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Regan didn't know how to answer him. She was still scared. Yes, she had thought about him so many times in other ways other than hatred and disgust. But she couldn't admit that to him. She couldn't even admit that freely to herself."I-I don't know," she stammered, feeling her cheeks flush in embarrassment.He smiled, feeling his shoulder throbbing in pain. He knew he had to do something about it but he couldn't let her go. But then, the pain grew more intense, making him sway on his feet. And as she looked at him, she felt terrible and guilty. She had stabbed him there, she had wanted to hurt him, to make him pay for what he had done. But she hadn't meant for it to be this bad. She didn't want him to die.He laughed then, "Don't worry, I'm not going to die on you. I'm too selfish for that." He winked, his expression teasing. "But I could use some help." He looked down at her, and then decided to play as if he was going to collapse. He let out a dramatic groan and sank to his knees, his grip on her falling. "Help me, kitten.""And how should I help you?" She managed to ask, feeling her heart thudding against her ribcage as she watched him slowly sink to his knees. He was faking it, she knew he was. But still, she couldn't help but feel a sense of panic rising up inside her.He looked up at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief, "You could kiss me." He winked.Regan felt her blood rush to her cheeks as she realized that he was playing games even now."I'm not a fool," she snapped, her face twisted into a frown.He chuckled, his smirk growing wider, "But you have to do something. Because you're the one who stabbed me."She felt herself growing even more anxious. What was she supposed to do? She couldn't run away, the magical shield was still swirling around them. She couldn't yell at anyone, she couldn't go anywhere. The courtyard was empty, and it seemed as if the whole world had disappeared. It was just the two of them, alone together."Come on, help me," he teased. "I'm dying."She glared at him. "You're not dying."Sirius laughed, a genuine and deep laugh. "Oh, but I am, Princess. You see, I'm not made of steel. Yes, I'm powerful and handsome, but I'm also flesh and blood. And your little knife there, it went straight through my shoulder, severing an artery. And now, I'm going to die." He looked up at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief, his voice dramatic."Unless...""Keep staying here, then. I'm not going to help you," she spat out, her voice shaking. She turned her head away, refusing to look at him. The pain in his shoulder was growing worse. But he still couldn't help and smile. She was as stubborn as ever, just as fierce."Oh, come on now," he wheezed. "That's no fun. You can't leave me like this." He reached out a hand, trying to grab her wrist, but she was too quick, dodging his grasp. He winced in pain, feeling his vision starting to blur."Please," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I don't want to die like this."She couldn't believe he was pleading to her. He was the one who had done all this, who had hurt her, who had started it all. But still, she felt very guilty and worried at seeing him like this. What if he was truly dying? What would she do then?"Alright," he suddenly said, "I bet you don't like this place." And with that, he snapped his fingers and teleported them both away from the courtyard, away from the palace. She found herself standing in the middle of a forest, the trees looming overhead, the air cool and crisp around them. He was still there, wincing in pain, his hand pressed against his shoulder. "Do you like it better now?"She knew she had to do something about his wound. He had lost so much blood already and was growing weaker by the moment. But she didn't know what to do."I don't know what to do," she stammered in shame. "I don't have healing powers.""Just bandage it," he carelessly said, "you don't need healing powers to bandage.""Bandage? But the wound must be deep," she retorted, getting frustrated."Oh, so you care now?" He asked, his voice husky. "I'm touched." He let out a humorless laugh. "Well, it's not that deep. I've had worse. Just wrap it tight and I should be fine." He took a shaky breath.She hesitated, regretting that she had ever stabbed him in the first place. But he had kissed her and it wasn't a piece of cake. She had never been kissed before and she still hated him.She approached him, her face a mix of guilt, worry and embarrassment. He was sitting against an old oak tree, his smirk still in place despite his obvious pain. She knelt beside him, trying to not seem like a fool. His robes covered the wound and as soon as she noticed how much blood was staining the fabric, her stomach clenched."You need to unbutton your shirt," she said but then she flushed even more, realizing how ridiculous that sounded. "I mean, at your shoulder." She swallowed hard, feeling like an idiot.He chuckled, his eyes filled with amusement. "I'm terrified. I don't want you to harass me anymore," he teased.She glared at him and then he managed to remove his long robes, revealing his torn, bloodstained shirt. The sight made her stomach turn. His shoulder was indeed bleeding profusely, and she couldn't believe she had caused this much damage.He unbuttoned the shirt, baring only his upper body to the cool air. She tried not to look at his bare chest, but it was hard not to notice the defined muscles. He was so strong and powerful. Even injured, he was intimidating.As she looked at the wound, it was terrible. The flesh was torn and blood was oozing out. She couldn't help but feel guilty and helpless. She reached out, carefully touching his shoulder. His skin was warm and she could feel the strength in him, even though he was hurt. She had to do something.She grabbed his robe and tore a strip from it, then held it against the wound to stop the bleeding. He was throbbing in pain but didn't make a sound.She looked around, trying to not look at his wound at all. His hand reached out and gently took her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze."Look at me," he said, his voice barely audible. "You did this. And now you're going to help me." His eyes bored into hers, unblinking, demanding. She couldn't look away.She needed to clean his wound, at least. And as she glanced around, there was only a small pond nearby, its surface still and calm. Water wasn't really sterile, but it was better than nothing."Hold it here," she instructed, pressing the cloth against his wound. "I'll go get some water."Regan tore another strip from his robe and went to wet it in the pond. The water was crystal clear, and she could see small fishes swimming around the bottom. She knelt beside the pond, washing the cloth. As she did so, she could feel his eyes burning behind her back. It made her cheeks flush again.She returned back to him with the damp cloth, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt his eyes on her as she knelt beside him again. She removed the cloth from before and started to clean the wound, gently washing away the blood and dirt. It was a painful process, but he didn't flinch. He was too strong for that.She applied pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding, and then carefully dabbed the cloth over it, making sure to remove every last bit of dirt. She tied the cloth back around his shoulder, trying her best to make it as tight and secure as possible. Then, she gave him another damp cloth to clean his hands.After she was done, she looked at him, he had been staring at her the whole time. Without a warning, he reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her close to him and so she landed beside him, sitting on the grass. His hand sneaked around her waist, holding her there. She couldn't breathe, in fear of what he was going to do."What are you doing?" she growled."Such a shame," Sirius remarked, "you don't accept you're mine. You don't accept to be on my side. Why so? What should I do more to make you realize you belong to me?" He spoke slowly, each word deliberate and piercing. His voice was soft, but it held an edge that made her shiver.She wanted to pull away from him, but she couldn't. His grip was like iron. She could feel his heart racing, his breath coming out in short gasps."I don't want you to do anything," she said, trying to calm herself down, "I'm just a girl. There are so many other girls for you." Her heart was still racing, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. "You can have Vesper. She's beautiful and she'll do anything for you."He let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Vesper? She's a nuisance, she's a fool. And I don't find her beautiful. I never found her or anyone else beautiful. You are beautiful. She kept throwing herself at me, but I got rid of her. I got rid of her and her sisters. They were making me suffocate with their neediness. You, on the other hand..." His voice trailed off, and he leaned in closer."You're fierce and tough and you never throw yourself at me or anyone." He kissed her cheek, his lips soft against her skin."You fight me, and that makes me pursue you more." He reached to kiss her lips, but Regan titled her head away, letting her locks cover her face, not wanting him to see the flush that spread across her cheeks.She could feel his words like a weight on her chest, making it hard to breathe. He affected her mind in everything he did and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't deny that.His hand left from her waist up to her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair. He pulled her closer on his chest and caressed her hair, trying to calm her down. He could feel her tense muscles relaxing."I want you to understand this," he said, his voice low and steady. "I will always find you. I want you on my side. I know I'm a tyrant and all that, but you belong with me. And even if you don't admit or say it, it doesn't matter. You're still mine." He kissed her temple and massaged her scalp.He really knew how to make her feel better despite the situation they were in.But when he said about her being his, it sent a sense of anger through her. She didn't want to be his, like some sort of possession or plaything. She remembered when he earlier said that he didn't want to taint her, and she couldn't help but wonder if he truly meant it.And she hated herself for being drawn to someone like him, someone she despised. It wasn't only because he was beautiful, handsome or charming. It was also because his personality was captivating. He was cunning and bad, but there was also pure affection and care in the way he was with her. He was also intelligent and charismatic, traits she had always found alluring.She tried to distance herself from him, but his hold was too comfortable."You don't own me," she finally snapped, trying to sound strong and resolute, but her voice came out shaky. "I'm not yours to claim. I belong to no one but myself.""Oh, princess," Sirius interrupted, his tone soft but firm, "you don't know what being mine means, do you?""It means that I'll obey and serve you, right?" she retorted sarcastically, her tone laced with bitterness. "That you'll control me and make me do whatever you want."He sighed, his grip on her tightening ever so slightly. "Maybe for other people it means that. But not for me. I didn't mean it in that way. I meant....I meant it in the commitment sense. You're my only one," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "And I'm your only one.""And you're very committed," Regan mocked, her voice dripping with sarcasm."You don't know," he interrupted. "But you'll see, kitten. You'll see that I'm not like the others. I'm not like anyone you've ever known before.""It's not like I'm going to say I believe you," Regan shrugged with a scoff, her tone defiant. "So, you don't have to keep saying it. I won't change my mind."He smiled, the expression both mocking and affectionate. "You'll come around eventually, kitten. We're bound after all. We've always been bound to each other." He paused for a moment, letting his words sink. Regan knew they were bound, but also knew he was probably just using it to justify....whatever he felt."And if I left and stopped bothering you, it would be so dull, wouldn't it? You need the challenge, the thrill of the chase. You'd ask yourself where he is, why he's not here. You'd wonder what I'm planning, what I'm thinking, or if I've laid eyes on any other woman. You'd miss my teasing, my taunts and my haunting gaze," he finished.Regan didn't know if she believed him, but the words felt heavy with truth. She had feelings for him, not feelings like desire or just attraction, but something more. It was like attachment and affection born out of hate. Maybe twisted, but it made her chest warm and her mind filled with butterflies. Maybe it was twisted in a good way.She couldn't understand how she cared about him and at the same time wanted to get rid of him. Maybe their shared magic was the reason why she felt that strong emotional attachment to him. She had always felt like she had known him her whole life. He always felt familiar."You know, you're just full of yourself," Regan finally said, her tone light and mocking. She knew he was right, but she couldn't help but feel the need to deny it. "Your presence is nagging and obnoxious. You're annoying and irritating and you're arrogant." She hit him in the chest, making him chuckle."And you think you're all that. But you're not."He took her hand in his, holding it gently, massaging her knuckles. "Oh, but I am," he said with a smirk. "And that's why you're here. You may hate me, you may fight me, but you also love me, don't you, sweetheart?"Regan wanted to deny it but she couldn't. There was truth in his words, truth she didn't want to accept but couldn't ignore. She hated him and she loved him. It was a cruel, complicated feeling that she didn't understand, but she knew it was there. It made her angry and happy at the same time. It made her slap him and then want to be in his arms.She pulled her hand from his grasp, trying to distance herself from him. It was useless though. "You're insufferable," she said through gritted teeth. "You know that, right?"He smiled, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Of course I do. And you know what, you're also annoying and irritating. But the thing is, I love everything about you. I love your stubbornness, your strength, your intelligence. I love how you fight me everytime.""You're lying," she countered, "you're just good at manipulating.""Well, I'll admit, I'm the master of manipulation," he said, "but you see through it all, don't you? And when you know you can't be fooled around by me, why do you worry so much about what I say?" He leaned closer, his voice lowering, "Maybe it's because deep down, you want to believe me. Maybe you know I'm right."She didn't even know what to say. She felt like a fool. And she hated it. She hated she felt something other than hatred for him and the thought that he may be faking it all, made her want to cry. She had never felt this way, like a weak, foolish, lovesick girl. It was infuriating."You don't have to say anything," he said, his tone gentle, "I won't force you into admitting anything. And you're free to believe me or not. But I'll keep telling you how I feel, and whether you want to believe it or not, it's the truth."She looked away, not wanting to listen at him. She had always been in a battle with herself. Her mind had always been conflicted and unsettled. It seemed like it was separated, not in two but in a hundred pieces. She was never at peace with herself.Even her countless resolves to destroy him had been a constant struggle. Even hating had been a struggle. She didn't feel content with hating him. Maybe she didn't hate properly. Or maybe he was just too damn smart to manipulate hatred and turn it into something else for her.Or it was just her own fault. She had once seen a stupid dream of him kissing her and professing his love, and she hadn't been able to shake off the feeling of warmth and longing it had left behind.She remembered everything she had done, everything she had said. She felt like a failure, but the way he held her made her feel so much better. He was so gentle with her, so affectionate. Even though they had fought so many times, he never really harmed her physically. He had done it psychologically, yes. He had haunted her mind, tormented it, but it could have been worse.Then, Regan suddenly remembered her Iris. She had been so caught up in her own troubles that she hadn't even thought for her friend. Where was she? Was she okay? She felt a wave of guilt wash over her."Sirius?""Yes, love?" he answered and kissed her forehead."What happened to Iris?" Regan asked, still not getting over the way he called her 'love'."Iris? No, I didn't find her. And her other friends. Not that I couldn't but I was too focused on finding you. And I didn't really care about them." He sighed. "You escaped with Iris, didn't you? And then you got separated in the city.""And what about that general, didn't he betray you? The one who helped me escape?"Sirius shrugged. "I sent a search party to find him. Now, he's banished. When they found him, he was alone. If you want, I'll find your friend for you. Alive or dead, I'll bring her to you.""And what's the catch?"He smiled, "There's no catch," he said, stroking her hair, "I don't want anything in return."Regan didn't trust him at all, but she wanted to find Iris, to learn if she was alive, at least. She blamed herself for all that had happened, it was her who led them to trouble. He noticed her expression and took her hand, kissing it gently. His shoulder throbbed in pain when he used his other hand but he ignored it."I will find her," he said, "I promise." He paused for a moment. "You know, I didn't lie when I said I'd find your mother. I'd do it for you. And now that you're mine-""Who said I'm yours?" she retorted, trying to pull her hand away from him. He held it tighter, his amused gaze never leaving her face."Well, didn't we talk about that once? Now, don't you want me to be yours? I already am but it wouldn't hurt to hear you say it, just once."She felt like she was in a trap. A cruel trap of his words. "And what am I supposed to say? That you're mine?" But as she asked that, she found herself blushing.He smiled, "Yes, you said it. You're mine and I'm yours. Are we clear on that?" he asked, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Now, you know you would kill me if I flirted with someone else, wouldn't you? After all, you're also jealous. I'm not the only one."She felt her cheeks burn even more, but she refused to let him see it. He held her tighter, his arm never leaving her back."I don't have eyes for anyone else," he whispered in her ear, making her shiver. "You're the only one in my mind and heart. There hasn't been anyone else, there won't be. And...." he whispered as he kissed her jawline gently, ".... there's no one else for you, as well. I've beaten up everyone who dared harm you. I've killed as well. I'm possessive, I'll give you that. But that doesn't mean you don't like it."He released her and shifted, standing up. She was still sitting down there and felt like a fool. She quickly rose to her feet as well, glaring at him.He looked down at his bloodied shirt and at his robe that Regan had torn to bandage his wound. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. His shoulder had been throbbing all the time but he didn't care when he was with her."You know," he said, his voice soft and gentle. "I'll let you do what you want. But, I won't let you leave. Or escape. And if you don't like my castle, if you want to go with your mother somewhere else, I'll keep following you, even if I'm obnoxious and annoying. I'll watch you from far, even if you don't want me to."He approached and drew her by her neck, kissing her temple. Then, he brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles lovingly. He knew she was angry with him, but he was also sure that she felt the same affection, attachment and admiration he did. He could see it in her eyes, in the way she tried to pull away but didn't."Let's get back, princess," he said, leaving her hand and wearing his robe. He winced in pain as he felt his shoulder, but didn't let it show. He took her hand and started walking back towards the castle, not bothering to ask if she wanted to go or not. But he knew that she wouldn't leave him. They walked in silence, their feet crunching on the gravel path.