Artemis’ PovFirst, Aiden didn’t see me when he stepped into the bathroom thinking he had the privacy he probably wanted from the prying eyes of his friend in the open chamber, and probably mine, but he didn’t know he walked in on me.I was done cleaning the restroom when he entered, and I didn’t bother to disturb him, not until I heard him chant the name Hera twice in the phone with tensed voice, and now, his friend asked if I’m Hera.Who the heck is this Hera of a person that got almighty Aiden so pissed he couldn’t even check well before snarling at the name.“Hera?” I raised my brows, “I am—”“Artemis,” Aiden didn’t let me finish, “my wife to be.”The fella blinked twice. He seemed to realize he’d said the wrong thing at the wrong time, and he should have knocked before badging into someone else’s toilet.“And why are you donning such apparel?” the fella pointed out.Aiden called him Rusev earlier, so, I thought I should call him the same and ask him to let me be. I can’t stand ge
Artemis’ povAiden, my man, is not the type that would drift to sleep in a matter of seconds, but with me in his warm cuddle, he snored like he’d never done before.I might be wrong anyways if I count it as success—the endless stress of being a core member of the Creeks is enough stress already, but I praise my patience for enduring till I heard him snore.I started with his heavy hands, he’d secured me with them, maybe to keep me from breaking into the night to search for clues of the name, Hera.I lifted his hand gently and slipped off, but I didn’t let it rest on an empty space. I replaced my warmth presence with a pillow and watched him for a while as he slept like a baby.I was tempted to touch his hair—to trace the lining of his nose bridge with the tip of my finger and press a kiss on his cheek before leaving him for my little adventure, but shunned the thought instead and made my way out of the room.First, I sought out his things. He didn’t check in with much—just his suitcas
Aiden’s Pov“You nearly put me in shit, man,” I pushed Rusev’s chest and pinned him to the wall with my left hand. On a good day, I’ll punch shit off his face, but he’s a longtime no see friend, so, I didn’t dare.“Come on,” he gently shrugged off my hand. He probably knew what I meant, “I didn’t know it was not Hera—”He paused suddenly and watched me spare him a breathing space and free my face a little to catch up with the morning’s warmth.He exhaled and adjusted his shirt. “I thought she was Hera because she looked like Hera, and—maybe I just didn’t understand you when you said you don’t have no more shit with Hera.”“You saw her in the field with us and walked to the chamber with us, only to call her Hera—” I clenched my fists to punch his lying mouth, but I still held back. He raised his hands like he knew I could throw a punch at his face if he kept on tossing his lies to my face. I freed my clenched fist and gestured to the big balcony next door.He nodded and followed me in
Artemis PovI nearly jolted out of myself when the flowers moved. There’s clearly no wind in the garden. It looked lit was sealed from the outside, but I could breathe in it—I don’t why I could still breathe in this new word.I thought once again of Damon. He’s the one I should call—maybe before calling anyone I used to know. He’s the one I wished most to meet and at least, say sorry for letting him fight on that fateful night for my sake.“D—” something crawled on my leg and stopped three steps away in the flowers. I looked down and saw a pink nurtured rabbit with a red rose trapped in the grip of Its teeth.I went down on both need and took the flower from its mouth, sniffed it and remembered Aiden. The flower’s scent seemed to have been touched by his hands.“Aiden,” I whispered.This might be a stunt, or, the rabbit brought me gift from the human world—maybe the flower placed on the grave. I sniffed once again and let the scent sink into my head.It was full of him. Maybe full of
Artemis PovWe filed through the door which was held open by two guards dressed in the eighteenth-century regalia. The wigs caught me the most. They looked exactly like the stuff I see in movies and museums from mostly the Elizabethan era.A lady emerged from a door sewn to the wall of the passage that stretched to the door ahead of us. she stood in our way and bowed her head to us. Aiden’s father was in the forefront, followed by Aiden and I.I noticed something in the lady’s dressing. It was an eighteenth-century fashion. Maybe Aiden has arranged a ball, like that in Lady Whistletown’s piece, the Bridgerton series.“No offence, sire,” she sounded refined, like the most brilliant figure picked from the past and brought to the present to block our way and tell us whatever she has in stock for us.“What do you wish for, woman?” Aiden’s father mimicked her tone. Everyone except me laughed. I was merely curious to figure out what luxury they have in stock for us this time.She smiled and
Aiden’s PovWe were the first to finish. Our clothes were a little too weird for my liking, but what choice do I have? I chose the event planner, and she chose her own sort of design.I joined my father at the mirror where he did the little good of checking out his newest attire. He was dressed like a duke, while I was dressed like a general of those days.“Your brother had been with us all the while until today,” his voice was deep and coarse, like he’d been worried all the while for Kane who didn’t show up—I didn’t intend to see him anyways.I looked at his dress. I could have looked better in the duke’s outfit, while father would have been better dressed as a king instead. But the clothing was good on him. and I wonder what sort of duke he’ll make if he was there in the eighteenth century.He could have been the most ruthless, I guess.“Looks good on you,” I remarked with a weak smile. I nodded and turned to me, maybe fully aware of my vices. What other way could be better for swa
Artemis PovDancing with Aiden was therapeutic, especially with the eighteenth-century gown that was tied really hard to give me a perfect shape. I could have lost my breath when they bestowed the gown on me in the room, but with time, my body adjusted to it. Women of the eighteenth century really endured serious discomfort—their nobles like I read in books—not the peasants who were said to dress in lags that need not to be tied so hard in the abdomen to put out the shape of femininity and beauty.But the music finished not long after we started the dance, like they knew I have had nothing and should at least refuel before the big game.Aiden led me to the seats obviously reserved for us, and yes, three servants helped us grab some comfort and served us what we could bite while the next music notes were flipped by the instrumentalist and their conductor whom I could see now we were seated.The second note started almost a minute after we sat. I had no idea what would happen next unti
Aiden’s PovFather waited till the last click of Artemis’ heel on the stairs faded completely. He cleared his throat and crossed a hand around my shoulder as he led me closer to his friends.I knew all of them. some of them were distant relatives and some of them were his closes friends and business allies, while one of them was a repentant drug dealer—Rusev’s father’s right-hand man who might have smuggled himself into the country because his case died many years ago.“And here comes the man to be,” father announced.They laughed but I didn’t do the laughter with them. I know them, very serious fellas. They are the circle that pushed various industries to their current stance. They are not funny.“And you said you will leave the Creeks business empire to his care if he puts a ring on that lady’s finger?” one of them asked.His name is Macron. He’s a banker and a loan shark. His son used to be a good friend of mine till he disowned him on his eighteenth-year birthday for getting a loc
(Artemis’ POV) I knew something was wrong the moment I tried to stand. Pain. Sharp, deep, and all-consuming. For weeks, I had ignored the discomfort, brushing off Aiden’s concerns, assuring everyone that I was fine. I had always been strong—had survived things that should’ve killed me. But this? This was different. I braced myself against the vanity, sucking in a sharp breath. Aiden was already watching me from across the room, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable—but I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands flexed, ready to catch me if I fell. "You should rest today," he said, stepping toward me. I rolled my eyes. "I’ve rested enough." "Artemis." His voice was firm, a warning. I turned, meeting his gaze, ready to argue—when the pain struck again. It was like my bod
(Artemis’ POV)Pregnancy wasn’t supposed to feel like this.I had expected discomfort, sure. I had expected my body to change. But this… this was something else entirely.The exhaustion was unbearable.At first, I thought it was just the lingering effects of our honeymoon—late nights in Paris, stolen kisses in hidden alleyways, and mornings wrapped in silk sheets with Aiden refusing to let me leave the bed. But then the nausea started, and I knew something was wrong.I tried to push through it, keeping up with my work, but even Naomi noticed."Boss, you look like you’re about to pass out," she said, frowning as she set down a stack of files. "You should rest.""I'm fine," I muttered, waving her off, but the moment I stood, the room spun.I barely heard Naomi calling my name before strong arms caught me."Artemis."Aiden.His voice was tight, controlled—but his grip was anything but. He held me as if I’d shatter, his eyes scanning me for injuries."You’re not fine," he said. "We’re goi
I woke up sore.A deep, aching soreness that was both a reminder and a warning. Last night had been… intense. More than I expected. More than I could have imagined. My body felt like it had been claimed, worshipped, and thoroughly ruined, all at once.Aiden wasn’t in bed, but the warmth on his side hadn’t faded yet. I blinked up at the ceiling, barely able to move, and then I smelled it—coffee. The scent curled into the room, rich and inviting, followed by the quiet creak of the bedroom door."You're awake."I turned my head and found Aiden standing in the doorway, carrying a tray.My stomach flipped. He was shirtless, his sweatpants hanging dangerously low, his hair slightly tousled from sleep. But it was the look in his eyes—the satisfaction, the possessiveness—that made my breath catch.He set the tray down beside me. A glass of water. Coffee. Toast. Painkillers."I figured you'd need this."I huffed out a laugh. "You think?"Aiden smirked but didn’t argue. Instead, he sat on the e
Artemis' POVParis.The city of love, of whispered promises, of things that felt like forever. It wasn’t the first time we had been here. The last time had been chaos—high-stakes deals, power plays, and the weight of a contract binding us together. But this time? This time was different.The garden where we stood was secluded, hidden away from the noise of the world. White roses lined the aisle, their scent mixing with the crisp autumn air. The Eiffel Tower loomed in the distance, its lights just beginning to flicker against the darkening sky.Aiden stood at the altar, watching me.No guards. No enemies. No ulterior motives.Just him. Just me. Just us.My dress was simpler than the first one I had worn. No heavy jewels, no extravagant embellishments—just clean, elegant lines that moved with me as I walked. But Aiden? Aiden still wore black, sharp and commanding, his presence impossible to ignore.As I reached him, he took my hands in his, his grip steady, grounding.“We’ve done this b
Aiden’s POVI wasn’t used to an empty house.The penthouse was quiet, the kind of silence that made me restless. Artemis had left early, slipping out before dawn, her scent lingering in the sheets beside me. She had a fitting today—something about finalizing designs before her next trip. I hadn’t asked for details, but I knew she was busy.I ran a hand down my face, exhaling.She was everywhere, even when she wasn’t here.The coffee machine was still warm, the cup she’d set aside for me untouched. A plate covered with foil sat on the kitchen counter—breakfast she’d made before she left, knowing I probably wouldn’t eat if she didn’t.In the closet, one of my suits was laid out, ironed, with a note tucked into the sleeve: Wear this one. You look good in navy.She did things like that. Little things. Thoughtful things.For someone who had grown up fighting for every scrap of control, she gave so freely—to me, to the people she cared about.And I—I hadn’t given her nearly enough.I leane
Aiden’s POVFor the first time in my life, there were no contracts. No lies. Just her.But peace was an unfamiliar thing.I still woke up before dawn, instinctively reaching for the gun that wasn’t under my pillow anymore. My body was trained to react before my mind even processed that there was no longer a war to fight. My enemies were either dead, exiled, or too afraid to make a move.Yet, I found myself restless.The empire was still mine. The city still ran on quiet threats and well-placed alliances. But Artemis had planted a dangerous thought in my head—what if I ruled differently? What if I built something that wasn’t always on the verge of burning to the ground?She was asleep beside me, her breathing steady, her body curled toward me like she belonged there. And she did.I ran a hand down my face and exhaled.I couldn’t just sit still. That had never been my nature.So, I got up.---The sun had barely risen when I walked into the warehouse where my men were gathered. Conversa
Artemis' POVThe battle was over, but the aftermath lingered. Scars—some fresh, some old—marked more than just skin. The weight of the past did not simply lift because the fighting had stopped.I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Aiden pace near the window. His reflection in the glass was sharp, rigid, like a man still expecting a knife in the dark. The empire was his now, but peace was foreign to him. Stillness felt unnatural."You don’t have to stay," he said, his tone measured, unreadable. "You’ve done enough."It wasn’t a command. It wasn’t even a suggestion. It was a defense mechanism. Aiden didn’t push people away forcefully—he gave them an exit and waited for them to take it.I tilted my head, pretending to consider. "And if I don’t want to leave?"His gaze flickered toward me, just for a moment, then away again. "Then you’re a fool."I rolled my eyes, standing. "That makes two of us."I closed the distance between us and pressed my palm against his chest, feeling the steady
Aiden’s POVThe study smelled of aged whiskey, leather, and cigar smoke—just as I remembered it from my childhood. Nothing had changed. The same books lined the shelves, the same decanter of bourbon sat untouched on the desk, and the same man occupied the chair at its head.I stood in front of Don Carlo, the weight of everything that had led to this moment pressing down on my chest. Kane was gone. Hera was locked away where she belonged. The war was over. And yet, the victory tasted bitter. It felt like exhaustion.My father—Don Carlo—sat behind his massive desk, his expression unreadable. The same man who had doubted me. The same man who had once called me weak."You’ve proven yourself," he finally said, voice heavy with reluctant acceptance. "The empire is yours."I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, I studied him. The man who had shaped me, tested me, pushed me to the edge time and time again. And for what? To prove I was worthy of something I never truly wanted?"You thought I’d
Aiden’s POVHera screamed as the guards dragged her away, her shrieks cutting through the air like the wail of a banshee. She kicked and thrashed, her dark hair wild, her emerald-green eyes blazing with madness."You can’t do this to me!" she screeched, her voice raw. "Aiden, you think you’ve won?! You think locking me away will change the truth?! You’ll regret this—I swear it!"I stood motionless, watching as the woman I once knew was forced back into the nightmare she had clawed her way out of. My hands were clenched at my sides, my pulse steady, my face unreadable.The weight pressing against my chest wasn’t fear or anger. It was relief. A slow, settling kind of relief that came when a battle was finally over.There was no regret. No hesitation.She belonged there.The black van’s doors slammed shut, muffling the last of her wails. The driver exchanged a brief nod with the men guarding the facility before stepping into the driver’s seat. With a low, mechanical hum, the vehicle roll