LIANNA'S POV
He started to pull away but I held him, I needed him right now. And I was scared of what he would do in his current state. Because at that moment, he looked like he was ready to kill Ethan for me.
"No just stay with me. Stay and be my friend" And I felt him nod against my forehead.
The next thing I remember I was waking up in the morning. I got up to pee and brush my teeth and when I checked the time it was 10:15 am.
The feeling of sleeping in was a bit strange since Ethan always made me wake up at dawn to do house chores and cook and if there was nothing to do he would create things to do.
As I turned on the tap, everything that happened yesterday came back rushing into my head and I had to press my fingers against my eyelids to stop myself from crying.
I didn't want to give Sebastian any more reason to worry. Oh my God, how was I going to face him after yesterday? What would have happened if he hadn’t come along and saved me?
I didn't want him to treat me out of pity as Annalise did. It broke me thinking I had a friend and finding out when I needed her the most that I was just a pity case to her.
I left the room and went to find Sebastian. I saw him in the kitchen making pancakes. And he was shirtless. All thoughts flew out of my head.
His chiselled back was tanned from years of going shirtless under the sun. And as he flipped the pancakes, his muscles rippled effortlessly. My eyes trailed down his spine, to the small of his back, and then his firm behind which was covered by the sweatpants hanging low on his hips.
The reaction his body had on me scared me and I turned to leave but that was the same time he turned to grab a plate.
"Hey there, Lee. Sleep well?" He flashed me a smile. If his back was magnificent, his front view was godlike.
His broad chest was dusted with golden hair similar to the wavy locs on his head and it travelled down through his abs, -I counted one to eight- and then further down into his pants.
"Earth too?" He said to snap me out of my reverie and I immediately went red with shame. He just caught me ogling at him.
"I'm so sorry, I-"
"It's fine, I guess we're even now?" He chuckled.
"What?" I asked wondering what he meant by that.
"I used to check you out all the time." When he saw the surprise on my face he added. "You would have to be blind not to know You're a very beautiful woman Lee. I used to have to warn both the boys in my grade and the boys in yours away constantly."
"So that was you. I thought they just didn't like me or they thought that . . ."
"Thought that what?"
"Because we were so close, a lot of people thought that we were dating. The girls especially, they hated me for it."
"Why? I mean why did they hate you."
"And you think I'm blind, you're hot Sebastian. And you cook."I said, gesturing towards the pancakes.
"Oh." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"You remember Sophie from your history class?" I decided to change the topic.
"Sophie with the braces?" He asked.
"Yep, she came to me once to confess her undying love for you 'her Romeo'"
"You're kidding." He scoffed.
"I wish. She even wrote a poem about it." At this point, he burst out laughing. "And then she offered to pay me to give her tips on how to be your girlfriend."
"Tell me you didn't do it."
"I even turned it into a business." I snorted.
"So while I was chasing boys away from you. You were sending girls to me."
"You're welcome," I smirked and grabbed a pancake.
"I've missed you, Lee." He said softly after a moment's silence.
"I've missed you too," I said to him. It's been ages since I genuinely laughed with anyone.
We fell into a comfortable silence as he stacked my plates with pancakes and we moved to the dining area.
"These are good," I said to him.
"Thanks." He replied and we both reached for the honey at the same time our fingers brushed and I felt something between my thighs.
I jumped back as though I had been stung and nudged by his expression. He felt it too, the sparks that flew were almost visible.
"Um . . ." Sebastian was the one who broke the silence. "I guess we should get you some new clothes."
"Oh uh, that's not necessary I'm leaving today." Even though I had nowhere to go I didn't want him to feel responsible.
"Where will you go?"
"I didn't know yet, I'll figure it out."
"You can stay with me till you figure it out."
"I'm not going to be a burden to you."
"You're not and I'm not going to throw you out on the streets."
"Sebastian, I am twenty not fifteen. I can take care of myself."
"I'm not going to watch you suffer when there is an alternative." He argued.
"So what? You're going to lock me up just like he did?" I asked angrily before realizing I had gotten up from my seat.
"I am sorry for what he did to you, it's all my fault. But you know me, and you know I am not him. I just want to protect you, Lee." He stood up and came closer to me.
"I know, I shouldn't have said that. I'm just so angry and heartbroken.” I apologized to him ashamed of comparing them when I knew Edward was a good man.
"I know."
"No, you don't. You weren't here."
"I am now. I'm not leaving anymore."
"I used to love him, but I hate him so much now. He took everything from me."
"I understand."
"No, you don't. You don't understand how I feel. I have nothing, no one."
"That's not true. You have me."
"Even if you stay, you're just my friend." I tried to explain to him.
"Then mate with me." He said and my head went blank.
Edward: I didn’t think I had ever had a good time like that in my entire goddamn life. Seated on my ridiculous golden throne, which, by the way, I had told them was unnecessary but they had insisted like it was some sacred tradition, I watched the sea of smiling faces parading before me. Everyone looked genuinely happy to see me, like they were actually proud, and for the life of me, I couldn’t even pretend to be my usual sarcastic self. The grin splitting my face was impossible to contain. It felt ridiculous, too wide, too bright, but hell if I cared. My chest was warm, my fingers were drumming lightly against the armrest in time to the soft thrum of music weaving through the air. The scent of fresh flowers... roses, gardenias, something Lianna had picked, I was sure drifted through the hall, blending with the mouth-watering smell of pastries and meat pies and the sharp tang of aged wine. A few of the Alpha Kings I was c
Edward: “How the hell is she able to be this bubbly after she almost died yesterday?” Harvey muttered, leaning forward against the iron railing of the gallery. I stood beside him, arms loosely folded, my gaze drawn down to where Lianna moved like a wildfire in silk. She was everywhere at once, barking out orders to the kitchen staff, laughing too loudly at something one of the guards said, twirling away from an apprentice who nearly dropped a tray of wine glasses at her feet. Her hair whipped behind her like a banner, her cheeks flushed with life. She looked damn good doing it too. She looked alive, radiant, and unstoppable. And that made me damn rock hard. I felt my mouth curl into a slow, uncontrollable smile. “She’s Lianna,” I said simply, voice low, almost reverent. “Death’s scared of her, not the other way around.” Harvey shook his head with a chuckle, but his eyes stayed trained on her too, like he couldn’t help himself. Ingrid’s heels clicked ag
Edward: The podium felt colder than it should have. Maybe it was just me. Hell, maybe it was the goddamn nerves humming under my skin, crackling through my bloodstream like I’d swallowed a live wire. I adjusted the heavy folds of my coat, brushing the fabric smooth with my palms. The leather was stiff under my fingertips, polished to perfection, but it didn’t ease the tension straining my spine. Harvey was a silent shadow at my back, his presence a steady weight between my shoulder blades. Good. I needed that anchor right now. The crowd before me shifted, a sea of bodies cloaked in muted colors and apprehensive whispers. I stepped forward, feeling the wood of the podium creak beneath my boots, and cleared my throat, the sound slicing through the low murmur of voices. "Good morning," I began. It was the kind of voice that made people lean in even if they didn’t trust a damn word coming out of your mouth. "I want to start by apologizing for dragging you all out here toda
Lianna: I adjusted Edward’s collar, tugging it with the kind of care a surgeon might use when slicing open a patient. His hands hovered awkwardly at his sides, and he stared at me like I’d just announced I was going to crown myself Empress of the Seven Kingdoms. "You know," he muttered, a lopsided smirk tugging at his mouth, "you’re acting like this is some royal wedding, not just a boring speech in the town square." I laughed under my breath, smoothing down the front of his jacket with a few sharp swipes. The fabric was rich under my palms. It was soft, expensive, and a little smug, just like him. "Oh, it is a royal wedding, Eddie," I said sweetly. "Between you, destiny, and whatever chaos we manage to unleash today." He rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might actually fall out of his head. "Should’ve known you were secretly trying to become an influencer," he grumbled. "Just this once," I quipped, giving the lapels one final, overly dramatic flourish. "I
Freya: I was deep in the middle of a very satisfying drea. It was a dream about me on a deserted island, no nagging voices, no endless plans for world domination, when the knocking started. It was persistent enough to rattle the door on its hinges. I groaned into my pillow, dragging the blanket over my head like that flimsy piece of fabric would somehow drown out the inevitable reality waiting for me on the other side. No such luck. The knocking only grew louder, like a war drum signaling my doom. "Gods," I hissed under my breath, pushing myself upright. My muscles protested. I rubbed at my eyes, feeling the crust of exhaustion scraping against my lashes. Another knock. This time, it shook the whole damn doorframe. "I'm coming!" I snapped, stumbling toward the door, the wooden floor cold against my bare feet. I yanked it open with a sharp tug, blinking against the blinding hallway light, and there she was. My mother. Standing in a fury, arms crossed so tightly
Lianna: The solar was soaked in gold. Thick streams of morning sunlight pouring through the wide windows, catching on the dust motes that floated lazily in the warm air. I curled further into the deep cushions of the settee, absently twirling the stem of my empty goblet between my fingers, feeling the slight slickness of glass warmed by my palm. Edward sat across from me, long legs sprawled out, shirt sleeves rolled up in that reckless way that always made my blood simmer. The door creaked open and one of the maids stepped in, the rustle of her skirts brushing against the polished floors. She bowed slightly. "My Lord, My Lady. The announcement has been made. About the address at the market square." I straightened, lips curving into a slow, knowing smile. "Did they make it obvious that I wouldn’t be there?" "Yes, my Lady," she nodded briskly. "It was made clear you are away visiting family." "Perfect," I m