NADIA'S POV
I liked Lyra. Her bright laughter made everyone around her feel seen. She was also great at starting conversations and knew how to pull me into everything and nothing.
It made the academy less boring and I might be liking it more. Most times I couldn't keep up with her talking too much, but I didn't mind. It was better than thinking about Ares and his annoying attitude.
I avoided him and told Lyra to cover up for me with a lie that I was sick if Ares showed up to the training and asked about me.
I hid in the bathroom, waiting out the time until I was sure the training class had ended and he would be gone. Miralyn grumbled for eternity about how she couldn't see him.
NADIALuca didn’t flinch. He stepped closer, his voice lower but sharper than ever. “The mate bond doesn’t care about your rules. It doesn’t care about blood and neither do I. I won’t change my mind.”“Same here,” Ares added.My breath hitched and Mom got up from her seat. She didn’t say anything and walked to the door, opened it, and left.I could call her back. What would I say?Arnold’s eyes followed her and he pointed his fingers. “This is madness and I’m going to correct it. By the next full moon, the bond will be broken, even if I have to call all priests from every part of the kingdom myself.”
NADIAHeaven help me. I was in trouble and in the middle of it. For forty minutes the dining room had been blaring hot with back-and-forth throws from all sides.I didn’t know what to do but watch.“Mom,” Ares called Gabrielle again, but she acted like she didn’t know him. What sort of mother was she?“I told you not to call me that!” she shouted. I felt bad for Ares, but he said nothing, acting like it was a normal thing. His eyes were sad and weak, but he didn’t move a muscle.“You never acted like his mother anyway. Stop yelling at him and leave, you’re not family and not welcome here!” Arnold chipped in.
ARESHis what? He didn’t just call what I thought I heard him say. She can’t. She isn’t. She wouldn’t have let me kiss her if she were.Then it occurred to me what he was doing. He was claiming his spot and trying to get me out of the picture. Here I was, forcing myself to lie to protect Nadia, and he was owning up to it. That’s why he asked me to return with him. He wanted to make me witness it.“Bastard!” I growled inside, knowing he could hear me.“Patience, brother. I am trying to get them off your track,” he said into my head.“I didn’t ask you to,” I snarled.
Luca’s POVI couldn’t believe it. Mom came back. But why? She would never set foot in this castle. She had said it many times, even when I begged her to return when we chatted. She would complain about how much she hated the palace and couldn’t bear to experience any more hell, but here she was, smiling widely from over there at me.Nah, something was wrong. My mother wouldn’t come over just like that. I held Ares’ hand, stopping him. He had always longed to meet our mother and now he was leaving in anger.This wasn’t the reunion I was expecting. I didn’t bother to ask Ares because I knew he wouldn’t tell me. So, I did the only thing I knew best. I read his thoughts and learned everything.
Ares’ POVI knew my mother well enough to detect when she felt threatened. It showed the moment she saw Evelyn, but the recognition in her face told me she had seen her before.I didn’t doubt it since my mother could be crazy at times. She would spy on anyone with anyone. And that meant Lucia.“Is that how you train our kids?” Mom asked. Her voice was blaring with rage.I was tired and frustrated. The food had gone cold and still she was not dropping this crazy part of supporting Lucia.“Don’t question my parenting skills. I have heard enough from you today,” Dad replied coldly.
NADIAI felt Ares’ wolf from where I stood. He meant business. I had never seen him this way. He defended my mom. That was unexpected of him.Gabrielle's eyes turned slowly and landed on me. I knew she wasn't going to take this easily, but she was equally scared as I was.Arnold relaxed in his seat, saying nothing. I had expected him to be the one asking questions, but he did nothing.I was a bit pissed, but then I realized he was letting Mom handle things so she would be respected. Gabrielle was once a royal and was also born a royal. That meant my mother could not show weakness for a second around her.“I'm not sitting in that stupid chair to watch you all eat. I c