All Chapters of Velvet and vengeance: stripped by the enemy : Chapter 161 - Chapter 170

“The Word Around”Jace’s POVThe grapevine was often how information got around in this line of business, whether it be real or concocted stories, it always made its rounds. And it tended to stick, unless someone powerful enough didn’t want it to. I eventually chalked that terrible dream that left me in shambles to my subconscious leaning into the rumours of Dimitri’s ghost coming back to haunt the world. Though pushing the words out of my mind was harder than I had expected I was able to do it. However, that phone call. I couldn’t simply brush it off, but Lucian hadn’t spoken of it since. I caught him staring at his phone, glaring daggers at the screen, nearly squeezing the damn thing to pieces. It was a sight. I hadn’t seen him that shaken up in quite some time. He took a deep breath and tried his best to collect himself. He looked back to me and cradled my face with a gentleness that made me question if I saw what I did. “What’s going on? Are you alright?” He had asked. I nodded

“Clean Room”Maraleona’s POVI ran my fingers through Dimitri’s hair one more time, looking at his still body with a tender smile, silently daydreaming of the life we could have been living. We could have been monarchs, a wonder duo, ones that influenced the world with a wave of our hands. We could have had all that. I looked around and our current reality hit me like a brick, but I would make sure those dreams become a reality, even if it were the last thing I ever did. I sighed, stroking his face with my thumb and the got up to leave. I locked the door behind me as I left. Just like every other meeting I have had since my initial takeover, I arrived with a flock of hefty men. The air of the room was tense and thick, enough to be cut with a knife, and I hadn’t minded that in a long time. As I took my seat among the table of powerful men and women alike, I shifted my gaze to the organiser. I leaned in my seat and looked him dead in the eyes. “Well?” I suddenly asked, breaking char

“Grand Opening”Jace’s POVLucian was stuck to me like glue. He refused to leave my side, making up one excuse after the other. I rolled my eyes every time he did this. We opted not to respond to Maraleona’s message. Nothing we said would have satisfied her anyway. All we could do was to wait for her first attack and prepare for it. Two days had gone by and nothing had happened. The message had slowly gone to the back of my mind and was replaced by other pressing matters. In fact, it had completely slipped my mind. Business had been moving somewhat smoothly. We needed to go move to a site to supervise a shipment that was coming in. Actually, just I needed to go and he had insisted that he joined me.“Nothing happened with this one, right?” I asked as I looked at the logs of things we had ordered. Lucian hummed from his spot in the driver’s seat. He had a hand leaned against the window as he drove leisurely with the other. “It arrived seamlessly, should be at the port in ten minutes

“The Unfolding Shadow”Maraloena’s POVThe past just seemed to be dragging me back to it lately. The anger in me had taken a momentary dip and all I could think about was Dimitri. Not the one that laid on that bed unmoving, but the little boy I had sworn myself to all those years ago. That young child that stood against the world that didn’t want him in it. I was sat sprawled out on a chair with a blank look on my face. The line my lips had formed twisted into a deep frown as the thoughts flooded my head. The clearest memory that came to mind was one that had happened years ago. Dimitri was just fourteen years old, already a shell of the young lad that pranced the halls with me. It was a rather stormy evening, more so than usual, and the floors were covered with layers upon layers of snow. I spotted Dimitri sitting alone at the frozen courtyard. He was thinly dressed and from the nature of the clothes and the scuffs and drags, I could tell he had just finished from a training session

“Red Threads”Lucian’s POVJace was the first to pull away. His eyes were half lidded as they traced every part of my lips. “Jace,” I whispered, my grip on him even tighter than before. The tension in the air had started to fade slowly and I looked at him with a little bit of clarity. But as soon as we locked eyes, that same burning desire to keep him safe engulfing me from head to toe. My expression softened and I leaned down to place a light, meaningful peck on his lips. He smiled at me, his hands rummaging my back, sending sensual vibes all over. But we couldn’t stay like this while the enemy continued to move forward. My hands started losing their grip on him as did his on me. He eyes stayed locked in mine as we slowly parted. “Let’s get back to work.” He said, his voice still holding that sensual tone, and I wanted nothing more than to bend him over and do unspeakable things to him. But he was right, work had to be done. I dragged him back and stole a kiss before finally goin