All Chapters of Bound By Bloodlines : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

It was getting late, and the sun had begun to cast a soft yellow glow over the horizon, signaling the end of the day. Irwin and Ashina walked in silence toward the towering gates of Shadowclaw. The air between them was thick, weighed down by the argument they’d had earlier at the trade fair. Every step they took back home was quiet, filled with tension neither of them could shake.Ashina, her voice quiet but laced with frustration, tried once again to spark a conversation. "Irwin, we can’t stay like this," she said, glancing sideways at her friend. "You have to understand that I only told you about Valen to protect you. I didn’t want..."But Irwin wasn’t listening. Her mind was spinning, replaying everything Ashina had said earlier. Why was Ashina so intent on making Valen seem like a villain? What was the real reason behind her warnings? Valen hadn’t done anything suspicious in Irwin’s eyes, yet Ashina seemed determined to paint him in the darkest possible light. Irwin’s thoughts swi

The question hung in the air, unanswered, as the weight of the moment settled over them both like a suffocating blanket. The tension between them was palpable, every breath shared, every second longer than the last. Irwin’s heart raced as her eyes met Dorian’s darkened gaze, filled with a hunger she couldn’t escape.As Dorian stepped forward quietly, the servants hurried out of the room, sensing the change in the air. Their footsteps faded, leaving only the sound of Irwin’s shallow breathing and Dorian’s steady, deliberate movements. His eyes never left her as the silence thickened, and Irwin could feel the heat rising in her chest, spreading like wildfire Dorian’s gaze lingered on her body, as though he were memorizing every inch of her. Her skin, soft as silk, gleamed in the low light, tempting him with its warmth. The sight alone was enough to make his heart pound, his breath hitching in his throat Irwin’s knees weakened under the weight of his stare, her body betraying her with

Irwin stared blankly around the room, Leo's words barely registering in her mind. She couldn’t focus, not after the morning's chaos. Dorian had left without a single word, and all Leo had said was that Dorian had dropped something for her. It made her heart flutter despite everything. She tried to dismiss the feelings, tried to distract herself from the whirlwind of emotions crashing inside her. But Leo… Leo had always known how to poke, how to push her buttons just enough.She sighed, brushing her gaze lazily over the room. It wasn't until her eyes landed on the bed that she noticed a small piece of white peeking out from under a pillow.A letter.Irwin’s heart dropped at the sight of it. "What is this?" she muttered under her breath, taking slow steps toward the bed. Her fingers hesitated as she reached for the letter. A sudden sense of dread washed over her as she pulled it out, holding it up to the light.Her breath caught in her throat.The envelope was sealed with blood.Irwin’s

Dorian's presence was an imposing force as he stepped forward. His broad shoulders seemed to fill the room, his intense gaze like the weight of a storm about to break. Every step he took was measured, a deliberate statement of dominance. There was no need for words, his very aura commanding the space. Elder Qwin watched him carefully from the entrance , her hands clasped behind her back. Her posture remained rigid, her head slightly tilted as she scrutinized him, the barest flicker of amusement in her cold eyes. "You never needed an introduction, Dorian," she remarked, her voice quiet but laced with steel. "Even as a boy, your presence always preceded you."For a moment, the tension between them hummed like a live wire, unspoken history crackling in the air. Dorian’s jaw tightened, his gaze unwavering. "I see you haven’t lost your charm, Grandmother," he replied, his voice carrying a respectful edge, though there was a note of controlled irritation underneath.Elder Qwin’s thin lips

The sun had barely begun to rise, casting long shadows over the path as Irwin rode her white horse, charging down the road as if trying to escape her thoughts. Each beat of the hooves seemed to mirror the hammering of her heart, which was filled with frustration and anger. The cool morning air felt sharp against her cheeks, but it did nothing to calm the burning rage that coursed through her.Her breath came in short bursts as she replayed last night over and over in her head. What had she been thinking? A tiny flicker of hope had tricked her into believing that maybe, just maybe, there was something more between her and Dorian. But, She had been wrong. She shook her head, tightening her grip on the reins as the horse galloped forward. “Damn you, Dorian,” she muttered under her breath, her voice breaking slightly. “Damn you for making me believe there was something.”The horse’s pace quickened, as though sensing her fury and desperation. The world around her became a blur of green an