Nico's POV:I slowly made my way back to my room, trying to decide how I was supposed to explain all of this to Khloe.Part of me cursed myself for not at least trying to refuse the Lord's request, but everyone knew that denying a Lord, especially this one, was a terrible idea.I sighed as I stared ahead at the door to my room.There was no way to explain this in a positive way. I didn't want to treat Khloe in a way that would keep Layla free of suspicions.And I doubt Khloe was going to like that fact either.If anything, this whole thing was going to stress her out and that's the absolute last thing that I wanted.Not after how much she's opened up during

Khloe's POV:I sat on one of the couches as Nico made some last-minute preparations for Layla's stay.I guess I've been kind of avoiding him ever since our conversation last night.I've been holding onto a lot of things since then.Ever since Nico told me about what was going to happen, this feeling in my heart... and in my head.They just appeared out of nowhere and I didn't know how to deal with them.It was like a thought was planted into my head, but it wasn't telling me what it was, it was just making me sad and avoidant.I knew whatever the thought was, it had to do with Nico.It had to be. I couldn't even

Khloe's POV:I sat on the couch while Layla and Nico hurriedly got ready for breakfast, not having moved since I sat here last night.Last night... Where I had planned on just crying myself to sleep.But those plans switched around a lot faster than id care to think about.I didn't expect anything that happened last night.After what happened once Layla got here, I didn't expect anything at all.I didn't expect that Nico would try to comfort me, I didn't expect him to try to lay with me, and I didn't expect him to try to figure out why I was upset all while Layla was asleep.

Khloe's POV:It took another hit against my back before I let out an agonizing cry, my head automatically lowering to the floor in submission."I can't believe your nerve," Layla growled, landing another slash against my back, "For as long as Nicos kept you alive I thought you would have known better!"My tears ran thick and fast onto the floor as the cracking sound of the whip, and the occasional shredding of my shirt rang out repeatedly. My throat began to tighten enough to make me unable to scream effectively and left me quickly gasping for the air that suddenly seemed more limited."Nico doesn't need such a disobedient pet in his life," She began again, "An

Nico's POV:I swallowed in my newly dry throat, exhaling an almost silent, nervous breath.Right... That topic.I knew that we were going to have to get to it eventually, but I didn't think that it was going to be this soon.Hell, there were a lot of things that had happened in the last twenty-four hours that I didn't think would happen.Yet despite all that, Khloe wanted to jump right into this.I searched her face, trying to see if I could find any hint as to how she felt about it, getting nothing but uncertainty.Sure, I kissed her, but in my defense, she defini