Kiara’s POV“So did he lock you up?” Caden asked from the other end of the face time. I shook my head. “I’m the one who didn’t want to go out. This place is crawling with vampires. I’m trying to do everything in my power to avoid them. I mean one of Ivan’s girlfriend’s almost attacked me the other day!” His eyes widened. “Almost attacked you? What happened?” I scoffed “Let’s just say my training paid off and I didn’t get jumped in my sleep.” Maybe I exaggerated a little bit, but everything else I was telling Caden was right on par. It was the evening of the next day and I had been bringing Caden up to speed on what had been happening here since I came. “Damn.” He muttered. “Yeah. It’s an absolute nightmare down here. And you should have seen them feeding on their victims. Those poor women.”“Were they humans or werewolves?”“Humans from what I could tell. So far, I seem to be the only wolf here.” That was another thing I worried about in light of Ivan’s threat. Wolves were social
Kiara’s POVI was bored, idly scrolling through my phone as a result of it, when I heard a startling scream. It was loud and piercing, jarring enough to have me nearly drop my phone in surprise. After fumbling with and preventing my only connection to the outside world right now from toppling to its doom on the floor, I sat up near the edge of the bed, eyes narrowed at the now quiet air. I gave it another minute, but the mansion was silent as usual. I went back to my phone, opening a particularly funny meme from Caden that had me chuckling, before the screams came again. So high and filled with pain that I was out of my bed in seconds, the phone abandoned on my bed. I reached from the door and pulled it open to see Lucille standing there with a maid behind her, as if she’d been waiting to catch me right at that moment. I glared at her. She smiled back. “No need to worry about those pesky little screams.”She stalked passed me into my room without invitation, the maid following beh
Kiara’s POVIt was the middle of the night and my two─captors? Guard details? I didn’t even know what to call them─ were soundly asleep on the bed. I found it a bit surprising their lack of vigilance but I wasn’t one to look gift horses in the mouth so I didn’t question it. After making certain Lucille was deeply asleep, I opened the door as quietly as I could and snuck out. Unfortunately for me, the driver was standing in front of our door, as if keeping guard. I cursed silently and tried not to act suspicious. “Hey there.”“Sorry ma’am but you’re not allowed to leave the room.”“Aw really? I’m just really restless and could do with a run right now.”He frowned. “Yeah but the King doesn’t want you guys out of the room. Especially at nights.”I pouted. “It’s just a run. I swear it. Those Vamps in there can stand the idleness but I’m a werewolf. I was born for the moonlight.” There wasn’t a full moon out tonight, but this guy was human so I hoped he wouldn’t be too particular about
Kiara’s POVMy back was flat against the wall, arms pinned up above my head by a long, muscled hand that clamped firmly about my wrist. I glared up at Ivan, his gray eyes darkening with the silver strands of his salt and pepper hair falling all over his eyes. He was beautiful, a realization all over again that made my heart squeeze and my loins clench. “Let me go.” I gritted out without much heat. Instead, need curled deep in my belly, tightening when he chuckled lowly and licked my earlobe. A gasp rang out of me, then a moan when he pulled the tissue into his mouth and bit down lightly. “Ivan!” I said in a breathy moan, squirming under his hands even he pressed tighter against me. His breath tickled my earlobe, the warm sensation sending a trail of blazing heat down my spine. “You want me, don’t you?” He whispered hotly. I moaned in response, pressing my lower half against him and trying my best to rock. “You want me as much as I want you.” He breathed, running his free hand ove
Kiara’s POVIt had been five days since I was brought to the motel and I was frustrated. I was itching with the urge to go for a run, my wolf restless due to how long I’d had to keep her locked up. It was Ivan’s fault. He and his insistence to keep me on constant lockdown meant I’d had very little opportunity to stretch my human legs much less my wolf ones. Speaking of Ivan, I hadn’t even seen him since the day I’d had those incredibly vivid dreams. Lucille was being extremely tight-lipped about where he was or what he was doing. I couldn’t decide if it was because she was just a bitch or because he told her not to tell me, but I knew I didn’t like it. Lucille herself was often absent come to think of it. Especially at nights. The maid meanwhile was almost always attached to my side, especially during the day. She never let me out of her sight and had even attempted to follow me once to the bathroom. I had to draw a firm line there. It wasn’t like there was any window for me to ev
Kiara’s POVIn no time at all, we checked out of the motel, a new driver packing our many bags into the car. I saw no signs of Lucille or the maid but I didn’t ask, ecstatic at the thought that I was going to go home. I should have known it was just another one of Ivan’s many lies. After all, after refusing me at every turn, why would he give in to my demands all of a sudden? It was too easy and it should have raised my suspicion but I was too happy. Even though my father had betrayed me I still missed him. I missed my mom. I missed being around my pack. I missed that idiot, Caden. So it was why I was so eager and excited, eyes rapt on the window to watch our progression to my beloved home as the car pulled out of the motel. It wasn’t until the car turned towards the opposite direction that I began to question my naivete. Confused, I turned to Ivan, my puzzlement turning into disbelief and then anger at the sight of Ivan’s smirk. It was only then that I knew I’d been played. That h
Kiara’s POVIt took a few tries to peel myself out of her grasp. She chuckled, as if my desperate attempts to get her off me were something cute. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?” She said and I backed away from her. A frown furrowed my brows as I noticed how eerily silent and almost deserted the kitchen now was. I left her standing there and smiling at me quite creepily. I couldn’t believe that had happened. Vampires had no concept of personal space or any sort of propriety at all. She probably just wanted to stick her fangs in me. They were all so damn weird and annoying. Snorting in disbelief, I went through the dark hallways not realizing until the smell of him suddenly sharpened that I was walking towards Ivan’s office. Even subconsciously I went to him, the persistent line of the mate bond drawing us forever close. Forever was a long time to be bonded to a vampire. I shivered at the thought. I reached his study soon enough, at once pleased and irritated with how well I was co
Kiara’s POVI stayed in my room sulking the rest of the night and late into the morning. By mid-morning, I was more than a little bit restless. Not only did my wolf want to shift, I myself needed to stretch my legs desperately. I restrained myself though, mostly because I didn’t want to end up going to find Ivan. It was hard enough staying put as it was. If I got out I would surely follow his scent so I could end up wherever it was he was. Considering how I’d found him the last time, I’d pretty much rather die than to do such a thing ever again. He still hadn’t come to look for me and even though I didn’t actually want to see him, it hurt that he hadn’t even tried. Did that bastard even give a shit about me at all? Nearly fucking Lucille on the very same desk he’d seduced me on! And not even acting the least bit apologetic about it after I caught them. Another hour later, I sat up, inclining my head thoughtfully as I sniffed the air. I didn’t smell him as strongly as he had been e
Kiara’s POVI went to find my father immediately after his meeting with Ivan was over, not just curious, but anxious to find out what consensus had been reached. He didn’t seem surprised to see me, only letting out an exasperated sigh and gesturing for me to take a seat on the other side of his desk.“Well?” I said even before my ass had touched the chair. “What did you guys decide?”My father shrugged. “That he’ll return back to his manor and you’ll remain here with your family until such a time when you are interested in being with your mate.”I paused, my eyes bugging wide, disbelief coloring every inch of my features.“I’m sorry, what?” I said, shocked that such a thing was even possible. My father gave me a deadpan look.“You’re serious? Ivan really left like that?”I asked with a frown. I’d never known dad to be anything but concerning official affairs, but the thing he just said was so at odds with what I knew about the Vampire King that I immediately suspected foul play. Dad s
Ivan’s POVI stared coolly at Damien and the man stared back. Kiara hovered a few steps away from us, glancing nervously between us both.We were in his immaculately furnished study, having been summoned there by a maid after we had the refreshments Amelia provided. I respected their willingness to at least feed us before engaging in this confrontation. It would have sucked to do this with a headache caused by blood starvation.“Kiara. Leave us.” Damien rumbled lowly and predictably enough, she tried to argue with him, only cutting off when he sent her a glare.I chuckled, glad to see she wasn’t this combative with me alone and watched her with an amused, if slightly hungry gaze as she left the room. I was aware that Damien was watching me watch his daughter, but after missing her for more than forty eight hours, it was hard to let her out of my sight.I hadn’t expected her to give up on witnessing the discussion I was about to have with her father so easily but I needn’t have bothere
Kiara’s POVI scarfed down my food, barely managing to chew it completely before swallowing and stuffing my mouth with the next morsel. Conversation flowed around me but I ignored it all in favor of stuffing my mouth full with pasta and some heavenly meatballs.“Kiara come on. You’ll choke on that. You have got to slow down.”I slurped on the last of the spaghetti strands in my mouth and swallowed most of it before attempting to speak.“I wasn’t able to catch dinner last night.” I sent my mom a pointed look from across the table where she sat “Somebody held me up last night.”Mom primly dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a napkin.“Yes, it’s not because you went out for a two hour run and missed dinner is it?”She snarked back in such a haughty tone that I rolled my eyes. Deciding that I was too hungry to push the issue, I refocused my attention on my plate and kept leveling it down.Everyone was at the dining table, including my dad, Caden’s dad and both our moms. There were even
Kiara’s POVThere was someone in my room and it wasn’t any of the wolves I lived with. I lay completely still, keeping my eyes tightly shut and trying to make sure my breathing remained even.It was night time and everyone in the manor was fast asleep. Except for the intruder. And now me.I tried to think quickly of what I could do to get out of this potentially dangerous situation. My dagger was all the way over on the table at the far end of the room and I silently cursed myself for being so careless with my weapon when I was expecting something like this to happen.The person crept to my bed without making so much as a sound. I felt rather than heard the presence hovering above me. I waited, holding my breath until he came close enough and then I sprung into action.Pulling his hand, I dragged him down to the bed and flipped him before he hit the mattress so that he landed on his back with a grunt. In another moment, my hand was around his throat and I squeezed tightly, ignoring his
Kiara’s POV“Kiara? Kiara! Wake up!” I heard from deep within my slumber. I groaned and rolled over, not wanting to stop the Ivan filled dream I was having.I’d barely resettled into position when my warm duvet was suddenly ripped off my body.“Kiara Hudson! You get out of that bed this instant!” My mom yelling right over me was the last straw. The pleasant dream I’d been having disappeared in a flash as I was pulled back into the reality of wakefulness.“Mom. Come on. Five more minutes.” I whined much liked Caden had with me just yesterday. Unlike me however, my mom was not so benevolent.“No. Get your lazy behind up and get ready so we can go out.”“If you’re trying to rope me into another shopping trip you can forget it. I need to sleep.”I groaned and felt around my feet for the duvet, keeping my eyes closed in an attempt to trick my brain into falling back asleep.My mother smacked my hands away.“Ow!” I whined, eyes flying open to glare at her.She raised a brow “It wasn’t a requ
Kiara’s POV“Savez, come on. Keep your hands high enough so you can parry his thrust and block. Otherwise you’ll end up with a slit throat before we’re done here!”I yelled at one of the sparring groups currently battling fiercely on the training ground.The man in question did as I asked, holding his sword a bit higher and parrying his opponent’s next jab way more fluidly.“Good.” I grunted, moving past their group to the next.This pair were clearly still a bit green about the ears. It was clear from the way the awkwardly held their swords, as if it was too big for them. It made their knife clanging lack any power, force or even proper direction.I stepped up to them amused.“Grip it firmly, don’t clutch it like that.” I said helping one of the boys fix his fingers properly.The other mirrored the new position while the one I’d physically corrected flushed bright red. He looked shyly at me from under his lashes and I snorted. He could barely hold his sword up. What made him think he
Ivan’s POVI paced back and forth the length of my study, hands clamped behind my back, cursing ever so often and kicking at any of the poor furniture that got in my way. Lilith sat on one of the visitor’s chair, watching me pensively. Forty eight hours. It had been forty eight goddamn hours since I last saw her. I was going crazy.Was she thinking about me? The way I thought about her? This obsessive, compulsive and almost destructive way? Where was she right now? Was she laughing and happy? While I writhed here in agony, wasting away for all she cared? Was she with that stupid little werewolf friend of hers who touched her far too familiarly in ways that made me want to rip his arms off? All I’d done since she got here was spoil her. So why the fuck was she not here!“Goddamit!” I swore, exploding all of a sudden and whirling around to face her.“I can’t take it anymore. I need her back! Today!”“Ivan. Come on. You can give her a bit more time. You’re acting like two weeks when it’s
Kiara’s POVI drew open the curtains the window letting light filter into my room, the golden rays falling directly on the bed where Caden slept. He scrunched his face up in his sleep before simply turning to the other side and pulling the duvet over his face. Amused an undeterred, I marched to the bed, pulling the duvet off him. “Hey. No fair.” He grumbled sleepily. “Yes it is. It’s already past ten AM.” He grumbled something that sounded suspiciously like an insult and then chucked a pillow at me. I laughed, easily dodging it. “Your pillow tricks won’t work on me. Get the hell up.”“Come on mom. Five more minutes.”I let out an exaggerated sigh “Fine.” I said benevolently. I’d had my bath when he slept and even dried my hair. I was almost fully dress when I tried to wake him and he still didn’t budge. Most of my good clothes were abandoned at Ivan’s mansion so all I was left with in my closet were the not so nice ones. I put on a T-shirt over my faded jeans and pulled my hair i
Ivan’s POVI leaned against the back of my chair, thoroughly amused despite myself not to mention a tad impressed at my woman. My sweet, fiery Kiara. She didn’t cease to amaze me that wolf. Just when I thought I had all my bases covered and there was no way she could possibly get around them, she went ahead and did exactly that. I wasn’t sure why she insisted on playing this cat and mouse game but I couldn’t say I wasn’t intrigued. After all, I did so love to chase. She couldn’t possibly think I would let her escape that easily could she? Surely she knows I will be coming after her, very soon too. I wondered how she would react to the plans I was making to get her back. The thought of her cute face, scrunched up in a scowl and alight with fury made me chuckle. I couldn’t wait to see what she did. A frown marred my face when I thought of the man who had helped her escape. A growl neigh left my lips. He was a problem I didn’t appreciate. In other words I fucking hated his guts. He’