“Sorry about dinner. I think I’ll just head to bed.” She struggles to smile.“I am not worried about that. I am more worried about whatever put that look on your face. " I remark.The false smile dies. She looks away from me. But I am not deterred.“Nan, tell me what's wrong. Did something happen at
Nan’s POVThere is only one clear path for me.I see this now.The ride home had not made things any clearer. I may have fibbed to Mr. Darren…just a little. I left the office in resolution.But the lonely ride home gave me time to think. Too much time to think. Leaving doubt to creep in.‘Is this th
The design is old. A silver wolf curled around a lotus. The only color to the necklace is the wolves’ eyes…like moonstone but tinted in grey. She places it in my hand. It feels warm to the touch. This throws me off.“Mom…I’ve never seen this before. Where did you get this?” I ask. “It has been pa
Nan’s POVThe day of the wedding has arrived.I had only just saved the day by the skin of my teeth. I was lucky to return to the budget manager before the office closed for the day. We were able to put in the rest of the orders without a problem.If Mr. Darren was a lesser man, I thought he might c
It feels like a chapter in my life being shut for good. Over without my consent. I place a hand in a familiar way over this different necklace around my neck.‘This chapter might be closing soon too…I’ll try to enjoy the rest of the ride.’ I pledge. A bittersweet feeling wells up.At the very least,
Lionel’s POV“Lionel…I have bad news for you.” Mother revealsI stare at my mother in bafflement.“What bad news?” I put forth.‘More importantly, what does Nan have to do with this?’ I think with dread. ‘Does it have to do with what happened the other day?’“Oh my baby boy…there’s no easy way to sa
I know how others perceive our relationship. They look at our disparities in status and assume. They assume that Nan is using me.They are wrong.Nan is many things. She is stubborn. The fuse to her temper is long but explosive once pushed too far.Being a gold digger is not one of those things.The
Nan’s POVMy failure continues to plague me.‘What have I done?’ This question haunts me as the days go by. It feels less and less like I can stand by my decision.I thought I could live with the consequences of pawning my mother’s necklace. That I could emotionally let go even if I failed to redeem
Third Person POVIt had been the easiest wedding Nan had ever planned.She knew that she might have been stressed under any other circumstances. Nan had survived much worse than planning her own wedding. So this did not phase her.Scarlett and her sister had been a huge help in that regard.Nan was
He pulled out all the way and then slammed back in. Again and again. It was fast and brutal.I loved every second of it. This is what I had been craving. Lionel at his wildest and utterly crazed for me.At one point he turned me onto all fours. This new ankle only brought him deeper. Making me clenc
Nan’s POVIt should have been awkward.We were on a deserted island. The heavy weight of history of this place resting over us like a dark cloud. Exposed to the elements.It should not have been as arousing as it was.There was something about this that excited me. We were out in the open. Anyone co
I felt sick to my stomach. Everything I had uncovered had hinted at some dark origins. I could not have imagined anything like this.I could imagine it in my mind’s eye. The betrayal from the people they had led. Blood and shackles their new fate.“Only one clan remembered its original purpose. Only
Nan’s POVThis was the moment I had been waiting for.Mr. Holder had allowed us to go home and rest for a while. Correctly guessing that Lionel and I needed time to rest after that ordeal. Neither of us wanted to be far from each other that night.Mr. Holder had requested for us to meet with him at
I let the bond wash over me. Lionel pushes his emotions through. His fear, his worry, his love.I send back my own terrible fear and pain. He takes it into himself. Almost cupping it like he would a wound.There are no true words in the bond. Not really. But if there were…‘Remember…fight…remember w
Nan’s POVMy entire world was aflame.Fire filled my vision. Smoke burned my lungs. I held my breath.The fire licked at my skin. Heated my blood. Seeking to fill the hollow of my bones.The strangest thing was that I was not burning.I should have been. Any normal fire would nave incinerated me. Ye
“Yes?”“If we do this-” She begins.“Nan!” I interject sharply.I am ignored.“-and it fails…what will happen to me?” She asks tightly.He meets her gaze head on. Unflinching. “You would most likely perish.”“See?! It’s too risky!” I growl.Nan is not paying me any mind. Her attention is directed at
Lionel’s POV“Today marks your third trial.”“What is today?” I ask weakly. “Running through the forest…a treasure hunt?”Each trial had gotten progressively more difficult. I had not forgotten the man’s last words to us. Knowing that this would be the worst of all did not inspire much confidence in