ログインRiley’s POVI stared at Leon in disbelief.His face was calm, almost bored, like calling me a freeloader and asking me to help scam a room full of rich women was the most reasonable thing in the world.I drew in a sharp breath and said, “I’d rather show up to that wedding wearing nothing than help you cheat people.”Yilia’s head snapped toward me. Leon’s expression hardened.But I was already done listening.I shoved past him, opened the door, and walked out.The noise of the ballroom rushed back over me at once. Music, laughter, the low hum of expensive people chattering.I inhaled deeply, prepared myself for what’s coming next. But I had barely taken a few steps before my mother appeared in front of me.She looked irritated more than worried.“What is going on in there?” she asked in a low voice. “I heard arguments in the powder room.”I stared at her, almost laughed out. “You eavesdrop? That’s not how queen should act like.”There’s no laugh on her face. “Whatever it is, fix your a
Riley’s POVI was so startled that I almost stumbled out of the dress.“Get out,” I snapped, spinning around at last.Ezra was standing right behind me, dressed in dark clothes that made his eyes look even sharper. He looked completely at ease in the middle of my fitting room, like sneaking into a locked bridal suite was just another ordinary part of his day.His gaze moved over me slowly, from the white silk hugging my body to the bare skin of my shoulders.My pulse went wild as his gaze roamed around.Then he stepped forward.“I said! Get the hell ou—”I barely had time to suck in a breath before his mouth crashed into mine.The force of it drove me backward. I shoved at his chest instantly, furious, but Ezra caught both my wrists so damn easily and pinned me against the wall beside the mirror.His body pressed me there, all heat and strength and control.The kiss was wild, angry, hungry enough to make my knees go weak. He kissed like he meant to break through every last one of my d
Ezra’s POVI stopped walking and turned back to her slowly.Viola was still standing where I had left her, one hand wrapped around the wrist I’d grabbed earlier. Her expression looked at ease, but I could still see the tension underneath it. She was nervous.I looked at her and said, “What exactly are you implying?”She smiled in that polished, harmless way of hers. “I’m simply pointing out things I’ve noticed. The first time I saw you and Riley together, I knew something was off.”I said nothing.That only encouraged her.“The way she looks at you,” Viola went on, “the way you look at her… it’s not brotherly. Not even close.”A faint breeze moved through the ivy behind her, carrying the scent of tea roses and fresh-cut grass. Somewhere farther back in the garden, I could hear Riley’s mother laughing too loudly at something under the canopy. The whole scene felt soft and elegant and civilized.Viola’s words were none of those things.She tilted her head and lowered her voice just slig
Riley’s POVI should have known he wouldn’t let it go.Ezra was still standing in the doorway, one hand braced against the frame, his whole body tense.His gaze stayed fixed on my feet, on the bloody towels, on the bandages in my lap. I had already told him to get out. He had ignored that as easily as he ignored every other boundary I tried to put between us.“Nothing happened,” I said, grabbing another cloth and dabbing at the cut on my heel again.He didn’t move.I could feel him looking at me. The weight of his attention pressed against my skin until even the air in the room felt too tight.“Try that again,” he said.I didn’t look up. “I tripped.”The silence that followed was intense. I could almost hear the fury gathering inside him.Then he crossed the room.Before I could pull away, his hand closed around my wrist. The bottle in my other hand tipped and rolled across the blanket.“Ezra—”“Either you tell me,” he said, leaning down so I had no choice but to meet his eyes, “or I
Riley’s POVWhat the hell…broken glasses?!I stood there looking at Viola, trying to reconcile that bright, lovely smile with the suggestion she had just made.She looked harmless in cream silk, soft-spoken and elegant, the kind of girl older women instantly trusted and younger girls were supposed to admire. If someone had walked into the room right then, they would have thought she was offering me help.That’s how good she was at faking it.Even the women seated around the tea table seemed caught off guard. One of them paused with her teacup halfway to her lips. Another shifted uneasily and gave Viola a cautious look.Then Viola giggled again, as if she had just said something playful.“Oh, don’t look so serious,” she said lightly. “I was joking. Of course Riley can wear shoes.”A small wave of relief seemed to move through the room. The ladies started smiling again.But I didn’t relax at all. Something tells me that this isn’t a joke at all.Then Viola tilted her head and went on in
Riley’s POVFor a second, I honestly forgot how to breathe.It wasn’t just that Ezra had brought a girl to dinner. That alone wouldn’t have shocked me. Ezra always had girls around him. Beautiful and sexy girls.But this was different.This was the first time I had ever heard him use that word—girlfriend. The word hit me so hard my whole chest turned hollow.He usually just referred to them as his date.So there must be something special about this girl. Ezra must really like her.“Well, this is great Ezra!” my mom gasped like she was genuinely happy for him. “I’ve never met your girlfriend before.”“My King and My Queen, it’s my honor to meet you,” Viola smiled.She stepped forward with that smooth, effortless grace and greeted everyone with exactly the right amount of warmth. Not too shy. Not too bold.She knew how to smile at powerful people without looking intimidated. Within minutes, she had charmed the whole table.“Nice to meet you,” King Soren smiled back. He looked very pleas
Riley’s POVAfter that day, Odin and I kept going into the mountains for training. We were syncing up better with every session, which also boosted Odin’s confidence in our team.As for the kiss, it never happened again.And we both silently agreed not to bring it up.With less than a week left bef
Riley’s POVI rolled my shoulder once and stepped back into the arena.“Let’s see what else you’ve got, asshole,” I growled.Vincent’s jaw was clenched tight. Ever since Ezra exposed him for sneaking in a knife, his face had been red like it was about to explode.“O-Or we don’t have to do this,” he
Riley’s POVWhat?I could barely believe what I just heard.Ms. Bright just said I was in Ezra’s team?But that couldn’t be right. Something’s wrong!For a second, the entire field was completely silent. Then chaos erupted. Everyone started whispering to each other, some girls even screamed. Everyo
Riley’s POVI was in a great mood when I left the clinic.Odin and Olivia’s surgeries were perfect. Olivia woke up still acting like a diva, complaining all about the disinfectant smell in the surgery room, whining that the painkillers weren’t strong enough—basically just continuing to be a pain in







