LOGINAiden’s POVI finished getting ready.I didn’t spend much time looking in the mirror. I already knew what I’d see—a man who looked as tired as he felt.I grabbed my coat and headed out. As soon as I stepped onto the driveway, my men lined up.They straightened their backs and bowed in unison.“Welcome back, Lord Serpent.”I didn’t bother answering.I didn’t even nod.I just kept walking, my boots clicking against the pavement until I reached the car.One of them held the door open for me.I slid into the leather seat and stared out the window as the engine hummed to life.We began the drive toward the Lancaster fortress, leaving the quiet of my estate behind for a place I really didn’t want to be.When we pulled up to the Lancaster gates, the atmosphere shifted.Guards were everywhere, standing tall with rifles strapped across their chests.Their eyes tracked the car as we moved through the perimeter. Most people would feel a knot in their stomach seeing that much firepower, but I fel
Chandria’s POV“Daniel…”Just as I opened my mouth to tell Daniel what was on my mind, a sharp, piercing sound cut through the silence.It was his phone.We both froze.For a few seconds, neither of us moved.He held up a hand, motioning for me to give him a second.I watched his fingers as he reached for the phone. He stood up, putting some distance between us as he swiped the screen to answer.“Hello?” he said.Even though he wasn’t using the speakerphone, the room was so quiet that I could hear the voice on the other end.It was high-pitched, desperate, and unmistakable.“Where are you?!” Catherine’s voice echoed from the receiver.When I looked at Daniel, he didn’t say anything, but his grip on the phone tightened.“Come on, Daniel. I’m sorry for what I did. I know I messed up. I know I lied to you, but please. Just listen to me. I’ll make it up to you, I promise!”I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. I stayed perfectly still, barely breathing.I could see the muscles in his ja
Chandria’s POVHis lips moved down my neck, and I immediately looked away.I stared at the blank wall just to keep my mind off what was happening.I tried so hard to force myself to enjoy it, or at least pretend to.But deep down, I felt sick. My stomach twisted in a way that had nothing to do with butterflies and everything to do with pure, unfiltered disgust.I hated this. I hated every second of his touch.But I couldn't let it show. I knew Daniel; he was observant, almost paranoid. If I flinched, if I showed even a hint of revulsion, he’d know. He’d see right through me and realize I was just playing a part in this twisted game.I had to be the perfect actress.“Damn,” he muttered against my skin.He pulled back slightly to look at me, his eyes dark and heavy with something that made me want to run.“I could still remember how you taste,” he whispered, his voice husky.“I miss this. I missed... us. I missed what we had.”I looked at him, searching his face for a lie, but he acted
Chandria’s POV“It’s not a lie, Chandria. It’s just that you didn’t know.”Daniel’s voice was too calm. He stepped closer, closing the distance between us until I could smell the faint scent of his cologne.He reached out and placed his hands on my shoulders. His touch was heavy, possessive.“But don’t worry,” he added, his eyes searching mine, “I’ll help you look for them.”I didn’t lean into him. Instead, I went stiff, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird.I looked up at him, my eyes narrowing as I studied every line of his face.The realization hit me all at once.“You knew,” I whispered, “You knew about all of this. And the second you found out, you decided to take advantage of me, didn't you?”Daniel froze.His hands didn’t drop from my shoulders, but his fingers tightened slightly, digging into my skin.He didn’t say anything for a long beat, and that silence was all the confirmation I needed.I shoved his hands off me and stood up straight.“You’ve been playin
Chandria’s POVWhen Daniel and I finally arrived home, I wasn’t myself anymore.My body was there, but my mind was somewhere else, buried deep in thoughts that refused to slow down.I lay on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing, replaying everything that had happened.I was getting tired of this situation, tired of always being confused, scared, and unsure of who I could trust. It felt like no matter where I went, trouble followed me, clinging to my shadow.Daniel stayed close to me as we entered the room. He held my arm, “Stay here in the room,” he said calmly. “I’ll get you something to eat.”Before I could respond, he stepped outside and locked the door behind him.I didn’t understand anything anymore. Nothing made sense.Daniel… he had changed so suddenly.I still remembered how he treated me before—how he embarrassed me without hesitation, and how he looked at me like I was nothing.But now, he was acting kind.I didn’t know what to believe anymore. My thoughts were tangled, p
Aiden’s POVMy phone kept ringing, but I did not answer it.I already knew who it was. One of my people. They were probably calling to ask for my status, my orders, what they needed to do next.They always did.But I was not in the mood to talk to anyone. I did not want to hear their voices, their questions, or their problems. So every time my phone rang, I let it go straight to voicemail.The buzzing sound felt loud in the quiet room. It kept breaking my thoughts, even though I was trying not to think at all.“Leave a message after the beep.”The voicemail greeting played automatically.“Black Serpent, where are you? We need you. The Lancasters are on the move, destroying one of the businesses here. Because of one of your previous attacks, they are now targeting your operation. What are we going to do about it?”Then it ended.I did not move. I did not reach for the phone. I just sat there, staring at nothing in particular.My eyes were open, but my mind was far away. I felt empty an







