Married To The Villain
Chapter 41: The Ecstasy Of Power

Chapter 41: The Ecstasy Of Power

Chapter 41: The Ecstasy of Power

The chamber was dim, everything felt charged with an electric tension as the masked man stood before Lirian...

The runes on the chains binding her pulsed faintly, feeding off her magic as he manipulated the energy radiating from her.

Lirian sat slumped against the stone pillar, her breaths shallow and ragged.

She could feel the pull of her own mana, a force wrenched from her soul and woven into the room by his hand.

Her energy flowed freely, no longer under her control, and the sensation of it being siphoned left her weak and trembling.

Yet it wasn’t her weakness that caught his attention—it was the raw potency of her magic, coursing through the air like a tangible force.

He stood in its glow, his breaths coming quicker as if he were intoxicated.

"Do you feel it, Lirian?" he murmured as if with something that made her stomach twist.

"This power... it’s unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. So pure. So... alive."

Lirian clenched her jaw, forcing herself to meet his eyes despite the overwhelming exhaustion pressing down on her.

"It’s not yours," she stated. "You’ll never control it the way you think you can."

"Control? Who said anything about control? This energy—it’s not meant to be controlled. It’s meant to be savored."

With a wave of his hand, he summoned another surge of mana, drawing it from the depths of her being.

The glow beneath her skin intensified, casting her in a soft, ethereal light.

She gasped as the sensation swept through her, like fire and lightning colliding within her veins.

The masked man inhaled sharply, his body shuddering as the energy reached him.

"Gods," he whispered loudly. "It’s... exquisite."

He took a step closer, his golden eyes locked on her.

Lirian recoiled instinctively, though the chains kept her bound.

"Stay away from me," she warned.

But he didn’t listen.

Instead, he knelt before her, his gloved hand hovering just above her skin.

The air surrounded them with magic, and he shuddered again, as if the mere proximity to her power was enough to send waves of ecstasy through him.

"You don’t understand, do you?" he said unsteady. "Your energy... it’s not just power. It’s life itself. It’s... intoxicating."

His hand drifted closer, until his fingers brushed against her arm.

The contact sent a ripple of sensation through both of them—Lirian felt a sharp stab of her own magic, and the man groaned softly, his eyes fluttering shut.

"You’re insane," she hissed, jerking against the chains. "Whatever you think you’re feeling—it’s not real."

He laughed. It was a breathless, almost delirious sound.

"Not real? Lirian, this is as real as it gets. Your mana—it’s pure, unfiltered pleasure. It’s overwhelming. Do you even know what you are?"

"I’m a prisoner," she snapped. "And you’re a delusional monster."

The man ignored her words, he focused entirely on the energy radiating from her.

His hand moved higher, brushing against her shoulder, and another wave of her magic surged through him.

He inhaled sharply, his body trembled as if he were barely holding himself together.

"It’s... too much," he admitted, his voice sounded strained. "And yet, I can’t stop. I need more."

"Get your hands off me!" Lirian growled, her anger flared despite her exhaustion.

He hesitated, his gloved fingers hovered over her skin.

For a moment, it seemed as though he might retreat—but then he shook his head, his golden eyes looked wild desire and desperation.

"You don’t understand," he said, almost pleading. "This isn’t about me. It’s about what you are. What you could become."

"I’d rather die than let you use me," Lirian moved her lips.

He tilted his head, studying her with an intensity.

"You say that now," he murmured, "but you haven’t felt the full extent of your power. Not yet."

He drew more of her mana into the air, the room glowed brighter as the energy swirled around them.

Lirian gasped.

She could feel the raw potential within her, but it was being wrenched from her control, leaving her vulnerable and exposed.

The man groaned again, his body seemed visibly shaking as the magic enveloped him.

"Do you feel that?" he whispered. "It’s ecstasy, Lirian. Pure ecstasy."

"Stop this," she shouted. "You’re... you’re losing your mind."

"Perhaps I am," he admitted, his golden eyes burnt with an so much focus that bordered on madness.

"But if this is madness, I welcome it. To feel your power—to taste it—it’s worth everything."

He leaned closer, and Lirian recoiled, her stomach twisting with disgust as he whispered, "You have no idea what you do to me."

"I’ll kill you," she snarled.

His laughter was soft, almost wistful.

The man’s golden eyes narrowed, his breath seemed still unsteady from the torrent of energy he had siphoned from Lirian.

"You think you can defy me? You think your stubbornness will protect you? Let me make one thing clear, Lirian—you don’t hold the cards here. I do."

She glared at him, tears of frustration formed inside her eyes.

"I won’t give you anything," she hissed, though her voice trembled.

His gloved hand gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"No? Then perhaps I’ll give you a choice." His tone dropped a little. "If you won’t learn to obey me, I’ll kill Gabriel."

The name hit her like a physical blow, and her breath paused immediately.

Gabriel. That traitor. That liar. She hated him—despised him with every fiber of her being—and yet, the thought of him being executed because of her made something inside her crumble.

"Don’t..."

The masked man smirked, sensing her anguish.

"Ah, there it is. You still care for him, don’t you? Even after everything he’s done to you."

He released her chin, taking a step back as if to savor her torment.

"Such devotion is wasted on a man like him. But I’ll use it to break you."

Lirian’s tears fell freely now, her body was shaking without control as the flood of emotions overwhelmed her.

And then, it happened.

A golden glow surrounded her, soft at first, then blindingly bright.

From her chest, a swarm of golden butterflies erupted, their wings were with an ethereal light.

They flitted around the room before turning on the man.

"What—" he started, but the butterflies attacked with razor-sharp strength.

Their wings sliced through his cloak, drawing blood as they swarmed him.

He staggered back, clutching his arms as crimson streaks bloomed across his skin.

"Lirian!" he roared.