All Chapters of Broken: Claiming her place: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Fernando’s POVThe heat chased us as I moved.Every step out of the ruins felt like stealing her back from the claws of death itself. Smoke curled around us in angry coils, the air thick with chemicals and burning metal. Ariana lay limp in my arms, her head tucked against my chest. I could feel her heartbeat; weak, but there and I clung to that rhythm like it was the only thing anchoring me to sanity.The bond throbbed, not screaming anymore, just aching. Alive. She was alive and that was all that mattered.“Gas lines are hissing!” Raymond shouted from behind me. “Fernando, we need to move now!”I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. My legs were already pushing harder, my lungs burning as I forced my way through falling debris. A second explosion could tear this place apart, but the thought barely registered. Nothing existed beyond the weight of her in my arms.Amelia rushed ahead, kicking aside rubble. “This way! The east exit is still open!”Raymond reached for Ariana, instinctively tr

Ariana’s POVThe next morning comes with alarming speed.Pain greets me before my thoughts do. My ribs throb beneath the tight wrap of bandages, every breath seemed like a reminder that I was almost burned out of existence. Regardless, I swing my legs over the side of the bed. Survival had given me no patience for rest.The medical wing smells like antiseptic and quiet lies. They all think I should still be here, fragile, healing, hidden away and i understood them. If the roles were reversed, i’d advise the same. I shrug into my leather jacket anyway, ignoring the sharp protest from my side. The fabric presses against the bandages, grounding me, reminding me that I sirvived and i’m alive.I reach for the folder on the table.My father’s legacy.My fingers tighten around it, knuckles whitening. This is why I’m leaving. Not for vengeance alone, but for truth.Fernando stands near the doorway, arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes tracking every movement I make like he’s afraid I might shatter i

Fernando’s POVThe hallway was dimly lit with flickering lights which annoyed me by the noise they made, they buzzed like insects which roamed the forests. I stepped out of Ariana’s quarters for a moment, the door clicked shut behind me, leaving Liam and Ariana in a world of their own..Before I could even unlock my phone screen, a familiar yet dreadful scent curled into the air.Poisonous. Sweet, but rotten. A perfect blend.“Elena,” I muttered.She emerged from the shadows like she had always belonged there, her lips curved into a slow and annoying smile. The light caught her eyes, and for a moment they looked almost feral.“Still playing the hero?” she asked softly.I stiffened. “Leave me be.”Instead of backing off, she stepped closer. Too close. Her shoulder brushed against my chest as she leaned in, her voice low and soft but sharp enough to pass her message across.“She deserves to know the truth Fernando,” she whispered in an almost concerned tone. “The truth that you’re not

Ariana’s POV“Enough!,” I yelled at Liam whose breath was over the top. He seemed like he was trying to say something, but I didn’t want to hear it. I had enough already.“Are you for me or do you want to ruin the moment?” I demanded, feeling left behind by his sudden outburst.“I’m sorry,” he muttered with his head lowered.I heard Fernando scoff and when I turned to him, he kept a straight face.A bell rang, breaking into the tension that was building up in the room. I wondered what it was about.“It’s late already, we all need to go to bed and be up very early tomorrow as we wait for the council’s verdict,” Liam said, and he was right.The bell was to declare bed rest.Fernando was determined to not leave my side and Liam, seeing this, insisted that he was going to stay also.I laid on the bed while they both laid on the floor.But, I couldn’t sleep. To make matters even worse, a loud snore erupted in the room. Liam. I turned again, for the fifth time on the sheets, my brain alre

Fernando’s POVAriana’s eyes were on me, now. Maybe I wasn’t careful enough. I couldn’t tell her the truth about what I knew fearing the bridge it would create between us and I also feared lying to her.But I needed to say something, to avert Liam’s suspicions. I needed to fully grab the moment.I turned to Liam, raising my eyebrows, “What do you mean by that?”Liam's eyes narrowed, “You looked like know something about it and asking you isn’t a crime or is it?”There he went again.Liam was truly a pain in the ass.My lips curled into a brief smile, “No, not at all… just that…” I paused, my eyes darted between Ariana and Liam. They were anticipating the next words that would come out of my mouth.I cleared my throat, “The kidnap scene does in fact look familiar, I have seen it before. However, this may not be the case which is why I didn’t want to tell you,” Ariana’s eyes distracted me for a bit, they were still filled with tears. “Is that all?” Her calm voice came out, it hit me