. You. Leonardo. Lothar and the rest. Finnian. Being able to see everyone is more than enough to marvel at."

Esme finally pulled her gaze from the sky, her brows drawing together as she studied him. "Then why..." she hesitated before continuing, her voice softer now. "Why do I feel like something is weighing on you all the time? Like there’s something you’re constantly thinking about. Is it because of the true bearer? You know you can always tell me."

She reached for his hand, her fingers barely brushing against his. "I know I’ve said this before, but you don’t have to carry everything alone anymore. I am your mate now, so it’s not right for you to bear your burdens without me."

Something flickered in Donovan’s eyes before softening at her words. The way she said it– his mate– sent warmth through his chest. He hadn’t expected her to claim that title so naturally.

"Really?" he mused, amusements flickering in his gaze before he pretended to ponder on it. "Maybe I’ll give it some more thought. Just in case."

Esme huffed, crossing her arms with an air of impatience. "I’m being serious," she insisted, her expression firm.

Donovan simply chuckled, but there was something bittersweet in it. She was so stubborn, so full of conviction, yet she had no idea of the darkness he was still entangled in. He admired her resolve, cherished the way she genuinely wanted to stand by him— but there were things she didn’t need to know. Not yet.

He would fix this. Alone.

And when it’s all finally over, when all the shadows surrounding him had been dealt with, he would finally be free to be with the woman he had longed dreamed of.

"Why do you look so serious all of a sudden?" Donovan finally teased, tugging playfully at her cheek, a rare warmth in his touch. Then, with a quiet sigh, his demeanor softened, and he caved in. "Fine. If that’s what my love wants, then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll share each other’s burdens." His voice dropped to something more intimate as he took her hand in his. "You’re the only reason I still have the will to go on, remember? So whatever you want, I’ll make it happen."

Esme’s breath caught as she looked at both their entangled hands, and the delicate patterns Donovan had once traced on her wrist reappeared. Like a whispered command to fate, it appeared on his own wrist too, unfurling in perfect symmetry across both their skin. The bond he had woven between them.

"It’s still there..." Esme murmured in disbelief, facing Donovan. "But... how?"

"It never left," Donovan answered, hesitating for a moment. "This bond was the reason I found you in that inn. If I had been even a minute late back then, I would have surrendered to my curse, and today wouldn’t have existed."

As he freed her hand from his, the markings faded once more. His gaze turned toward the aurora overhead, yet his mind was far away, lost in the abyss of his past. "When I woke up from that dreadful sleep, I was consumed by something I couldn’t name. Hatred. Pain. A fury so deep it made my own reflection unbearable." His voice grew quieter, almost haunted. "I just knew I was angry. And I hated myself for it."

He paused. "I could have taken my powers from that fortress without shedding a drop of blood. But I didn’t want to. I wanted to feel it– to revel in the destruction I was desperate to cause. So I slaughtered the men who guarded the tower, not out of necessity, but to appease my own selfish spirit. I killed every last one of them, but even after slaughtering a hundred guards, it still wasn’t enough. I was ready to give in completely, to forsake everything I once stood for and become the monster everyone already believed I was, but the bond never failed me. Our first encounter wasn’t perfect, far from it. But it was the only thing that stopped me from losing myself entirely."

Esme listened in silence, registering the multiple emotions in his voice. Then, with a tenderness that defied the weight of his confession, she slipped her arm through his, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"You had every reason to break," she whispered. "Anyone would, considering all you’ve had to endure. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like, knowing you’ve been robbed your entire childhood. But you fought your way through it. And look at you now. You’re still standing. I know–" she exhaled softly, closing her eyes. "I know things will get better for us all." freewēbnoveℓ.com

Her lashes fluttered as sleep pulled at her, and her voice slurred with drowsiness. "I don’t care about the past anymore... I really like you, Donovan. I really do."

She was barely conscious when she felt the slightest pressure beneath her chin, tilting her face upward. The haze of exhaustion receded as her half-lidded eyes met Donovan’s.

"I was going to let you sleep," he murmured, his fingers brushing against her soft skin, lingering. "But then you had to go and say that. How am I supposed to let you drift off now?"

Esme’s drowsiness momentarily vanished at his words. She blinked, stunned, as if now realizing what she had confessed. But before she could find an excuse, or even pull away—

Donovan claimed her lips.