Novels by A. Y

(Nadira POV)I was exhausted, feeling as though I'd been dragged through the mud by the time I reached my apartment door. My head raced from being spoken to all day, and my chest hurt from yet another blowout with Thane. I just wanted to fall across my couch and sleep for a week.I opened the door and stood in shock.There was someone on my couch.Not anyone."Grandma V?" I blinked. My not so secret investor.She was lounging with crossed legs, having a cup of tea as if she were at home. She looked totally at ease, like it was the most normal thing to do in the world to break into my apartment."Took you long enough," she said, setting her cup down. "I was starting to worry you'd skipped out."I allowed my bag to crash to the floor and rushed over. "You—you can't just lie here like that! How did you even get in?"She shrugged. "Keys. Connections. Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to."I chuckled despite myself and hugged her hard. "It's nice to see you.""Of course it is

(Nadira POV)The car ride was silent except for the sound of the tires against the road. I sat with my arms folded, staring out the window.“You’re sulking again,” Thane said, his voice calm but edged with that usual firmness.“I’m not sulking. I just don’t like this arrangement,” I muttered.“You’re safer this way,” he replied without looking at me.I rolled my eyes. “I can take myself to school, you know. I’m not a child who needs escort duty every morning.”His hand tightened slightly on the wheel. “I already told you—until things settle, I’ll be the one dropping you off. The driver will pick you up after.”“I don’t want your driver either,” I snapped.He didn’t respond. That was Thane—once his mind was made up, there was no point arguing. Still, the silence between us felt heavier than usual.When the car stopped in front of the gates, I unbuckled quickly. “Thanks for the ride, boss,” I said dryly, pushing the door open before he could say anything else.I heard him call my name,

(Thane POV)Patience had never been my strong suit, and Nadira was testing me to it in ways no one else ever had.With each moment I shared watching her and Beckett laughing at his stupid jokes, it tore at me. I told myself it was because Beckett couldn't be trusted. That was true—he wasn't innocent. But the jealousy underlying it was eating me alive, and I hated that I couldn't admit it.I put the thought to rest when I walked into the meeting room at Nightingale Tech. My team was already there. The table was covered with papers, photos, and laptops that were showing files I'd been looking forward to reading for days. Marcus was the first one to stand up, holding out a folder. "Boss, we've checked. The tampering of Miss Evahart's brakes was not accidental."I sat at the head of the table, unfolding the folder. Black-and-white pictures showed the bottom of her car, the clean cut of the brake line."Continue," I said to him."It was a pro, not amateur," Marcus continued. "They weren't

(Nadira POV)I had not wanted to go to the cafeteria in the first place, not after what happened with my locker. But Beckett had basically dragged me there, telling me that hiding out would only make things worse."Sit," he commanded, gesturing toward the table near the windows. "Don't worry about the stares. People will get tired of it soon enough."I half-climbed into the seat, glancing around. He was right there were people staring, whispering, some even snickering quietly. I blushed, but Beckett sat across from me like he didn't care.He opened his soda and grinned. "See? Nothing to it. Just background noise. Pretend they're not here."I rolled my eyes. "That's easy for you to say. You're not the one they're talking about.""Wrong," he said, waving his straw in my direction. "They discuss me all the time. The distinction is, I don't allow it to affect me."I arched an eyebrow. "Seriously? What do they say?""That I'm trouble." He grinned. "That I never get serious. That I'm bad ne

Magnolia POVWhispers spread down the hallway like a ripple."Did you see her locker?""Red paint. Creepy.""Serves her right, she's always shadowing him."I didn't need to see to know who they meant. Nadira.I slowed my walk deliberately, pretending to pull out something from my bag just so that I could see. Beckett had escorted her away, his elbow draped over her as some kind of hero, but the damage was done. Everyone had read the words. Everyone was aware of the message.I smiled a little. Finally, people were finally getting their spots."Magnolia, did you see it?" One of my girls, Kelsey, came running to stand by me, eyes wide with excitement."Yeah, sure I did," I said, trying to keep my cool demeanor when all I wanted to do was laugh. "It's all anyone can talk about."Another girl, Lila, crept in closer. "Honestly, she asks for it on herself. Walking around with him like she's someone. She's not even in our league.""Exactly." I shut my locker. "Thane is way out of her league,

Nadira POVI couldn't get the words out of my head."Leave my fiancée out of it."The way Thane had said them to Beckett, cold and slashing, as if he truly meant every single syllable.Fiancée.You didn't throw that word around. That was serious. A promise of tomorrow.I was at the back of the lecture hall, gazing blankly at the board as the professor lectured on about market structures. My notes were a jumble of incomplete sentences and doodles. Whenever I attempted to focus, Thane's voice replayed over and over in my head.Did he mean Magnolia? Was that the reason they were inseparable?By the time class ended, I'd made up my mind. I wasn't going to be quiet anymore.The hallway was full, students rushing to their next class, talking in groups. I didn't have any problem picking him out—Thane didn't do blending in. He was at the door, talking with one of the administrators. His suit was dark, perfectly tailored, and his mere presence made people step aside without him even paying att

Five years later.The Hale estate was quiet that morning, except for the sound of laughter coming from the living room. Zephyrine stood by the door, watching as the triplets argued over who got to hold the crayon box first.“Xavier, let your sister use it,” she said patiently.“But she used the red already!” he protested, holding it tightly.Isla rolled her eyes. “You can’t even draw straight lines.”“I can too!”Zephyrine sighed, walking over to collect the crayon box herself. “Alright, enough. You’ll all share. Ten minutes each.”Jillian giggled. “Mom, he’s making the dragon look like a chicken.”“Because chickens can fly too,” Xavier said proudly.The tutor, Ms. Bennett, smiled awkwardly from her seat. “They were well-behaved today, Lady Zephyrine. Just a little… energetic.”“That’s every day,” Zephyrine replied, smiling faintly as she walked her to the door. “Thank you, Ms. Bennett. Same time tomorrow?”“Yes, of course. Have a good afternoon.”Once the tutor left, Zephyrine turned

POV: Callum (Aurelia)The plane landed in Aurelia in the late afternoon, but I barely noticed the view outside the window. My mind was fixated on the same thing for what had to have been hours already: Adrian's fist across my cheek, Edmund's cold tone telling me to go back to Evangeline, and Zephyrine's silent glares that followed me everywhere.By the time I stepped out of the airport, my jaw ached. I massaged the side of my face and winced. The waiting driver saw that."Bumpy ride, sir?" he inquired."Just drive," I growled, climbing into the back seat.. Aurelia was as always, the skyscrapers and crowded streets flashing by, but I couldn't help but feel that I came back smaller than when I left.When we pulled up to my building, the doorman smiled at me. I nodded but did not engage in small talk. I simply wanted quiet.I stepped inside, set my bag on the floor, and proceeded to my office. Papers I had left on the desk were piled high, and the screen of my laptop flashed with messag

POV: Zephyrine (Eldoria)I was in the sitting room, trying to read through a file of documents Adrian had given me the day before, when the door opened. Edmund came in with Adrian right behind him. The look on both their faces told me this was not a social visit."Set that aside for the time being," Edmund said, waving at the papers in my lap. "We need to discuss something."I laid the folder aside gently. "Is everything all right?"Adrian sat down opposite me, forward on the edge of his chair with his elbows on his knees. "Callum came yesterday. Grandfather had a meeting with him."I held my breath. "He came here? Why?Edmund rested both hands on the hilt of his cane. "Why do you think? A man like that never learns to let go. He wanted answers. Maybe he just wanted to convince himself he still had a place.""What did you tell him?" I asked, my voice tighter than I expected."The truth," Edmund said. "That he's finished here. That he should crawl back to that mistress he favored and l

POV: CallumMy jaw throbbed as I stood up. There was blood stuck in my mouth, and pride burned fiercer than the punch. Adrian's punch had landed hard, but it was the look on his face, that I wasn't worth the air he occupied — that cut deeper.Edmund tapped his cane on the ground. "You heard me, boy. This is done. Leave her alone."I rubbed the corner of my mouth and forced my voice tone. "You can't tell me what to do."Adrian stepped closer, his face hardening. "I can. And I just did. If you get anywhere near Zephyrine again, you'll have to deal with me first."I clenched my fists but didn't swing. I was hurting to, but I knew they'd love it when I lost my cool. I forced myself towards the door."Callum," Edmund's voice came behind me. "Men like you don't get second chances. You got your chance. Be grateful you're walking away with a bruise."I stopped in the doorway and faced him. "You think you know, but you don't. You don't know what happened between us."Edmund shook his head. "I

POV: CallumI didn't have much sleep following the gala. Every time I dozed off, Zephyrine's words echoed within my mind. I'm finally living — without you. The manner she said it, calming and serious, as if she had erased me from life.I stayed behind in Eldoria instead of boarding my return flight to Aurelia. Something within me simply couldn't leave. I justified it as business, but I knew better.Later in the morning, a man clad in grey suit showed up at my hotel. He handed me a card with little expression."Mr. Bronson," he said to me, "Mr. Edmund Hale has requested your presence. The address is on the card here. He requested that it be kept confidential."I examined the card. Private club, high-class, the sort only the richest families could enter without remorse. My gut tightened. I knew, Edmund Hale would come for me.When I arrived, an attendant escorted me down a hallway with slick wood and gold accents. The place reeked of old money and cigar. They brought me into a serene lo

POV: ZephyrineThe lights of the gala still hurt my eyes as I tried to leave. The stress of the evening clung to me, the looks, the whispers, the queries I had evaded. I just wanted to be gone, far from it all.But then he stood in my way."Why didn't you let me know you're sick?" Callum's voice was low but sharp, ringing above the noise around us.I bristled for an instant before steadying myself. I straightened and looked him in the eye. I wouldn't let him see anything in me, no fear, no weakness."I owe you nothing," I answered, cold and calm.He clenched his jaw. "Zephyrine, come on. Don't play games. I saw you, at the function, how you stood, don't lie to me."I smiled, thinly, a smile that did not reach my eyes. "Playing games? That's rich, coming from you."He appeared to be desperate to talk again, but before he could, Adrian appeared by my side. "Is there a problem here?" Adrian's tone was even, yet the tension underlying it was palpable.Callum's eyes flicked to him. "Mind y