Semua Bab Blood and Oath (A Valente Dynasty Romance) Book1: Bab 11 - Bab 20

CHAPTER ELEVENJuliana.I should have stepped away.Every instinct screamed at me to put distance between us, to remind myself who he was, what he had done.But I didn't move.I stood there, the scent of gunpowder and Alexander's cologne mixing in the air, my heartbeat a frantic rhythm against my ribs.His hands were still on my arms, firm but not forceful, and his breath ghosted over my cheek, close enough to send a shiver down my spine.I turned my head slightly, just enough to meet his gaze.Mistake.His blue-green eyes were unreadable, but there was something there—something dark, something dangerous, something entirely too tempting.I swallowed. "Are you going to keep staring at me, or are we actually going to finish this lesson?"Alexander's lips twitched, like he knew exactly what I was doing—trying to deflect, to act unaffected.But we both knew better.His grip tightened, just for a second, before he finally stepped back, his voice returning to its usual calm."Again"I exhal

CHAPTER THIRTEENJuliana.A masquerade ball.That was the last thing I expected.Alexander had dropped the news so casually over breakfast—like it was just another part of his schedule."You need to be ready next week," he said, sipping his coffee.I blinked. "For what?""A party." His voice was calm, as if he hadn't just blindsided me. "It's important."I frowned. "You expect me to attend some fancy event with you?""I expect you to listen." He leaned back in his chair, watching me. "You'll be my date. And while you're there, you won't be Juliana."I stilled. "What do you mean?"His gaze was unwavering. "Your name, for that night, is Liliana."A chill ran through me."No one can know who you really are," he continued smoothly. "If they do, they'll start asking questions. Questions I don't have time for."I swallowed hard.This wasn't just a party.This was a game.And I was just another piece on his board...............................................................................

CHAPTER FOURTEENAlexander.I never should have brought her here.That was my first mistake.The second was picking that damn dress—a black silk masterpiece that fit her so perfectly it made my chest tighten.I spent over an hour choosing it, making sure it was perfect, yet now I wanted to rip it off her, not for pleasure, but to keep every other man in the room from looking at her the way they were.And they were looking.They were looking like they had a right to admire her, like they could even try to touch what was mine.I had no claim over her.But at this moment, I wished I did.She walked beside me, her posture poised, her expression unreadable behind her black velvet mask—one that matched my own. But I knew her well enough by now to sense her unease.Juliana wasn't like them.She wasn't used to fake conversations and hidden threats wrapped in silk and champagne.Still, she handled it perfectly.Until she wasn't there anymore.She leaned in, whispering, "I need some air."I sho

CHAPTER SIXTEENJuliana.I woke up feeling more off than usual.Not just from the soreness in my body but from the weight of everything that had happened.The attack.Alexander carrying me home.The way he looked at me in the library last night.I rolled over, expecting to be alone, but my gaze landed on a tray of food on the nightstand.Toast. Scrambled eggs. Coffee.And a note.Eat. – A.I sighed, running a hand through my hair.Of course, he wouldn't say anything more.A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.Kai poked his head in, a smirk already forming."You're alive."I rolled my eyes."Barely.""Good, because Alexander wants to see you in his office."My stomach twisted."Why?"Kai shrugged."Philip is here."The world tilted.I gripped the sheets, my breath catching.Philip.The man who had raised me.The man who had lied to me my entire life."He has answers" Kai added, his smirk fading."And Alexander wants you there."A mix of fear and fury bubbled inside me."Fine,

CHAPTER EIGHTEENJuliana.The next morning, I woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains.It had been days since the attack, but the bruises on my body were still there—a painful reminder of how close I had come to dying.I turned on my side, hoping the ache in my chest would fade.But it didn't.It never did.My mind went back to the conversation I and Alexander had.He was like Philip but he didn't want me to be like him...Whatever that meant.Alexander barely said a word to me all day.He was always close by, watching from the shadows, but he never pushed me to make a decision.It was like he was waiting—for me to break or for me to choose..............................................................................................Kai found me in the kitchen later that afternoon, making tea."You know he's only giving you space because he cares, right?"I rolled my eyes."Alexander doesn't look like a man who cares about anyone."Kai smirked."That's what he wants everyo