Ashly's POVWhen I sat up, he was gone and a hefty portion of the treasury was gone with him. My wrist burned from the contact with the cuffs and I cursed myself once more for believing my father. I was going to be here until someone noticed my absence and raised an alarm and Dorian's mother told them where I was. Or they would just assume that I was hiding again. Goddess, I should never have allowed him to follow me here. This was all Kiara's fault. If she had just minded her business with her mate and never returned here, none of this would have happened. Suddenly I heard a familiar grunt that made me perk up. It was Dad. He must not have gotten as far as I assumed if I could hear him. He seemed to be in a squabble with some persons or people. Good. I had no idea who it was or what their motive was but I preferred then taking the loot over him. He had betrayed his own daughter who had practically dedicated her life to saving his miserable life. He deserved whatever he got.T
Kiara's POVWhen I opened my eyes, I was in a strangely familiar room. I had been drugged and taken captive. I'd Danien could see this I did not doubt that he would take one look at my situation and give an I told you so that would put all other I told you so out of business. He had warned me about taking off on my own but I had felt that I was safe in our gardens. Turned out that I was wrong. Again.Maybe it was about time that I started listening to him.The door opened and I looked up to see my abductor. In hindsight, I should have expected this. "Ashly?"Ashley walked into the room with an almost pleasant expression on her face. Unlike at the execution and almost every other time I had seen her here, she wasn't decked out in an expensive dress. "Hello, Kiara." She said amiably like we had gathered here for tea or something.I blinked in surprise before glaring at her angrily struggling against my restraints that weren't silver but a well-tied knot that seemed to dig in deeper
Kiara's POV"I had no idea that you were missing me so much." I drawled as I walked in through the massive entrance doors. I was glad that I had made it back in time or else heads would have rolled.Damien's eyes narrowed at me suspiciously looking at the door and then back to me as though I might have performed a disappearing trick or two. "Where are you coming from?"I shrugged as innocently as I could, which was not very well at all. "I took a stroll."His tone was right and still disbelieving. "I didn't find you in the gardens."I perked up at his words. Had he really come looking for me after the argument?"You came to find me?"Damien averted his gaze as though not looking at me would make things less embarrassing for him. "Of course I did. I care about you."His words warmed me all the way to my toes as well as the embarrassment in his voice. I don't know why it was as though he had lit a bonfire of sensation within me with the way he spoke, at least until I remembered tha
Damien's POVI could hear Kiara's screams of disbelief and anger from behind the locked door as I walked away. Replacing her door with a metal one that she wouldn't be able to get open easily had to have been one of my worthwhile investments. For a few hours at least I would have some respite from her flair to throw herself at the nearest volatile situation. Why did I suspect that her stroll in the garden had been more than a stroll and she was hiding something from me again?I was sick and tired of these arguments, these fights. I was only trying to keep her safe so why was she fighting me so hard on this matter? Everything I ever did was for her sake and her sake alone. She had to know this surely. She had mentioned me doing this for jealousy when it was so far from the case that it was baffling. True jealousy had once propped up between us but that was only when the priestess had given us the prophecy and she didn't immediately choose me. I had thought the choice to be obvious b
I laughed heartily then my smile died as swiftly as it started, my gaze on him sharpening. "You should act more respectfully to the person who has your life in their hands or have you forgotten our sessions so quickly?"I saw the shiver that ran through him and he immediately became more subdued. I had tortured him so much that a lesser man would have broken into. I ascertained the fact beyond reasonable doubt that while he had given the orders for Kiara to be killed, he hadn't been of a sound mind. I wondered what Ashly had used to induce such an effect in an Alpha. Perhaps there would be time for me to find that out. I looked at him subdued. He would never be a competition for me."Good." I nodded before going into the real reason that I was here. "Your pack is on the verge of collapse because of the stupid decisions of your mate."I didn't see the need to mince words with him. The situation was too dire for that. The words seemed to hit him like a blow and he blinked rapidly be
Kiara's POVWhen I woke up, it was to warmth at my back. A warmth that was no doubt Damien. The urge to ignore his touch and continue to act like I was asleep so that I could enjoy his touch was so much that I almost gave in. At least until I remembered that this was the man who had made a liar out of me in his so-called bud to protect me. "Don't touch me." I growled rolling out of his touch and instantly missed his warmth as I sat to glare at him. Damien didn't say anything. He merely closed the distance between us and slanted his lips over mine and my traitorous body began to react to his touch.My lips parted without my invitation and I buried my fingers in his hair without any conscious thought. My body wanted and I just... I just gave in. Damien pushed me down into the bed and his hand reached under my skirt between my thighs and I parted for him, my tongue moving against his. His fingers worked between my legs and his lips left mine allowing me to gasp in much-needed breath
Damien's POVOne could never understand or satisfy women completely because what on earth did she mean that I shouldn't leave when she had been on my neck trying to make me help Dorian out?"What do you mean by you don't want me to go?"She frowned at me, her mouth rested in a fine line. "You will go there to cause a fight."I frowned. Why did it seem like she wasn't saying what she meant? Giving up on understanding her changing mood, I just settled for explaining what was going on."The situation has expanded. Dorian cannot fix it alone."This seemed to have the opposite reaction of what I had intended because Kiara flipped at my words, her eyes flashing with anger and fear?"I don't care! You can't go."I took a step towards her, my hand outstretched to placate her. "Kiara."She shrugged off my touch, wiping at her cheeks, making me even more confused. Was she crying?"You idiot." She swore then she looked away. "Just let him go alone. I'll take your advice. I'll stay in, I won't
Kiara's POVIt took more effort than I imagined to not become emotional as I stood outside with Damien just before he departed. I don't know if I had my big mouth to blame for him leaving in the first place but it didn't feel good. It felt bad and I was so scared even if I knew he would be fine. I was a monster for not feeling scared about Dirian leaving- it was his own lack after all. He would be fine. More than fine, he would be perfect finally reunited with his own people. Why did my mate have to join this rescue mission?Damien kissed away my frown or at least he attempted to because the moment his mouth was off mine, the frown was back. I held on to him giving him another hug. "Please stay safe for me."I was being a little over the top but I couldn't help it. I expected him to laugh or at least fight back a smile but he remained absolutely solemn as he turned my hug burying his head in my nape and sending shivers running through me."I will."We pulled away from each other b