Mag-log inIvara's POVMy fingers froze on Xlynor's shirt.Oh, goddess.That voice.I snapped my eyes open and turned around. Jojo stood outside the door, watching us. Actually watching us.My gaze darted to Xlynor, then back to her, as if looking at him might somehow make her disappear.It didn't.I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. No, better yet, I wanted the glasshouse to collapse on top of me. At least then I'd have a reasonable excuse for never showing my face again.Xlynor lifted his head. His silver eyes met mine for a brief second before sliding toward the doorway.“You don't have to be a damn creep, Jojo,” he hissed.He stepped away from the door, tugging me along with him.“Oh, don't mind me.” Jojo strolled inside, looking far too pleased with herself. “Please, continue. I'll just find myself a nice little corner.”Xlynor rolled his eyes, then looked at me.He started to move away—only for me to catch the edge of his robe. I tightened my grip and gave a small shake of my head.Don
Ivara's POV“Perhaps you should get away from me!” I retorted.Xlynor made absolutely no effort to move away. Instead, he brushed another kiss against my shoulder.My stomach flipped so violently I nearly forgot how to stand.I tried to turn my head to look at him, but his hand moved from my upper torso and curved around my neck, his fingers resting against my skin.He gently tipped my head backward, exposing my throat.A tiny, helpless gasp escaped me.Then he leaned down, his lips brushing my neck. “If you're going to kiss me and let me touch you, then you should understand that you're mine and mine alone. You're exclusive till I say no,” he said.My heart practically somersaulted inside my chest. Panic seized me, sharp and insistent, yet my body seemed determined to betray me in the most humiliating way possible.I wanted to speak but I couldn't.Apparently, wearing a covered top wasn't enough to stop him. I could feel every point of contact, every breath he released against my ski
Ivara's POVI retrieved my coat from the wrought-iron stand beside the door, then gripped the long silver handles and pulled the double glass doors apart.At the same time, a hand slammed against the glass, forcing the doors shut with a resounding thud.I froze.Xlynor's presence loomed behind me, his cedarwood scent enveloping me.My breath hitched. How the hell had he moved so fast? No, not how. Why had he followed me?I hadn't seriously thought he'd come after me. Clearly, that had been a mistake.He snatched my coat from my hand, putting it back on the coat stand. Fine, he could keep it.My fingers tightened around the handle.Before I could try again, his hand settled over mine from behind, pressing my palm against the handle.“You know you're my favorite brat.” His breath warmed my ear as he whispered to me. “Why? You keep underestimating me.” He chuckled. “Were you actually making a run for it?”He didn't yank me away or roughly wrench my fingers free. Instead, he began peeling
Ivara's POVI was four steps from the door when Xlynor's voice cut through the room.“Ivara McKenna Norris.”I stopped mid-stride.Oh, absolutely not. He had some nerve calling me by my full name.“Who said you could leave?” he demanded.Was he serious? After everything he'd said and done to ruin my mood, he actually expected me to stand there?I curled my fingers into my palms, resisting the urge to turn around.“Since we're both angry now,” he continued, “don't you think you owe me an explanation?”My brows drew together. An explanation?I turned so sharply that my hair swept across my shoulder.“I have nothing to say to you, Alpha Xlynor Darkazov.” I enunciated every syllable of his name, returning the courtesy he'd so generously extended to me. “In fact, I have no desire to speak to you at all. Thank you.” I managed a tight, insincere smile.Xlynor didn't so much as glance up.His attention remained fixed on the phone in his hand, his thumb moving across the screen as though our c
Ivara's POVFor one horrifying second, I wondered whether I'd made a terrible mistake hugging him, but then his arms came around me.I hadn't expected him to do that, and the suddenness of the gesture made my heart do a little flip.I should have pulled away. There was no excuse to keep hugging him, but I didn't. I stayed, wrapped in his arms because it was comforting.It was strange how easily I was finding comfort in the very person I wasn't supposed to.I didn't want to let go. Not yet. Perhaps not for a little while longer. So I stayed, listening to the steady beat beneath my ear as his fingers continued to comb through my hair.Gradually, the ache in my chest began to subside. My breathing evened out, and I finally managed to blink back the tears I'd been struggling to hold in.I didn't know how long we remained like that before the realization began to creep in.We were still hugging, and it wasn't the brief hug I'd initially wanted.My fingers twitched against his shirt. I shou
Ivara's POVIt had been several minutes since Xlynor left with Isagi, and I was still in the glasshouse, unable to think straight.I was supposed to confront Xlynor… No, not confront him. Scold him a bit or whatever, then thank him, and finally ask how to take the bracelet off. He couldn't just be giving this sort of gift to people. What if I had ill intentions?But the problem was I didn't know how to go about it. In fact, I had almost smiled at him earlier. And now he was back. He was fucking back. I could see him through the glass.The lanterns lining the garden path spilled warm, golden light over him as he approached the glasshouse.He still looked sick, that twisted scowl fixed on his face. But, oh, dear Goddess, he looked sinful.It was only then that I noticed he'd changed out of his earlier outfit, but this one still screamed royalty. He had on his usual robe, the hem dragging against the stone path.Where the hell had he gone to? And why did he look like that?“Oh, damn it!
Xlynor's POVOf course, Isagi would always find a way to piss me off. Even though he knew how much I hated being called brother by him, he still did it. Always insisting that since both our mothers were demigoddesses, we were siblings.“Don’t fucking call me that,” I scowled.Isagi pouted dramatica
Ivara’s POVXlynor and Zoya had already begun walking toward the throne at the end of the hall, like royalty stepping into their rightful place.Which, unfortunately… they were.I swallowed nervously and followed the guard.The moment I stepped inside the hall, the scale of it hit me properly. It wa
IVARA“He wouldn’t let me into his manor, yet he brought this thing here and even gave her a room? Who the hell is she?”The rants and screams filtering into my ear forced me awake. I stirred, my eyes fluttering open
Xlynor's POV “Huh?” Her doe eyes glanced around, unsure if my words were meant for her. I caught her chin, forcing her trembling gaze to meet mine. She shivered slightly.The moment our eyes locked, I felt an energy shift that made even my demons stir. The air thickened between us. “I can’t hear







