All Chapters of Royal Temptation : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

32 Chapters

Chapter twenty one

Aziel's POV"We are going to be late," I warned, gripping the door handle of my office.Luciano arched a brow before returning to the laptop. He had been at it for the last ten minutes, fully aware we were supposed to have already left the penthouse for the docks. Luka and Nikolai had gone ahead, but I needed to be there."Get your ass down. Keep standing like that and I won't finish a thing," he said without looking up.I dropped into the chair for a second before springing back up, running a hand through my hair as I paced the room like a caged animal, frustration knotting every muscle."Do you have a problem?" he asked."Yeah. We should already be halfway through arranging the new shipment. Why couldn't you handle this paperwork last night?"He scowled. "I had some good pussy at my mercy. It's not my fault it was that good.""Fuck you.""Not my fault you haven't been laid in so long you're snapping at everything like a mad dog."Silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable

Chapter twenty two

Aziel's POV"Is he awake?" I asked quietly as the door closed behind Chavez, my stomach twisting with dread. He'd been there long enough that my mind feared the worst."No."I gestured for him to walk with me down the stairs to my office.Finally seated across from each other, he dropped his bag to the side."Is he okay?"He paused, eyes flicking toward mine, a shadow of worry shadowing his features. I leaned forward, elbows braced on my knees, hands clasped together."I can't give a definitive answer right now," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "There are some signs of trauma… minor bruising, some swelling. But it’s unclear how it happened."I exhaled sharply, digging my fingers into the chair’s edge until the wood groaned under the pressure. "Any damages?"He paused, his gaze scanning mine carefully."Nothing permanent from what I can see, but it’s early. He seemed sedated at one point. Could be medication… could be something else. Honestly, I need more time to know for certai

Chapter twenty three

Zarek's POV I could handle pain, but not this. It tore through me, a razor slicing along every nerve. I tried to get off the bed, but a dull ache ran through my hip. I stared down at the wound, swollen. Flesh ripped open, and throbbing on its own. For the first time, I wanted to kill someone with my right mind, not like that drunken night, a mistake burned into memory. Tyron deserved worse. Something I could not even imagine unleashing. I pushed myself upright, legs trembling as I wiggled toward the floor, fingers scraping along the wall for balance. I made it to the bathroom and shut the door, leaning back and drawing shallow, jagged breaths. Hands ran through my hair as I collapsed onto the cold marble floor. The chill bit through me, echoing my heartbeat in the empty room. Everyone must have known by now. Weak. Pathetic. The voices were not external; they gnawed at me from inside. My head pounded harder with each thrum. Pieces of it were missing. His touch lingered too lon

chapter twenty four

Aziel's POV I strode down the staircase, Luciano following right behind me, holding his chest. Cough. Cough. Cough. “What?” I snapped, slightly irritated at his persistence when I already knew he had something to say. “Smooching, are we? What was that about?” “Giving him something to think about,” I shrugged. He sighed deeply, glaring at me as we stopped in the hallway. “I don’t understand any of that nonsense,” he smirked. “Doctor’s orders...keep him occupied,” I said. "He'd try to figure out why I did that for the next few hours, so mission accomplished." “I never thought I’d live long enough to see the great Don Aziel become someone’s knight in dark armor.” “Whatever, man,” I lifted a finger dismissively, walking ahead. “What’s the emergency?” “Your old man called. Wanted to speak to you.” I came to a halt, jaw tightening. “That’s what you called me for? I thought something happened, damnit.” “If I told you the truth, you wouldn’t have gone down those sta

chapter twenty five

Aziel's POV Nikolai paced the living room like a storm trapped in a cage, glancing at his watch every few seconds. I leaned back, fingers tapping lightly against the chair’s arm, pretending the tension didn’t coil in my stomach. “This is not like him,” he said, flipping his phone from his back pocket. “What would you expect from an ex-con?” Luciano mocked from beside me. Nikolai curled his hands into fists, glaring at him with the intensity of someone ready to strike. “How dare you talk about him like that?” He raised his middle finger. I had had enough, so I leaned back. “Did you guys have a fight?” “So what if we did? That’s no reason for him to just disappear.” I could spin this. If he left, no one would blink. “Maybe you should listen to your father and go back home.” “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t even trust you. I know you did something,” he snapped. Luciano leaned closer. "How many times do you want us to plead innocent of all your claims?" Nikolai’s glare didn’t

Chapter twenty six

Zarek's POVI'd never been this confused about anything in my life, rooted at the same spot, still clinging tightly to my robe like an anchor. Wondering how he could just keep throwing accusations and twisting his words every second he got, while the worst part was that everyone knew what had happened except me, leaving me utterly clueless and angry.I watched them leave, their backs disappearing behind the main exit, and Nikolai didn’t stop his sarcastic laugh, a sound that made my stomach knot with frustration. I blamed myself for coming down here when I knew I shouldn’t have.The silence in the room stretched like a physical weight, deafening and unrelenting in the late-night hours.I hadn't been able to sleep. I only tossed and turned, my mind a storm of unwanted thoughts.I glanced to the doorway and then to the cellar, my body craving a drink I knew would not soothe, yet compelled me to move. I took slow steps toward the well-arranged stack, grabbing a glass with hands that tr

Chapter twenty seven

Zarek's POV"No, he can't."He doesn't know anything about me. No one does, not even Zakar. But his words felt too real.I gripped my hair tightly, thoughts colliding too fast to catch, too loud to ignore.I hadn't had time to think straight. One thing kept happening after another. No rest. No breathing. I felt cornered inside my own head.I wanted to yell at someone, scream at someone, but within the confines of this room, no one was within my reach.Confusion, frustration, guilt, and everything else clung to me like a second skin I couldn’t peel off.What if he was right? Maybe I didn't know myself.Maybe I just loved guys too.No. I was going to be a future king and get married. My father wouldn't allow it, and neither would the council.Everything about my life was already laid out, and I had no say in any of it.Did I want something for myself? Maybe not. I failed at most things anyway.No friends. Nothing.I flipped the closet door open, rummaging through my clothes until I foun

Chapter twenty eight

Aziel's POV "Stay still." I carefully carried Zarek in my arms, lifting him from the floor. "I can walk on my own," he whined, knowing well that I didn’t take orders from anyone. I walked out of the gym, heading straight to the penthouse. He didn’t say another word. I clicked the door open and placed him on the couch. Looking back at his pale frame, I lowered my head and cursed inwardly. Maybe I’d pushed him too hard, and he was still fragile. Who could blame me? He’d started telling me things I didn’t expect, and that already worked in my favour. A little more push, have his walls crumble till there was nowhere else to hide. "You're staring," he croaked, shifting his weight to the other side of the couch. Staring. Why wouldn’t I? Those legs, barely covered by shorts, didn’t do him justice. Hard-on in a freaking gym. First time. "I can't help it," I whispered, lowering myself to meet his gaze. "The view looks breathtaking." His muscles tensed as he shifted, and I couldn’t st

Chapter twenty nine

Aziel's POVThe moment his breathing evened out, I knew I should move, put distance between us and regain some level of control.I didn’t.For a few seconds longer, I just sat there, his weight resting against me, steady and unguarded in a way I hadn’t earned. My hand hovered near his shoulder before I let it drop, fingers grazing his arm. My jaw tightened at my own hesitation.Dangerous.My phone buzzed sharply on the nightstand, Luciano’s name flashing. He had been calling repeatedly, each ring carrying impatience.I exhaled slowly, easing Zarek’s head off my shoulder with care, making sure he didn’t stir. He shifted slightly but didn’t wake, and something in my chest loosened at that. I straightened, casting him one last glance, memorizing the curve of his features, before grabbing my jacket and heading toward the penthouse door.By the time I reached the landing, Luciano was waiting just outside, phone tucked in his hand, eyes narrowing as he tried to peer inside.I stepped forwar

Chapter thirty

Zarek's POVTHREE DAYS LATER.“There you go again, frowning,” Elise scolded, lightly hitting me on the shoulder. “Is the coffee that bad?”“No, it’s not that,” I dismissed, placing the mug down.We were in the kitchen at the penthouse. Apparently, Aziel had ordered my things to be brought back here, which I didn’t oppose. But having a guard following me around like I couldn’t be trusted on my own for the last three days had me edgy.“Now we are back to zoning out,” Elise snapped.“Fine, I’m sorry,” I said, forcing a gentle smile. “What were you saying?”She studied me for a beat. “Did something happen when I was on break? You look… off.”I sighed sharply, my hand going up instinctively to my chin. Off was one way to put it. Unsteady felt closer. My mind replayed the last moments with Aziel, his hands, his voice, the way he had pulled me under him like resistance was never part of the equation. Every attempt I’d made to hold my ground crumbled before I could register it.“No need to wo

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