Things just got a lot more complicated for Alina. How will she continue her revenge plot against Grigoras and survive the deadly Tournament?
After a long, tedious, and uncomfortably silent flight, the jet finally lands home. Marcel doesn’t hesitate to grab the bags and exit the jet to put them in the car while I try to wake Alec up. Alec didn’t bombard me with his usual never-ending list of questions during the flight, which was a good thing, as it gave me time to think and mentally prepare. After I told him everything about The Tournament he became extremely quiet and eventually fell asleep, which gave Marcel and me plenty of time to discuss what to do moving forward. “Alec?” I softly call, giving him a slight shake to jostle him awake. He awakes with a start, instinctively wrapping his hand around my throat in a vice-like grip, his eyes looking frantic as they search for a threat. Not the reaction I was expecting, but pretty reasonable given I did stalk and abduct him with plans to kill him. Plans I haven’t given up on just yet. Recognition dawns in his eyes and he’s quick to release my throat from his grasp. I rub and
Mum and I enjoy a nice cup of tea outside, and I explain to her everything that happened from the moment I got the contract, until now. She didn’t say a word or interrupt me once. Just let me tell her the whole story while she listened intently. “But now you have another problem. Who would watch him when we're not here? You know your father and I are expected to attend The Tournament as guests, and we’re not letting you go through this alone. It’s a miracle you’ve survived the last three, let alone won, but how long can that streak last?” She asks in concern, reaching out and taking my hand. “I’m aware this might be the year I die, but I don’t want to get in that headspace. As for Alec, perhaps grandpa or Marcel can watch him. Even if he’s left alone, it’s not as though he’d be able to escape. We’re miles away from people and he doesn’t speak the language. He’s basically trapped here,” I grin. “And I thought the situation with your father was complicated,” she says, shaking her hea
As I hit the twenty-minute mark of my workout on the treadmill, I increase the incline and begin to push myself further as I feel the burn through my legs. The Tournament is one week away, and I’ve been doing everything I can to prepare for the unpreparable. I’m working on my cardio to build stamina. Yoga and meditation to improve my breath control. Lots of sparring with mum, dad, grandpa and even Marcel, and of course, lots of target practice. You never know what challenges you’ll face in The Tournament until you’re in it, so any preparation is really just guesswork and hoping for the best. Tension has been rising as it gets closer to D-Day. I always find Alec somewhere watching me with this conflicted expression on his face. I get the feeling he’s going through an existential crisis, but I don’t have time to baby him. I’m about to fight for my life, he should learn to handle his own shit for a change. That being said, I have actually been enjoying his company. Despite the highly u
Deciding today I need a break from training, I have the genius plan to take Alec to one of my favourite places near my house. I’m bored and I have no one else to play with, so he’ll have to do. I get dressed in a gorgeous aqua blue tropical print, backless, halter-neck dress with a thigh-high slit, slip on some white sandals, and grab a small purse that I tuck my phone and Crimson into. As if I’d go anywhere without her. I place my purse over my shoulder and walk down to Alec’s room and knock. I knock repeatedly but get no answer, so I open the door and peek my head inside. He’s there, he’s just out like a light. You'd think being in a house with assassins, one of whom was going to kill him, would make him a light sleeper, but nope. Goes to show how stressed he is I guess. I step into the room, walk over to him, and take a moment to admire him. The sheets are down to his hips exposing his toned olive skin and the tufts of hair covering his muscles. He hasn’t shaved since he started s
Eventually, Alec comes downstairs, his hair looking tussled while he’s dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a basic white T, but the shirt is hugging his frame in all the right ways. Stupid asshole still has my brain fuzzy with sex and now this little trek is going to just increase the ache this jerk has left in my pussy. I fucking hate him. “Where are we going?” He asks as he walks over to me. “A spot not far from here. It was meant to be a nice little day trip, but now I’m considering burying you out in the woods.” He smirks, “Someone sounds frustrated.” “How’s your dick feeling?” I smirk back. He shrugs, “It was worth it. You know I can fix that frustration for you, all you have to do is ask,” he says with a sly smile. “I have a knife in my purse, and I am very tempted to use it,” I threaten. He laughs, “You know I’m getting pretty good at learning when you’re bluffing,” he says smugly and that has me coming up short. Who the fuck said anything about bluffing? My fingers inch the
My brain begins to wake up as I feel the edge of my bed dip alerting me to a presence in my room. “I understand you have this well-thought-out intricate plan on how to handle the boy and this Grigoras mess, but does your plan have to involve me babysitting him while you’re off fighting the ultimate battle for survival?” I hear my grandpa huff. I turn my head away and dive my head under my pillow. What is with the people in this family always disrupting my sleep? “Alina, I’m speaking to you,” says grandpa in a hard voice as he pokes me in the back. “And I’m ignoring you. Take the hint,” I grumble. “I’m trying to speak to you young lady,” he scolds. “And I’m trying to sleep. What does everyone have against me sleeping?” I groan. I feel the bed shift as I feel my grandpa lay down beside me. “With everything you told us, you know they won’t stop trying to kill you just because you’re in The Tournament,” my grandpa says gravelly. I sigh. Deciding sleep is futile at this point, I lift
I spent all day getting dressed up for dinner, and I think it was well worth the effort because I look stunning. A dress seemed too expected, so I went for a gorgeous emerald and gold gemstone design full-length pantsuit. It has short sleeves with a plunging neckline and a collar and the sash around the waist really helps to accentuate my figure. I have masterfully accessorised with a gorgeous emerald, peridot and diamond encrusted necklace with matching earrings and have my hair up in a stylish and intricate low bun. Since I was not blessed with height, I paired this with 6” stilettos that are a beautiful beige to nude ombre and of course, I did my make-up. I wanted the whole look to have a theme so I went with gold lids, a subtle smokey eye with dark green corners and a wing teamed with a simple glossy nude lip. I even had time to do my nails. I keep my nails short for practical reasons, but I still like them to look pretty from time to time, so I painted them a matt emerald green a
I lay on my bed staring up at the chandelier hanging above me as I count each individual crystal. I only manage to make it to twenty or so crystals before I lose count and have to start again. I glance over at the clock by my bed and sigh when I see it’s time. I slowly sit up and take one final look around my room, as this might be the last time I ever see it. As I sit here mentally preparing myself to get up, I can’t help going over the last two weeks in my head and wondering if I used my time wisely. This happens every year. The dreaded time of departure arrives and suddenly every minute before then feels wasted. Like you had the chance to make what could be your final days worth it and you didn’t use them wisely. I know I’m being silly, it’s just where my mind goes every single time. With a deep breath, I steal my shoulders, get to my feet, and exit my room turning off the light and closing the door behind me, potentially closing the book on my life as I know it. As I make it down