Kiara’s POVI wasn’t surprised there was a library in this giant house. I was surprised however, that it took me this long to find it. I’d stumbled over the ornate double doors quite by accident, while boredly strolling through the halls on a half-hearted sightseeing. I took one glance at the rows of books arranged all around me and never left. Hours later, I was still there, pouring over my latest interest, open books everywhere on the floor around me. Funny enough, I’d never really been a fan of reading, but concentrating very hard on the words of the pages kept me from thinking of, or worse, going to look for Ivan. It was enough to keep me dedicated till now. Footsteps pried my attention from the book about animals and I looked up to see Archer walk in. Ignoring him, I returned my attention back to my book. “You know…” He started but I didn’t bother to look back up. That didn’t seem to deter him one bit. “… I thought you were someone who wouldn’t stop at anything to get what sh

Kiara’s POV I sat across from Ivan at the table the next morning over breakfast. A stony silence hung between us. We were alone in the large dining room but we faced our collective plates ignoring each other.    I was still upset with the stunt he’d pulled on me last night. He’d left me alone like that too and I’d only managed to escape by shifting, thus ruining his Egyptian thread-count sheets.     He’d been pissed at me but I was equally enraged with him so we’d ended up cursing each other out and going to our separate rooms.    This morning, when the maid called me for breakfast, I’d scrambled to follow, not wanting any excuse to have him put me in that position again anytime soon. I wondered why he bothered though because sinc

Kiara’s POV I was roaming around the garden with Archer, who seemed to be looking for something, eyes scanning between the bushes and flowers that surrounded us while he muttered to himself under his breath.    “The entrance is somewhere around here. I just can’t remember the exact spot. Dammit.” He’d told me about a secret passageway, somewhere around here in the garden. It apparently led to the borders of Ivan’s lands, a convenient place to be for any who wanted to escape undetected. If only he could find the opening to the passage anytime this year.    “Aha! By the gardenia bush!” He said pointing at a thicket a few feet away from us. It looked like it was in front of a huge rock.    I

Kiara’s POV“Are you sure it’s safe?” I asked, glancing from Archer to the lonely passageway that had been tucked at the end of the garden and then back to him. He rolled his eyes but nodded.  “Yes. Ivan is out right now and made me your guard for the day so I’m naturally supposed to accompany you to wherever you chose to go. No one will suspect a thing.” I nodded, deciding to trust him and followed him down the passage.  While we shuffled through the narrow space, I decided to casually pry into what I’d heard the other day. I knew Archer to be tight-lipped but it wouldn’t hurt to try. After all, what was a little extra information when one was willing to go this far?“What’s this I hear ab

Kiara’s POVI pushed Ivan’s hands away from my head where he tried to fluff my pillow.“Stop fussing! You’re not my mom!” I grumbled bad-temperedly at him.He didn’t budge, fluffing it instead, to his heart’s content and then pushed my shoulders all the way down so I was laying on top of it. It was more comfortable but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of gratitude, scowling at him instead.“Ivan. I’m fine. You can go now.” As usual, he ignored me, taking his seat once more.“Thanks for the concern Tigress but I’m fine right where I am.”It wasn’t concern so much as the fact that I was going crazy from having him glued to my side since morning. I had an escape to plan. I didn’t have time to be playing patient.Evening had fallen and he was still here. The man was a King for fuck’s sake. Why in the hell was he here playing nurse?“Ivan come on. Be serious. You don’t need to sit here watching over me.”He gave me an amused look “I fail to see how my here sitting matters to you.”“Don’