로그인Grace’s POV I reach the school. The tightness in my chest hasn’t eased in the slightest It’s probably nothing right? Children argue. It's normal they get into trouble occasionally. Except my children aren’t how the world sees normal. And things haven’t felt particularly normal lately. The receptionist looks up as I enter a polite smile on her face. “I was called in for the Montoya boys” I tell her “And you are?” “Their mother” She nods and gestures toward the hallway. “The headmistress is waiting for you second door on your left.” “Thank you” I walk down the corridor as children’s voices drift faintly through the building, everything sounds normal, somehow that makes it worse. I knock lightly on the door marked headmistress, a firm voice calls from inside. “Come in” When I open it the boys are already there, seated side by side in chairs against the wall, their backs straight, hands resting in their laps. Like they know they’re in trouble and have no intention of makin
Chapter 51 Grace’s POV The door clicks shut behind me. For a moment the sound seems impossibly loud... My heart is still racing. Pounding a rhythm that doesn’t belong to the quiet corridor. My hands tremble slightly, brushing against the polished metal of the cart like it’s some kind of lifeline What exactly had I just done? I try to replay the conversation, the kiss. The way his hand had cupped my face. Like I was fragile glass. Like I was everything he’d been waiting for. And now… I was his. Or something like it. But what did that even mean. His girlfriend? Mistress? side piece? a fleeting hotel fling? And I’d even had the audacity to set terms. To tell him when it ended. To try to contain him within rules like some wild animal in a cage I press my palms to my cheeks and let out a shriek of frustration, cutting it off abruptly when I realize where I am. My pulse pounds in my ears. I glance around take a shaky breath and try to straighten myself. Smooth my uniform, tuck my hai
Chapter 50 Max’s POV The door closed behind her with the softest click. The sound somehow louder than any council decree or battlefield roar I had ever heard. I stayed where I was, forehead resting against the marble wall where her back had been moments earlier, palms flat against the stone as if I could still feel the heat of her through it. My blood cold for so long the chill had become normal moved with a restless thrum that hadn’t been there in years. Not warmth. Never warmth. But close enough to make the difference impossible to ignore. I had agreed to her terms. Only while you’re in the city. Only in this suite. When you leave this ends. The words taste wrong now that she is gone yet I had nodded without hesitation. Because the alternative was watching her walk away again. Five years ago I believed she was dead. Our bond had dimmed to a dull ache something constant but distant. Like an old injury that never fully heals. I buried myself in the only thing that still made s
Grace's POV The world drops away the moment his mouth crashes into mine.There’s nothing uncertain about this kiss. No hesitation. No testing. His hand is in my hair. Holding me. Firm. keeping me exactly where he wants me. My hands find him anyway. He pulls me hard against him causing the air to leave me in a rush. Unexpected.A small sound escapes my lips before I can stop it. A soft whimper. A gasp swallowed by his mouth. I don’t care that it escapes. It feels right. Wrong. Everything all at once.He exhales low. Controlled. Vibrating through his chest pressed against mine. Heat ignites, sharp and sudden like fire catching the dry edges of my skin. My fingers twist into the silk of his robe grasping for something solid to hold ontoI should stop. I know I should. But instead I lean closer.Then his mouth leaves mine for a second just enough to breathe. It drags along my jaw and down my neck. My head falls back without thinking. Giving him access. And I want it. I'm not even sure w
Grace’s POV “What did you just say?” My voice shakes. A whisper. Thin. Rough around the edges. He doesn’t move. Doesn’t even blink. Just watches me with those dark endless eyes that seem to look straight through every layer I’ve built around myself these last five years. “You heard me Grace.” The way he says my name. Low. Deliberate. Like it means something more. My stomach tightens in a way I don’t want to think about. I hate that my body reacts to him without thought. Hate that a part of me wants to lean closer instead of run. I shake my head quickly forcing air into my lungs. “You can’t just say things like that” I manage. "Not to someone you barely know." One corner of his mouth lifts. Slightly. It's not a smile. More like he finds my attempt at distance almost amusing. “You’re not a stranger mia anima” “I am” The words come out fast. Defensive. “We don't know each other. I’ve never met you before this week.” His gaze drops to my mouth for a fraction of a second bef
Chapter 47 Max’s POV Her scent reaches me before she even reaches the door. That tantalizing mix. Wildflowers. Honey. Fresh. Soothing. She knocks softly. Her voice carries through the door “Housekeeping.” I do not respond. She repeats it then I hear the soft click of the lock as she uses the keycard. The faint rattle of her cart wheels on marble. I don’t move from the bedroom doorway. I’ve been standing here for twenty minutes, robe loosely tied pretending to read the same damn document Damon left behind. My eyes haven’t left the page once. Because I’m waiting for her. Grace. Or Rose. Or whoever the hell she is. Doubt has been chewing at me since yesterday. She looks like her. Moves like her. Smells close enough to drive me insane. But she has three children. Nine year olds. The timeline doesn’t fit. A pureblood pregnancy should have killed her. Every logical explanation points to her being dead. Yet the moment she steps into the suite the pull slams into me again. That s







