All Chapters of The Forbidden Gaze: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Ava's POV But before I could react, Zylan appeared out of nowhere."What's going on here?" he asked, his voice firm.Rylan smirked. "Just having a little chat with the servant—Ava," he said.Zylan’s jaw tightened. "I don't think so," he said coldly. "Ava, come with me."I didn’t hesitate. I followed Zylan out of the room, leaving Rylan and his manipulations behind.As we walked, Zylan turned to me. "What was that all about?" he asked.I shook my head. "I don’t know," I muttered. "Rylan was just trying to manipulate me into admitting something. He twists everything I say."Zylan’s eyes narrowed. "He’s always been like that—thinks he can play with people’s minds and get away with it. But not this time."I glanced at him, surprised by the edge in his tone. "You’re really going to do something about it?""I don’t make empty promises, Ava," he said.I smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude. "Thanks. It means a lot."Zylan smiled back, but there was a seriousness in his gaze. "Anytime. Just..

Kaelen POV 'Why did you stop me from leaving?'I set down my spoon and looked at her. 'Because I wasn’t ready for you to go.'Her cheeks flushed a light pink, and she looked down at her hands. 'I thought I had done something wrong.''No, Ava,' I said, my tone softer now. 'You did everything right.'She nodded slowly, brushing her fingers over the corner of her apron.Silence stretched again, but this time, it was less awkward, more settled.'Do you always eat alone?' she asked quietly.'Most days,' I admitted. 'It’s easier that way.''Doesn’t it get… lonely?'I paused, then gave her a long look. 'Sometimes. But I never had much choice.''Maybe today is different,' she said softly.Her words were simple, but they landed heavy in the space between us.'Maybe it is,' I agreed, voice low.She looked up then, meeting my eyes fully for the first time since she entered the tent. Something unspoken passed between us, fragile and new.'General Kaelen,' she began, her voice timid, 'you don’t h

Ava's POVI stood before General Kaelen, my heart racing with anticipation and a hint of fear. His words had caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but wonder what he meant by asking me to stay the night."What could be the reason behind this instruction?" I thought to myself, my mind racing with possibilities. "Is he trying to punish me for bluntly disobeying him? Does he intend to have me by all means, even if it meant forcefully?"The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I had heard that Panja warriors were known for their honor and respect towards women. They would never force a woman to be with them against her will. But then, why was General Kaelen asking me to stay the night?I pushed aside my fears and decided to ask him politely, trying not to show any sign of weakness. "At least, can I return to my tent and tidy up a few of my unleft duties before returning by night?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.To my surprise, General Kaelen nodded, his expression unreadable

Ava's POV "Welcome, Ava," he said, his voice low and husky. "I see you're punctual."I nodded, trying to keep my cool. "I try to be," I replied, my voice steady.General Kaelen smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I like that about you, Ava. You're a woman of your word."I forced myself to smile lightly, though my heart thumped in my chest like a war drum. Compliments from him always came unexpectedly, and they always left me unsettled."I believe in doing what's expected of me, sir," I said carefully."You believe in duty. That's admirable. Rare, even." He leaned forward slightly. "But tell me… do you always follow orders, or just the ones you agree with?"There was a teasing lilt in his tone, but I knew better than to laugh."Depends on who's giving the order," I replied boldly, then instantly regretted how it sounded.His eyebrows lifted, amused. "Is that so?""I meant… I follow orders when they’re fair," I added quickly. "When they serve a purpose.""And do you think stand

Ava's POVI woke up feeling a sense of unease, like something was off. And then I remembered the message that Zylan had delivered from General Kaelen. I wasn't to come in today, or any other day, unless he sent for me. At first, I thought I would be relieved. Finally, I would be free from General Kaelen's intense gaze, from the way he seemed to see right through me. But as I went about my morning routine, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. It wasn't excitement that I felt, or even relief. It was something else, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I tried to push the feeling aside and focus on my duties. I had been assigned to help with the preparations for the upcoming festival, and I was determined to make sure that everything was perfect. But as I made my way to the festival grounds, I was ambushed by a group of entertainers. They were a group of women who performed for the warriors, singing and dancing for their entertainment. They had never been particu