The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 209: Infinite Loop

Donovan’s mouth crashed onto hers with a hunger that bordered on desperation, his lips feverish as he devoured her in a kiss that left no room for restraint.

His grip on her waist tightened, pulling her against him until there was nothing between them– no air, no space, not even sanity. He kissed her like he meant to ruin her, like the taste of her was both his salvation and a curse he couldn’t resist all at once, and that alone drew a deep moan from her.

The moment her tongue brushed against his, a guttural sound rumbled from his chest, primal and possessive. He claimed her mouth without hesitation, deepening the kiss as he sucked and explored her with an almost punishing intensity, as though she were something he had lost and finally reclaimed. Esme’s fingers dug into his shoulders, clutching him as though she’d fall apart if she let go.

She met his fervor with equal passion, whilst her body responded instinctively, helplessly, against his.

Gods... She had missed this. Maybe even more than he had.

Heat pooled low in her belly as it went on, her thighs pressing together in a feeble attempt to quell the aching need he had ignited. But Donovan was faster. His knee slid between her legs, forcing them apart to ensure there was no escape from the delicious pressure he inflicted. In response, a strangled gasp escaped Esme, the sensation sending liquid fire through her veins. It was too much, yet not nearly enough. freēwēbnovel.com

Her pulse roared in her ear as she tore her lips from his, her breath coming in short, uneven pants. She pressed a trembling hand to his chest in an attempt to create space between them, but Donovan remained solid, refusing to move an inch.

His breath mingled with hers, hot and ragged, whilst his lips remained dangerously close as though he was already contemplating the next assault on her senses. Esme’s body betrayed her, as she was still drawn to him like a moth to a flame, and despite herself, she found her voice again and dared to ask.

"Don... Can you show me what your eyes truly do?" her voice was soft, a little breathy now, but still firm. "I want to see it for myself."

"What?" Donovan tilted his head slightly, her request catching him off guard. "You mean right now?"

Esme recognized the quiet edge of frustration in his voice, mixed with the hesitation behind it. This might be her only chance, since he was afraid of hurting her and letting her witness the full extent of his power. But she knew he would do it if she pushed the right way, and she was going to use her feminine power to achieve that. And so, she leaned in, her breath ghosting against his ear.

"Yes," she murmured, her tone coaxing, and laced with something undeniable. "I want to see it too. Show me."

Donovan exhaled slowly at her insistence, and he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. Why was it always so hard for him to say no to her most of the time? He couldn’t even think of refusing her, not in the condition she had put him in.

What if she backs out because he refused?

Esme took note of the conflict in his expression, and she could tell he was weighing his options. His eyes were still glazed and needy, but then he took a slow, calm breath.

"Just a minute," he murmured, closing his eyes for a brief moment as he finally stepped back. When he opened them again, his pupils slanted in the way Esme recalled seeing it when he was running away from the guards that night, and everything around them changed.

The study disappeared.

Darkness swallowed her whole. It wasn’t just the absence of light— it was something far deeper, something alive, and it was sinister. The air surrounding them suddenly felt thick, like the world itself had collapsed into an abyss. But Esme knew she wasn’t alone. Donovan was with her, standing in front of her, and his presence was eerily at home in this void.

Unlike her, who stood out more because her skin emitted an unexpected, faint, ethereal glow, Donovan blended into the darkness seamlessly, as if he belonged to it.

Esme could hardly believe her eyes at this point. "What is this...?"

"The infinite loop," Donovan answered smoothly, running his fingers through his hair. "It’s a place of my own making. A mental trap to be more specific. It creates an illusion so real that once you’re trapped, it becomes impossible to escape unless I say otherwise."

He took a step closer to Esme, the light from her skin radiating his face. "Anyone who meets my gaze...can be dragged here at my command. This is where I shape what they see, what they feel, and what they suffer. To them, this is reality, which makes the damage just as real. I’ve only ever used it twice, or thrice. I don’t know the full extent of it myself, so I keep it buried until there’s no other option left."

Esme swallowed as she listened to the details, and she swirled around to get a better view of the place, whilst her legs led her forward. The void seemed to stretch endlessly, oppressive yet silent. She felt something else aside from all that, and it was like the emotions he kept buried along with his powers– lonely, sad, helpless, guilt– it made her heart ache.

"Why is it so dark then?" She asked, unsure of what kind of reply she’d get for asking. Donovan remained silent for a long time. Then, without warning, he reached for her, drawing her into his embrace. Esme tensed as his arms wrapped around her, her back pressing against his chest. The warmth of him was stark against the suffocating void surrounding them.

"Don’t forget that this power is a curse, which automatically makes this place my own prison," he murmured gently, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder. "This is what I see."

Donovan could not bring himself to tell her the rest. How can he possibly tell her that this place was not entirely his own? That here, in the depths of his own mind, the true bearer controlled it too.

"The interesting part of it all," he continued, "is that even in this darkness, you are my light." he said, a faint smile curving his lips as he turned her to face him. His fingers traced the outline of her cheek, reverent and possessive. "Knowing I have you keeps me steady more than any sleep or remedy ever could. Without you, I would lose myself. But as long as you’re here with me, I can endure anything."

Then he exhaled slowly, as if bracing himself before whispering, "I love you, Esmeray."

Esme’s breath caught at the sudden confession. His voice, raw and unguarded, held a truth that pierced through her defenses. The intensity of his gaze, the sincerity etched into every word— Esme wasn’t sure why, but it sent a wave of pure emotions crashing over her. Before she could stop herself, tears welled in her eyes, shimmering like they had tiny stars in them. The sight seemed to startle Donovan, whose expression shifted as doubt crept in. He hadn’t planned to say it– not here, not now– but something about it just felt oddly right. And now, after seeing her reaction, he wondered if he made a mistake.

"Hey, did I–"

Before he could finish, Esmeray surged forward, throwing her arms around his neck in a fierce embrace. The force of it nearly stole his breath, and he stiffened for a moment, clearly caught off guard, before her warmth settled against him. Esme was only starting to wonder, to realize, since Donovan was never truly blind, and only lost his sight because the dark runes were on his face, hence, affecting his sight. What if all this time the darkness he lived in was actually his powers trapping him here?

It made sense why he wore his blindfold all the time.

"Why are you—"

Donovan started, but Esme was quick to cut him off.

"I want to stay by your side," she whispered, her voice trembling but resolute. Her grip tightened as if daring fate to pry them apart. "So don’t ever let me go. Let me stay with you in this dark void. I can endure it too, whatever it is you are facing here. I want to lessen the pain for you."

Donovan’s eyes widened at her words, but soon softened as something inside of him cracked— something long buried beneath the weight of his solitude. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, anchoring himself in the warmth of her presence.

Unknown to Esme, another pair of glowing purple eyes flickered in the darkness, watching with narrowed eyes. And it was a look only Donovan knew and recognized the moment his eyes caught sight of it.

Before he could react, Esme pulled him down to her, kissing him before the unknown entity.