My Loyalty Lies With You Novels & Stories

She just knew those words, so cruel and falsely inspiring, were meant for her. - "That's why I prefer loyalty. Being loyal is an instinct. You can love me or hate me, but you'll still protect me," Banks muttered. And with that, everyone broke into a long round of applause. Some even stood up, but no one really knew the intention behind the speech. All that was missing was for him to say Blair's name, letter by letter. - "Thank you for coming, everyone. And if it's not too much to ask, be loyal. Don't love me, but be loyal."

"What are you going to trade for it?" I took a deep breath. I had no clue what I could barter with him. I paused, considering, and then I spoke. "My Loyalty," I told him. He groaned. "Your Loyalty?" Yes, I replied. "My loyalty to you." He stared at me as though he had never laid eyes on my face. "I didn't command you to be loyal," he wheezed, his voice dry but the words slicing through me like a blade. "That's because you're already in my care, and so you're already loyal."

“And dragged everyone else into it.” “I dragged you in because you’re the only one I trust to handle the shit I can’t.” I stared at him, my voice low. “That’s not trust. That’s convenience.” He ran a hand through his hair, tension radiating from every line of his body. “Maybe. Maybe I don’t know how to be anything else anymore.” For a moment, neither of us said anything. “I wanted to be proud of you today,” he said, softer now. “But I also hated that you had to go through what you did just to prove your worth.”

“Liam was that for me. He was the beginning of my command. The first to swear loyalty to me after I lost my parents. The first to say, ‘You don’t have to do this alone.’ I didn’t believe him at the time. But I believe him now.” I breathed in slowly. I felt my throat burning. “We didn’t always agree. Spirits, we fought more than we spoke some weeks. He had a mouth on him. Always challenging. Always pushing. And even though I had doubted where his loyalty stood, I don’t regret making him my beta.” I turned to the firewood. To the silent, sleeping figure laid upon it.

“About the promotion attached to the competition. What does it mean for us?” Luke's eyes briefly flicked to her in the rearview mirror. “The promotion would be fair and square since it's based on points. It shouldn't be a problem between us.” Ava nodded, feeling a little lighter. “Good. Because I was worried it might get messy.” Luke chuckled softly. “It won't, really. Whoever wins, wins. It’ll go to the person who deserves it most. I’d be happy if it’s you.” There was a pause and glanced at him sideways. He made it seem so simple but her fears were allayed. If he ended up winning, she'd be disappointed but she'd also be happy for him. He deserved it as much as she does, he was a very partne

Liam—who wasn’t afraid of the mess. And suddenly, the weight of it—the humiliation, the betrayal, the fear—climbed up my throat, thick and choking. My lips trembled. “What if I can’t come back from this?” “You will.” He didn’t blink. “Not just because you’re strong, but because I’m going to drag you through it if I have to.” A laugh escaped me, broken and wet. “That’s very romantic of you.” “It’s not romance,” he said gently. “It’s loyalty.”

I took a step forward, closing the space between us again. “That’s not how this works.” Michael’s breath hitched for just a fraction of a second. I caught it. “You see,” I continued, lowering my voice just slightly, “loyalty is not selective. It is absolute. If you hesitate now, how can I trust you won’t hesitate later?” Michael held my gaze, his body rigid with tension. I watched him struggle. He hated this. And that made it all the more delicious. His fingers flexed at his sides, his thoughts racing behind those carefully guarded eyes.

Try what exactly? “You think starving proves a point?” I ask quietly, watching her pupils shift. Her scent thickens between us. “You think that your loyalty to them makes you powerful?” She doesn’t answer, just glares at me. Leaning in, I get closer. “You’re wrong. Loyalty here is what gets you killed. You carry them, but all that does is add extra weight, and they will drag you down. You bleed for them, and the moment you can’t stand or save them, they will leave you behind. That is what happens when you pretend they matter.”

Rebel didn't take well to liars, and I wasn't one anyway — not to her. "Yeah," I answered simply. Her eyes didn't waver. "And you didn't tell me." I let out a slow breath. "Because my loyalty's never been to you, Rebel. You know that. It's always been to Daniel." The words hung in the air, sharp and final. But she didn’t look surprised. Just impassive. "I get it," she murmured, tracing invisible lines along the bench’s armrest. "But it still hurt. She was my friend."

I frowned, raising my brows, “Hmm?” “You can test Sir Zayne but not yourself.” She teased me, blowing me a kiss which I obviously ignored. I sighed, massaging my temples, “I test Zayne because I blindly trust his love for his wife. He would never. On the other hand, Me?” I lit my cigarette on fire. Sourness coming to my face. “That only string of loyalty I have is my own conviction,” I looked away, hands curled in a fist, muttering to myself. “And the vows of this pathetic marriage.”