Darcus - POV Henry had announced to the dragon court that the former King had returned home safely but had passed out from exhaustion while traveling through the forest. The reports from Henry indicated that some aristocrats accepted this explanation while others remained skeptical. I found myself sitting in my father's room after the doctors had administered medication to him. They explained that my father's health was deteriorating due to losing his mate bond, and his dragon essence was slowly fading. Many nobles visited my father, and knights heavily guarded the room. My mother paid a visit, putting on a sobbing and acting display. Meanwhile, my father remained unconscious. I left and headed to my office to attend to the pile of unfinished work. "Darcus," my father called out as I turned away from the papers. "Why are you awake when you should be resting? Our knights are here to watch over you," I replied, concerned for his well-being. My father appeared weak and on the verge of
Ella - POV I enjoyed three days of working in peace, without seeing Darcus's face. I made Sofia work extra hours to compensate for my indulgence, and I noticed the dark circles under her eyes from the excessive workload. But I knew Sofia wouldn't stop bullying me, so I had to remain on guard. Today is the day I have to face Darcus. I consider asking him about what he said to James, hoping for a genuine response, but I can't trust his words. So, I decided to abandon the idea of questioning Darcus. As I reach the office and head to the rooftop venue where Avery's farewell function will take place this evening, I realize much work is needed. I need to oversee the preparations, ensure the decorations are up to par, and arrange for all the employees from different branches to attend. Furthermore, I have received word from Darcus that his father will also be at the function today. I have never met Darcus's parents since our relationship never progressed to that point. "Sofia, we need an
James - POV When Dave and I walked together, I held a glass of alcoholic beverage. It filled his eyes with concern as he heard my entire conversation about what had happened in New York. "You have a bigger issue, James. You must tell Ella the truth about yourself soon, or else Darcus will try his best to reveal it to her. Ella should hear it from you than from her ex-boyfriend about you being a warlock," Dave advised. "It's not as simple as you make it out to be. Ella didn't believe Darcus when he revealed Ella my real identity to her. What will happen if I tell her the truth and she doesn't believe me?" I whispered, feeling unsure. "The more you hide it, the more Ella will suffer. It's best if you just say it. Show her a demonstration of your power, James, and make her believe in it," Dave suggested. I looked at the sky, contemplating whether I should follow Dave's advice. Would Ella run away or stay? I reasoned that it would be better to tell her now rather than later, as she wou
Darcus - POV My thoughts were a tumultuous storm, all centered on Ella. Even though I knew there was a high chance she'd reject me, the idea of confessing my feelings consumed me. Dargo, my dragon, added to the pressure, insisting we confess our feelings to her. Yet, the connection between Ella's dragon and her was disrupted by her Warlock blood. I would only be able to officially mate once they connected. Ella's human body would reject any forceful mate bond, leading to potential harm. Nevertheless, the emotional pull we felt for each other was undeniable. "Darcus," Ella's voice cut through my thoughts like a silver blade through the night. I found us standing on a balcony, her hair flowing like an auburn river in the wind. Her intoxicating scent accelerated my heartbeat, and when she looked at me with those mesmerizing blue eyes, I couldn't resist the urge to touch her, to caress her soft cheeks. The pull of the mate bond was mirrored in her eyes. My gaze instinctively drifted to h
Ella - POV In a whirl of emotions, I hailed a cab and hurried home. I didn't want to disturb Hana, who was clearly enjoying her time with Drake. A man she mentioned was keen on dating her. I opted to text her that I was unwell and had decided to leave the party early. Upon arrival, I noticed Dad's absence, indicating he was still at his friend's place. My heart pounded relentlessly as I retreated to the solitude of my room, surrendering to sobs as I agonized over the undeniable attraction I felt toward Darcus. The fact that I'd kissed him back suggested lingering feelings for him. But what about James? How would I explain this to him? The truth would undoubtedly shatter him, but I couldn't proceed with our engagement under such circumstances. James deserved a loving, loyal woman, not a cheat like me. Changing into my pajamas, I made a cup of chamomile tea to calm my frayed nerves, but peace eluded me. Restless, I paced my room, thoughts a whirlwind in my mind. I spotted a message fr
Ella - POV Waking up to the familiar sight of my bedroom ceiling, I found myself in my bed, a dull ache pulsating in my head. I had reached out to Darcus, planning to go to the hospital. So why was I here, not in a sterile hospital room? The unsettling discomfort of last night had felt like the brink of death, and desperate for clarity, I checked the time on my phone. It was just 7:00 a.m. Perplexed, I scrolled through my call logs, wondering if my interaction with Darcus had been a figment of my imagination. To my surprise, there were no calls to Darcus recorded. Perhaps everything that had transpired last night was just a sinister dream, an imagination fuelled by my unwell state. But it had felt so real. After freshening up with a quick shower, I joined my dad and Hana at the breakfast table, where a spread was already laid out. "Ella, how are you feeling today?" Hana inquired, reminding me of the text I'd sent her last night about my ill health. Dad's gaze echoed her concern, awa
Ella - POV "We need to drive to the airport. Our meeting in Minnesota awaits us, and we'll take the private jet," Darcus informed me. I remembered the scheduled trip to Minnesota, realizing we wouldn't return until late evening. As I had promised, this dashed my hopes of visiting Hana early in the evening. "I apologize, Mr. Miller. I had forgotten about our crucial meeting," I confessed. He simply nodded, opening the car door for me to slide in. "Why did you need to pick me up, Mr. Miller? You could've sent the driver instead." "The driver has the day off, and your apartment is on the way to the airport," Darcus answered, his tone as emotionless as always. I'd grown accustomed to this colder side of Darcus, so it didn't phase me. Still, when I looked into his eyes, something stirred in me. I abruptly halted that train of thought, haunted by the previous night's memories. "Did I call you last night? Saying I was feeling unwell?" I blurted out the question without much thought. Sinc
Darcus - POV "Ms. Hart, it seems you put much effort into this strategy." Archer smiled at her, and she smiled back. Ella's smile caught my attention, and a pang of jealousy surged through me. She rarely smiled at me, but here she was, smiling at Archer. "So, Mr. Taylor, what do you think? Should we proceed with this strategy or not?" My words directed their attention to Archer's secretary, who looked at me with evident desire. "Hmmm... I think I'd like to proceed with this strategy. Ms. Hart, could you resend the agreement? I'll consult with the team to explore options for increasing the profit margins. Brenton had a great idea," Archer replied, his gaze lingering on Ella with an amused expression. Ella nodded and averted her eyes, focusing on her work behind the laptop. "If we're done, we should take our leave." Ella looked up from her laptop and nodded in agreement. "Mr. Miller and Ms. Hart, why don't you join me in celebrating our company's 50th anniversary? It would be an off