Ariane:
I could feel the tension in the air long after Varek's words had left his lips, that dangerous promise lingering between us like a breath held too long.
But I wasn't about to let him control me, not completely, not yet, if ever. I pulled myself from the edge of the moment and took a steadying breath. The cold stone of the wall was still biting into my skin, reminding me of my place in this strange, twisted game he was playing.
Without a word, Varek released me, his hands trailing briefly over my skin as he stepped back. I considered leaving for a moment—just walking out of this world, out of his dimension and nose first into whatever world my first portal would take me to, escaping the pull of whatever was between us. But I didn't move. I stayed... Despite everything, the pull
