LOGINBruno’s point of viewI should have kept walking, that was what every reasonable part of me said as I walked through the hallway outside the chamber. Isabella was already ahead, her steps measured and deliberate, putting distance between herself and the chamber as if she just looked at something she needed to look at and was done looking at it.I should have followed her, instead I stopped. The boy was in the corridor. He was standing far away from me with his mother, probably waiting to be escorted back to wherever they were kept.He looked up when I stopped and our eyes met for the second time and this second time was worse than the first because people were present the first time.But this time it was just me, a hallway, him and nineteen years of absence between us. His mother saw me stop, she immediately lowered her eyes with the practiced reflex of a woman who had learned to make herself small when significant men were nearby. She put her hand on the boy’s arm protectively, tryin
Kardor’s point of view Bruno’s expression changed to that of a man hearing something that confirmed what he has been suspecting. His wife went very still. “How long have you known about the networks?” Bruno asked, his voice dropping lower. “Months or probably years. Longer than you.” I replied. Silence followed. “I can protect her in ways you cannot.” I continued, looking at Isabella because she was the one I needed to reach. “Not because your husband is insufficient, the people moving toward her are your husband’s enemies, the men Ischavor seeked support from before he was captured, they all think he is dead. They can’t get into our territory and they fear us in a way they don’t fear you. Our world is brutal, I will not pretend otherwise.” “But with that brutality is an absolute protection that comes with belonging to our household and your daughter will have it.” “Roberto will be part of your household too, if you want my daughter, you have to take my son too, he will
Kardor’s point of viewNothing worth taking is ever taken in haste.That was one of the first rule my father drilled into me before I was old enough to hold a blade.I was in my work room with Zeth, the long stone table between us was covered with maps. Obsidian’s letter of acceptance had been sent two days ago. The selection of men who would accompany us was nearly finalized, twelve of our best, chosen not for strength alone but for the specific combination of discipline and adaptability that an academic environment would require.Zeth carefully handled the selection process and he didn’t keep quiet about what he thought of everything.“You are sending warriors to a university.” He said for the umpteenth time today, moving a pin on the map with two fingers.“I am sending warriors to train students.” I replied. “There is a distinction and this grants us access to the girl without requiring us to breach her father’s territory uninvited. It makes it easy for us to take her away if her f
Leila’s point of viewObsidian never changed, the air still felt thinner and sharper somehow. The long drive down here bothered me a lot because I was worried. Something felt off, I heard mum and dad argue last night and the night before that.Something was wrong, I confirmed it when they dropped us off, they didn’t linger or make their usual check-ins or overprotective reminders.No “call me when you settle in.” No teasing from mum or a quiet warning look from father that meant stay out of trouble, I trust you to be well behaved. It was like they had somewhere important to be. Like they were in a hurry to resolve whatever was bothering them. I know it has to do with the message father received few days ago.Mama hugged me too long at the gate as if she was scared I was going to disappear from the surface of the earth, mum was not the type of woman who telegraphed worry through physical affection but she had held me at the gate for a beat longer than usual, her arms were wrapped aroun
I had planned on including that in the message I was supposed to send to Bruno, but my father was faster. Ischavor wasn’t dead yet. His body was the only thing alive, he was legless and broken, kept alive specifically to suffer. Even with his current state, his legacy still stands. He has networks of people that continued operating without him. His people, the ones he joined formed alliance with quietly. They have been carefully reconstructing their intelligence picture of the De’ Luca’s family.They knew about Leila now, they knew she was beautiful and adored. They were aware of Obsidian, if I did not move now and stake my claim on what belongs to me, someone else would move first. Someone interested in taking her.I turned from the window and found my brother, leaning in the doorway.Zeth.He arrived without making a sound, the way he always did, a habit he developed over years of moving through spaces where silence was survival. Zeth was taller than me by two inches and broader acr
Kardor’s point of viewMy plan was to send the message by midnight, so he would wake up to the shock, but my father was faster, he didn’t waste time like me who has been sitting with the decision for three days.We have been patient and the twenty one years of patience between the two of us had quietly, finally expired.*~ We will be coming for your daughter soon.I read the message once again, not because I didn’t understand it. But because words like that carried weight, finality. My father stood across the room, watching me the way he always did.“You sent it.” I said, my voice calm. He didn’t respond, he didn’t need to, the air itself answered for him.My gaze dropped to the images attached beneath the message.Pictures of the boy, dark hair, sharp jaw with familiar bone structure.Bruno De’ Luca’s blood, not just his but ours. I stared at the last picture a second longer than necessary.“He will be so shocked to find out it’s a boy after all his efforts.” I said. This was going t
Miguel was the first person I saw when I stepped into the dining room, he stood near the table arranging food into a tray. The sight of him alone made my breath hitch, he was the only familiar face in this unfamiliar world and the one reason I agreed to being part of all this was because of her.Mi
Bruno’s point of viewIt’s been two weeks. Fourteen fucking days! Three hundred and thirty six hours! And there was still nothing, no calls, no messages, no movement. There was literally no sign of him, it was like Ischavor vanished off the surface of the earth like a freaking ghost.I’m so tired a
Bruno's point of view The video ended and for a long moment, no one in the room breathed. The screen of my phone went black but I could still hear her voice, her screams. It echoed in my head like the something engraved into my skull.My hand was still holding the phone but I couldn’t feel my fing
Isabella’s point of viewMy ears rang at his statement, the words echoed in the room long after he said them. My stomach twisted violently and I bent forward, retching onto the floor even though there was nothing left inside me. Only dry heaves and it was painful, it made my stomach hurt.Tears str







