A Criminal Temptation Red Silk & Red Flags

Location – Castrevault Estate | Dining Hall – NIGHT

Seraphina POV Red silk. The gown clings to me like sin. Off-shoulder. Slit high enough to slice egos. Courtesy of the devil himself.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

(This isn’t a dinner. It’s a show. And I’m the unwilling star.)

Maid

Mr. Castrevault insists, Miss D'Calaré. The board expects your presence.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[Seraphina takes one last breath and walks out—shoulders high, heels unforgiving.]

Damon POV And there she is. My bride in crimson. Not just beautiful—lethal. Like a rose that dares you to bleed.

Damon Castrevault

You clean up nicely, fiancée.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

Don’t mistake this dress for surrender. I wore it so the whole room sees exactly who’s about to burn you alive.

Damon Castrevault

[He smirks. Lights his cigar. Unbothered.]

Damon Castrevault

Burn with me then, sweetheart. I promise to make it worth your while.

Boardroom laughter dies down as they approach. Eyes on Seraphina like she’s a prize already won.

Board member 1

So this is the future Mrs. Castrevault. Enchanté, mademoiselle.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

Spare me the flattery. I bite.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[Damon grips her waist tighter. Not gentle. Possessive.]

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

(He's marking territory. Like I’m property. Like I don’t get a say.)

Dinner Table | 10 Minutes Later

Fine dining. Expensive wine. Polished lies.

Damon Castrevault

[Leaning close] Smile, Seraphina. Or shall I remind you of the cost of rebellion?

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[through gritted teeth] You think you own me because of a signature and a diamond? Watch me ruin your empire in heels.

Damon Castrevault

[He laughs, the kind that freezes blood.]

Damon Castrevault

Try, princess. Just know—if you fall, I drag you down with me.

Seraphina POV This isn’t a man. He’s a loaded gun with no safety. And I’m holding the trigger.

After Dinner | Balcony Overlooking Paris

The city glitters beneath them. Cold air bites. Her skin prickles.

Damon Castrevault

Why do you hate me so much, Seraphina?

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

Because you turned my life into a bargaining chip. Because you don’t see me—you see power.

Damon Castrevault

[quietly] I see fire. I see the danger. I see a woman who could kill me with her silence—and I want that in my world.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[Beat. Her breath hitches.]

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

I’m not some conquest.

Damon Castrevault

[turning to her] No. You’re the war.

Damon Castrevault

[He cups her jaw. Not gentle. But not cruel, either.]

Damon Castrevault

You were born for blood and crowns, Seraphina. Don’t waste it pretending to be soft.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

(Why does he say things like that? Like he knows me. Like he sees through the armor I barely admit I wear.)

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

Seraphina POV I should slap him again. I should scream. But instead— I blink. And I see it. Just for a second. A crack in his ice. A flicker of something… human?

Damon Castrevault

[voice low] I wasn’t always like this.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

No one is. But you chose this.

Damon Castrevault

I survived this.

Seraphina POV Silence. Heavy. Not awkward. Just… revealing.

Damon Castrevault

[He pulls away first.]

Damon Castrevault

You don’t have to like me. But you will be mine.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[She steps closer now. Her turn to intimidate.]

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

If I wasn’t from the D’Calaré bloodline—if I was just… Seraphina. No deals. No money. No leverage. Would you still want me?

Damon Castrevault

[eyes narrowing] I’d still ruin kingdoms to get you.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[Pause. Her heart shouldn’t flutter. But it does.]

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

(This man is dangerous in ways I didn’t prepare for. And maybe the scariest part… is that a part of me wants to understand why.)

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

Damon POV She’s breaking. Not into pieces. But into questions. And that’s the first step toward surrender.

Midnight | Guest Bedroom

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[Seraphina stares at the engagement ring on her finger.]

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

(Is it still a cage if part of you wants to stay inside?)

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[A text flashes on her phone.]

TEXT – Unknown Number Leave while you still can. Damon Castrevault doesn’t love. He destroys.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[She freezes.]

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

(Who sent this…?)

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[Behind her, the door creaks.]

Damon Castrevault

[Calm voice] Couldn't sleep?

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

[She hides the phone. He steps in, shirtless, all shadows and tattoos.]

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

What if I said I wanted to leave?

Damon Castrevault

[dark smirk] Then I’d chain the world to keep you here.

Seraphina Evraine D'Calaré

You’re insane.

Damon Castrevault

I’m in control. And you? You’re not running anymore.

Damon Castrevault

[He closes the distance. Her back hits the wall. He leans in—dangerously close.]

Damon Castrevault

Fight me. Hate me. But don’t lie to yourself, Seraphina.

Damon Castrevault

[His breath on her skin.]

Damon Castrevault

You want this. You want me.

Seraphina POV The worst part? He’s not entirely wrong.

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Author ●-●

Thank you for taking the time to read this chat story.