Evie's apartment, though small, was tidy and clean. She prided herself on taking good care of what she had, even if it wasn't much. It was a habit drilled into her from years of making do with little, of cherishing what was hers. Apart from her bookstore, this was her second safe haven—her retreat from the chaos of the world. But tonight, as the tall, devastatingly attractive man followed her inside, she suddenly felt like the walls were closing in.
She had invited him in. Well, more like she had no choice. Leaving him alone in the bookstore had felt wrong, too cruel somehow. But now that he was here, standing in her space, inspecting the modest surroundings with those eerie, intelligent eyes, she had no idea what to say to him.
Evie cleared her throat, shifting awkwardly as she removed her coat. "It's not much, but this is me."
Rohmir said nothing. His gaze roamed the apartment with quiet intensity, as though committing every detail to memory. The bookshelves, the simple but cozy furniture, the soft glow of the lamp in the corner. His presence made the air thick, charged with something she couldn't quite name.
Desperate to break the silence, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Do you eat... human food?"
It was a ridiculous question. The second the words left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself. But Rohmir didn't seem offended—only mildly surprised.
"I do not get hungry," he said slowly, as though considering his own words. "But I do still enjoy the flavors of food."
Evie tilted her head. "When was the last time you ate?"
Rohmir's expression darkened. "Before I was trapped."
She froze. "Trapped in that book? You haven't had food since then?"
He nodded, his gaze momentarily distant, lost in some memory she couldn't reach.
"Your previous masters didn't feed you?"
"They had no need to," he said simply. "So please do not feel compelled to do so either."
That made something deep in her chest twist. What kind of existence was that? To serve, to obey, and yet not even be treated as something that needed care? The idea unsettled her.
"I don't feel compelled to do anything," Evie said firmly. "This is my place, and if I'm having dinner, you're having dinner with me. How does fresh pasta sound? I make my own noodles and everything."
Rohmir looked at her like she had grown another head. "I do not remember ever having pasta. But I recall one of my previous owners eating it."
"Well, then, here's to new experiences."
She busied herself in the kitchen, grateful for the distraction. The weight of Rohmir's gaze followed her every move. It made her self-conscious, her hands clumsy as she prepared the dough.
"You know, you don't have to watch me," she said, trying to keep her voice light. "You can watch TV or something."
Rohmir shook his head. "This is far more... educational for me."
She huffed out a small laugh. He had a way of making simple statements feel weighted, like there was a hidden meaning behind every word. To fill the silence, she turned on some music, the soft melody filling the space between them.
When dinner was finally ready, she set the plates down at the small dining table. She wasn't used to company. Usually, it was just her best friend who came over occasionally. Having a man sitting across from her, especially this man, felt strangely intimate.
"So," she began, twirling a strand of spaghetti around her fork. "How long were you in that book?"
Rohmir tilted his head slightly, considering the question. "What year is this?"
"2025."
"Hm." He nodded. "Then... I was bound in the year Pharaoh Seti I ruled. That would be around 1300 BCE."
Evie nearly choked on her food. "You were trapped for over three thousand years?"
He nodded again, unfazed by her reaction.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "How many masters have you had since then?"
A shadow crossed his face. His grip on his fork tightened slightly. "You are the ninth."
Evie's stomach twisted. "You told me breaking the bond would take great sacrifice. Is that why the others didn't do it?"
"They were unwilling," Rohmir said, his voice as smooth as silk but laced with something sharp. "Most are not prepared to pay the price."
The weight of his words settled over her. She had no idea what to say to that.
Instead, she focused on her food, trying to process what he had just told her. Everything about this situation was insane, and yet, here she was, sharing a meal with an immortal being who had been enslaved for millennia.
"What about your life before that?" she asked hesitantly. "Were you human?"
His expression hardened. "Yes," he said, voice clipped. "A lifetime ago."
She could tell he didn't want to talk about it, so she didn't push. Instead, she gestured toward his plate. "Well? What do you think?"
Rohmir eyed the food cautiously before picking up his fork. He wrapped some noodles around it, bringing it to his mouth.
The moment he took a bite, something in his expression changed. His eyes widened slightly, their obsidian hue seeming to brighten.
"This is..." He swallowed, taking another bite. "This is really good."
A pleased smile spread across Evie's face. "I'm glad your first meal in centuries is at least to your liking."
They ate in silence for a while, the mood shifting into something more comfortable. But then Rohmir set his fork down and fixed her with a serious look.
"What is your plan for me, Evie?"
She hesitated. "Well... first, I want to know about this bond. And what sacrifice I'd have to make to break it."
"The bond is different with each master," Rohmir explained. "It is fueled by your emotions, your desires. The stronger you feel, the stronger the bond becomes. And the more time you spend with me, the more my magic binds to you."
Evie swallowed. "Is that going to change me?"
"Yes."
His answer was blunt, absolute.
"For each master, it manifests differently. But you will change. You will possess some of my magic. The pull you feel toward me will grow stronger."
A shiver ran down her spine. This was real. Too real.
"So what am I supposed to do now?"
"Ask me for something," Rohmir said. His voice was quiet, but there was an underlying command in it. "Please. My existence is to serve. Tell me what you desire."
Evie bit her lip, thinking. "How about more clothes for you?"
Rohmir blinked. "Clothes?"
"Yeah. I don't have money to buy a whole wardrobe for you, so it would make sense for you to get some things for yourself first."
He frowned, clearly displeased. "I am supposed to be doing things for you."
"Well, technically, you are," she pointed out. "You're saving my wallet."
Rohmir let out a quiet grumble but didn't argue. "Fine. I will get to it right away." He pushed back his chair, ready to stand.
"Now? No, sit down!" Evie reached out instinctively, grabbing his wrist to pull him back down.
The second her skin touched his, something happened.
A shock of heat surged through her, a rush of something coiling in her gut. It was intoxicating, overwhelming. Lust. A raw, burning need that left her breathless.
She yanked her hand away like she'd been burned. "What the hell was that?"
Rohmir was staring at her, his dark eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
"That," he said, voice low and smooth, "was our bond."
His gaze flickered down to her lips.
"Do you want me, Evie?"