Aizen's Chambers – Midnight

I woke to an unfamiliar warmth.

For a moment, my mind was clouded, my senses still caught between sleep and reality. My body felt heavy, like I had been submerged underwater, my limbs sluggish and unresponsive. My breathing was slow, shallow, and then—

I felt it.

The weight of an arm draped over my waist. A solid warmth pressed against my back.

I froze.

My pulse thundered in my ears as my mind caught up to my body. Aizen's arms were wrapped around me, his breathing steady, rhythmic. His chest rose and fell against my back, his grip loose but undeniably there.

Panic coiled in my stomach. My heart pounded against my ribs as my thoughts raced.

What happened?

I tried to remember—tried to retrace my last waking moments. I had fallen asleep. He had been beside me. His voice had been in my ear, low and soothing. Had I—?

No. No, no, no.

I swallowed hard, my body trembling. I was still in his chambers. The sheets beneath me were soft, cool against my skin, but I felt too warm—too exposed.

Carefully, I moved my hand under the blanket, gripping the fabric of the clothes I still wore beneath it. Relief flooded me, but it did nothing to quiet the unease creeping through me.

Then why does it feel like something happened?

Aizen stirred behind me, his breath ghosting over my shoulder. His grip around my waist tightened just slightly before he murmured something inaudible against my hair.

I shut my eyes tightly, willing myself to stay still, to control my breathing, to not give away that I was awake.

But I felt trapped.

His presence was suffocating in a way that had nothing to do with his power. It was the quiet way he had inserted himself into my space, into mymind, until I couldn't tell what was real and what was his doing.

The worst part?

For a split second—just a fleeting, horrible second—a part of me didn't hate the warmth.

I wanted to scream.

Slowly, carefully, I shifted forward, trying to slip from his grasp without waking him. My heart pounded so hard I was sure he would hear it. I had almost made it—

Then his arm tightened.

I gasped softly as he pulled me back against him, his body pressing flush against mine. "Where are you going?" he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay steady. "I— I thought you were asleep."

Aizen exhaled softly, his lips barely grazing the shell of my ear. "I was."

His voice was lower than usual, softer, almostaffectionate. It sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine.

I clenched my fists beneath the blanket, trying to gather whatever composure I had left. "Let me go."

Aizen was silent for a moment. Then, with deliberate slowness, his arm loosened. "If that's what you want," he said, though there was something unreadable in his tone.

I shifted away quickly, putting as much distance between us as I could without making it obvious that I was rattled. I sat up, my arms wrapped around myself, staring at the wall as I willed my pulse to slow.

"You're uneasy," Aizen observed, sitting up behind me. I could feel his gaze on me, heavy and calculating.

I took a shaky breath. "Should I not be?"

Aizen sighed, almost as if he were disappointed. "You think the worst of me."

I turned my head just enough to glare at him. "You've given me every reason to."

Aizen chuckled softly, shaking his head. "And yet, you're still here."

My jaw clenched.

He was right.

And I hated it.

Elsewhere inLas Noches

Grimmjow moved like a storm.

His steps were heavy, filled with purpose, his mind set on one thing: getting to (Y/N).

Aizen had crossed a line. Taking her was one thing. Locking her away in his chambers like she belonged to him—like she was somethinghis—was another.

The very thought made Grimmjow's blood boil.

He barely noticed the guards as he moved through the halls, his frustration morphing into something more dangerous. He knew Aizen was playing his game, setting the board exactly how he wanted it.

But Grimmjow had never been the type to follow the rules.

And he sure as hell wasn't about to start now.

Back in Aizen's Chambers

I stood from the bed, trying to create as much space as possible between me and him. Aizen watched me, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes following my every move.

I could stillfeelhis touch. His warmth.

And the way a part of me—however small—hadn't immediately recoiled.

It made me sick.

Aizen sighed as he stood, moving toward me with slow, deliberate steps. "You don't have to keep fighting me, (Y/N)."

I tensed. "I'll fight you until my last breath."

Aizen's smile was faint, knowing. "You say that, but do you really mean it?"

I scowled. "You don't know anything about me."

Aizen reached out, his fingers brushing against my wrist again, as if testing a boundary. "I know more than you realize."

I jerked away from his touch. "Stop it."

Aizen tilted his head slightly, regarding me carefully. "What are you so afraid of?"

I inhaled sharply, my hands clenching at my sides. "I'm not afraid."

His smile didn't falter. "Then why are you shaking?"

I hated him.

I hated the way he could see right through me.

Aizen took another step forward, and I forced myself to hold my ground. "You're tired, (Y/N). You don't have to pretend with me."

My throat tightened. "I don't know what you did to me."

Aizen's expression remained soft. "I did nothing but give you what you needed."

I swallowed hard, my mind spinning. He was twisting everything, bending reality, making me doubt my own instincts.

And I was letting him.

I needed to get out of here.

But before I could take another step, the heavy doors to Aizen's chambers suddenly slammed open.

I turned just in time to see a familiar figure standing in the doorway.

Grimmjow.

His sharp blue eyes locked onto me instantly before flicking to Aizen, burning with barely contained rage.

"Tch," he scoffed, his lip curling. "Looks like I got here just in time."

Aizen sighed, not even bothering to look surprised. "Grimmjow," he said smoothly. "You're interrupting."

Grimmjow ignored him, his eyes locked on mine. His expression was unreadable, but there was something there—something sharp, somethingreal—that made my breath catch.

"Get away from her," Grimmjow growled.

And for the first time since waking up in this room, I felt something close to relief.