RonanI kept my mouth shut. The last thing I wanted was to get into any sort of conversation with Arya in front of our captors. It wasn’t the time or place. Everything we said, every move we made, would be watched, and analyzed.Hopefully, this was just some rogue group, and the Kavistani government had no stake in it. If we were lucky, they would have already noticed our disappearance and were working to get us out. I couldn’t let this situation escalate into an international crisis, something that would drag Jorvik into a political mess. It needed to stay under the radar.The ride dragged on, long and suffocating in its silence. The only sound was the hum of the engine and the occasional rustle as one of the men shifted in his seat. None of them spoke, but their eyes were always on us, cold and calculating.Their accents were clearly Kavistani, but I noticed something else—some of them were blond. That wasn’t common in this part of the world. These men were either Belvarian or a mix
RonanTwo days later, they brought Arya back and placed her in the cell directly across from ours. She looked like a ghost of herself—still wearing the same grey jumpsuit as us, her bruises now covered with small bandaids. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and fearful, as if the world had crushed whatever strength she had left. It was hard to tell if she was truly broken or if this was just another one of her acts.Arya was always an enigma. Part of me wanted to believe she wasn’t involved, that she was just another victim like us, but with Arya, you could never be sure.The silence that followed was suffocating. For two days straight, there was nothing but the ticking of the digital clock on the desk in our cell. I counted the seconds, minutes, hours—anything to keep a grip on reality.It felt like we were being forgotten, locked away in some remote prison while the world outside continued, oblivious to what was happening to us. They brought our meals at regular intervals, slipping tra
Ronan"You see, Morosov," the man said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at me with a smug smile, "you will drink with me when you find out everything I’m about to show you." He shifted his gaze to Joseph, still smiling, like he already knew how this was going to play out."I was expecting they’d send you two. Someone really wants both of you dead in Jorvik. Learned a coup might be in the news soon," he added with a chuckle, as if the potential collapse of our country was just another casual topic over drinks.I felt my stomach twist. He was dropping hints—breadcrumbs about things much bigger than us. But I didn’t bite, not yet. I needed more."Anyway," he continued, leaning back in his chair, "firstly, I want to apologise for the way we picked you up. It wasn’t ideal, I know. But it was either we took you, or you’d end up in the hands of the Marakatim group." He paused, watching my reaction carefully.I frowned at the name, unfamiliar with it. "Haven’t heard of them, have you, young la
RonanThe man’s voice cut through the tension in the room, his tone steady, deliberate."But I won’t get to all that yet," he said, his gaze shifting from me to Joseph. "Let’s focus on Arya here and why you’ve been brought to this place, even though I don’t think you’re fully prepared for what you’re about to learn."He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. "Arya set you all up that morning. She met with her handler before you were abducted. Their plan was to take you at that café, but we intercepted them first. You see, with the Marakatims, they don’t stop. They keep coming until they succeed. Taking out their first team wouldn’t have guaranteed your safety, which is why we brought you here."I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. My mind raced, trying to process the accusations. Arya? Setting us up? I couldn’t bring myself to believe it, not entirely. But the pieces… they were starting to fall into place, and each one stabbed at my gut."I guess your meeti
RonanThe man smirked, his eyes cold and calculating as he continued. "You see, Miss Arya here sold you out. Had we not intervened, you would’ve ended up as prisoners of that group, and trust me, their methods of persuasion aren’t as polite as ours." He leaned back in his chair, casually crossing his arms."And as for the group, they aren’t funded by Belvarians, like the Kavistanian government wants you to believe. They’re funded by the Kavistani government itself. These people do the dirty work the government doesn’t want to be directly associated with. It’s foolish for Jorvik to think that Kavistan is in a weak position. They’re making powerful allies right now and would eventually betray Jorvik."His words hung in the air, heavy with implications. My mind was reeling from everything he was saying. If it was true—if Kavistan was working with this terrorist group—it meant that everything we thought we knew about the political landscape was a lie. And Arya… Arya had been a part of it.
RonanMy legs gave out beneath me for a moment, like the weight of everything was too much to bear, but somehow, I found the strength to stand again. In that instant, all logic vanished, slipping through my fingers like sand.I wasn’t thinking about how he got there, whether he had been involved in the chaos, or whose side he was on. None of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was that he was alive—standing right in front of me, breathing.Relief washed over me, overwhelming and all-consuming. I had spent so long imagining this moment, dreaming of it, and yet it felt unreal now that it was happening.He looked nervous at first, like he wasn’t sure how I’d react. His eyes darted around, searching my face for something—maybe a sign, maybe reassurance. But as I took a step toward him, I could see his shoulders drop just a little, the tension in his body easing, if only a bit. I didn’t want to say anything.Words felt unnecessary, small compared to the wave of emotion crashing thr
Ronan"They saved my life," Erin said quietly, and my brow furrowed in confusion. Saved him? How could these people—who we thought were the enemy—have saved him?Erin sighed and continued, his voice taking on a grim, reflective tone. "We were compromised on our way here. The original mission was simple: stop by here, pick up some people, and head to Belvaria. Our task was to keep the status quo there, nothing more. But we were blind, Row. It was all a smoke screen. We never saw what was coming."I listened intently, trying to wrap my head around the gravity of what he was saying."We picked up a few Kavistani military officers and headed to Belvaria. You know how rich it is in oil and gold; it’s always been a place of interest. But when we arrived, it became clear that things were far worse than we imagined. Kavistan and Jorvik were running illegal mining and drilling operations, deep in the heart of Belvaria. And the worst part? It wasn’t sanctioned by their governments. This wasn’t
Ronan"The Kavistani troops, along with four high-ranking officers from Jorvik, were all in on it," Erin said, his voice cold and distant, as if the memory itself were too painful to fully relive. "One night, they called us out—told us it was an emergency briefing. They drove us out to the middle of nowhere. It was pitch black, no landmarks, nothing. Just empty land all around us."I could feel the tension in the air, my chest tightening as I listened, unable to imagine the fear they must have felt."They lined us up," he continued, his eyes clouded with the memory, "and before we knew it, they opened fire. No warning. Just... bullets. Spraying us like we were nothing. Like we didn’t matter. We were left for dead in the middle of that wasteland. That’s how they dealt with us. I guess we were disposable."Erin’s hands moved to his shirt, and without a word, he began unbuttoning it. I watched as he pulled it off, revealing a torso covered in scars—small, circular scars, unmistakably heal
RonanThe rest of the day unfolded like a dream. The blending of cultures at the reception created an electric atmosphere, with traditional music, dancing, and customs from both Jorvik and Belvaria.People laughed, cheered, and toasted together, the joy in the air bringing everyone closer in a way I hadn’t seen before.The food was exquisite—lavish dishes from both sides, served alongside sweets that melted in your mouth. I glanced around, noticing a few of the usual snobbish Jorvikians clinging to old prejudices, but their aloofness felt like a remnant of a fading past. The world was changing, and today was proof that we were moving forward.As the day finally wound down, my heart quickened, knowing I’d soon take Camila home with me for the first time as my wife.My mother’s eyes were misty with tears as we prepared to leave. I knew the real reason she was so sentimental had little to do with the wedding itself.She’d gotten used to Camila and Glenda living at home, filling her table
RonanThese words were my truth, my heart’s deepest promises, and I meant to honour them, no matter what life might bring our way.The hall was filled with the soft sounds of sniffles and quiet sighs; I could feel the weight of emotion in the air. But in that moment, I was aware only of Camila. My vow, my promises, were for her and her alone.Camila took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts, and I could see the shy nerves flickering in her expression. She hesitated just a moment, and then began, her voice steady but filled with emotion.“Ronan,” she said softly, her voice warming as she spoke, “words can’t fully capture what I feel, but I’ll do my best.” A gentle chuckle rippled through the crowd, lightening the moment, and she smiled at me with a look that made my heart race.“You made me feel at home when I didn’t have a home,” she continued, her voice thick with sincerity. “Because of you, I’ve known joy, dignity, and freedom—even though society didn’t think I was worthy of those
RonanThe music began softly, and I stood at full attention, my heart pounding as I focused on the door where Camila would soon appear.I felt a mix of nerves and anticipation I hadn’t expected, my eyes lingering on that entrance, hoping each passing second would bring her closer. But first came the bridesmaids, one by one, entering gracefully.Olivia led the way, her figure heavily pregnant but glowing, followed by Stephanie, Ashley, and two Belvarian women who looked like relatives of Camila. Though I hadn’t met them before, their familial resemblance to Camila was subtle—a trace here, a gesture there.Then, my little Katya appeared, a tiny vision holding a small basket of flowers. My heart melted as she toddled down the aisle, her big eyes wide with wonder. For a one-year-old, she was doing exceptionally well, capturing the hearts of everyone as she made her way forward.But then, as her gaze found mine, she lit up and shouted, “Dada!” I couldn’t help but laugh, joy filling me as s
RonanThe day I had dreamed of for so long had finally arrived—my wedding day. As tradition demanded, I couldn’t spend the night with my bride, so I stayed at my house with Marc, Joseph, Erin and Ashton. Lying awake that morning, memories flooded my mind, filling me with emotions I hadn’t felt in a long time. I remembered a different night, a night that haunted me and almost changed everything.That time, I’d been betrayed, drugged, and left in a haze by people I’d thought I could trust—people like Abel and Mira, whose influence had threatened to destroy my happiness. But not this time. This time, it was just my brother my soon-to-be-in-law and my true friends and me, laughing and drinking, reliving those simpler days with nothing sinister lurking around the corner.For the first time, I felt completely in control, safe. I was grateful for that disastrous night from the past, because without it, I would never have crossed paths with Camila. Everything I’d been through, all the pain an
CamilaTwo days before the wedding, Erin arrived with a heavily pregnant Olivia. I couldn't help but wonder how she managed to fly so far along in her pregnancy.Apparently, they had used a private jet, which explained the quick journey. My father had flown them all into Jorvik, bringing along his family, two lively ladies named Trisha and Lily, whom he said were our distant relatives. Along with them were Olivia’s friends, Stephanie and Ashely, who couldn't stop gushing about their excitement to see Marc and Joseph again. Clearly, those two men had left quite the impression on them.Olivia was radiant, her happiness infectious. It was clear she was free-spirited, a stark contrast to the life of servitude I had known.I was grateful she had never had to experience that harsh existence. Madam Melania was particularly taken with Olivia, unable to stop admiring her striking red hair and vibrant green eyes.I could see the wheels turning in Madam Melania’s mind as she tried to charm Olivi
CamilaMy father returned to the villa that the head of state had prepared for him and his entourage. The wedding was just two weeks away, and he planned to leave briefly, returning with my family to attend the ceremony. I was excited at the thought of meeting them, especially with how well my mother’s relationship with Dimitri was progressing. Their bond seemed solid, unhindered by the past, and I was genuinely happy for them both.Ronan suggested we return to his house after the celebration, but Madam Melania was determined to keep us there. She pulled out all kinds of tricks to persuade us to stay, even pleading with my mother not to leave.However, Dimitri was firm in his decision to take her to Nerania, where he also planned to buy a house in Jorvik for them to stay. I understood his reasoning; Madam Melania often seemed to forget that we were no longer slaves, and a little distance might help her realise the changes in our lives.She wasn’t malicious, but her subtle reminders—li
CamilaAs Erin and Ashton walked in alongside my father, I found myself standing up almost absently, my heart racing. Seeing him in person was a revelation; he looked so much better than he did on the screen.His eyes were soft and warm when they fell on me, as if he had just encountered an angel, and in that moment, I couldn’t believe he was my father. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, filling me with a mix of joy and disbelief.I didn’t want to waste any time; I was determined to avoid any awkwardness between us. With a surge of emotion, I rushed toward him and wrapped my arms around his waist, letting him know that there was no need for words. I felt him pause for just a heartbeat before he slowly wrapped his arms around me in a bear hug, holding on tightly as if he were afraid I might slip away.“My daughter, my daughter,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. I could feel his pain radiating through his words, hear it tremble in the air between us. This moment was a
CamilaI was a bundle of nerves after the signing ceremony. My heart raced, each thump echoing in my ears like a drum. I knew Fredrick wouldn't waste any time seeking me out. Erin had mentioned how impatient he had been throughout the event, his excitement barely contained.As I thought about the man I was about to meet, I felt my stomach twist into knots. My mother appeared calm and composed, but I was anything but. Fredrick was my father, a man I had never seen before, someone I hadn’t even known existed until now. The realisation weighed heavily on me. This was all so overwhelming, yet I understood it was something I had to confront.Once the signing ceremony ended, I slipped out of the living room and headed up to Ronan's room. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts and calm my racing heart. I wasn't sure how I would react when I finally met Fredrick face-to-face or what I might say to him. I had only spoken to him once over the phone, which felt like a distant memory now. That w
RonanAs we celebrated, Ashton turned to Erin with a look of quiet amazement. “When my uncle told me the only way to achieve this was by working honestly with the Jorvikians, I didn’t believe him,” he admitted. “But I guess he was right all along.” Erin nodded, sharing the same sense of disbelief mixed with newfound hope. It truly felt like the dawn of a new era, and I was grateful beyond words to witness it, let alone be part of it.Just as we were toasting to freedom and the future, my father’s phone rang. He listened quietly, then looked over at me, his expression softening. “Gregory has agreed to waive the death penalty in exchange for Lucas’s cooperation. He’ll be dismissed from the military and serve three years in prison. After that, he’ll be a free man. This is the best deal we could secure for him.”I nodded, a feeling of respect and relief swelling up as I met my father’s gaze. “Thank you, Father,” I said, my voice low but sincere. He returned a small smile, nodding back. Al