Page 52

My people hunted hybrids, considering them abominations, cursed beings unworthy of a place among the pure-blooded.

Their existence alone was enough to set the council and our people on edge, sowing unease and mistrust like seeds in fertile soil.

The uncertainty gnawed at everyone, and I couldn’t blame them. Not after losing their queen and king.

How could I be with him, knowing the risks?

How could I ignore the shadow that this mating cast over everything I held dear?

Yet, how could I turn away from him, when every fiber of my being felt compelled toward him?

Loving him meant risking everything, not just for my heart, but for his very life.

I had to protect him, even if it meant breaking my heart and having my soul shattered.

I caught him watching me, his hazel eyes burning with an intensity I couldn’t quite place. It was more than curiosity, more than simple admiration. It was longing.

I swallowed hard, biting my lower lip. He held my gaze as if trying to decipher the secrets I was keeping, as if he wanted to unravel every layer of my guarded heart.

“I know I said a lot last night.” His tone was warm and deep. “But you are the most stunning woman I have ever seen. Your eyes mirror the depths of a forest under the setting sun, reflecting the unknown and mysteries I can barely fathom.”

He stepped closer, caging me between the counter and his body.

The heat radiating off him made it hard to breathe.

His words wrapped around my heart, tempting me to let my guard down.

The sincerity in his gaze made my resolve waver, and I had to fight the urge to lose myself in his presence, knowing all too well how fragile our momentary bliss truly was.

“Thank you,” I whispered, lowering my eyes, trying to hide the rush of emotion that had surged inside me.

He cleared his throat, breaking the spell that had momentarily tethered us in place. “We should go if we don’t want to lose our reservation for a second time,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.

A small smile tugged at my lips despite the apprehension inside me.

It was so like him to defuse a moment with humor, to pretend that our reality wasn’t pressing in on us from every side.

Still, the thought of going on a date with him, as if we were any other pair, sent a flutter of nervousness through me.

He stepped back, giving me space as I hopped off the stool.

Taking our plates to the sink, I rinsed them and loaded the dishwasher.

The action was so mundane, yet it sent a pang of familiarity coursing through me.

I had done this countless times before, back when this city had felt like a home five years ago .

The memory of those days, simple and warm, threatened to resurface, but I forced it back. Those memories belonged to a past that should remain buried where I couldn’t feel them, where they couldn’t haunt me with what I had lost.

“I’m going to change,” I said, trying to distract myself from the memories flooding my mind.

“You don’t need to. Your clothes are fine,” he replied, following me to his bedroom, his voice gentle yet insistent.

“But aren’t we going to a restaurant?” I asked, stopping in my tracks, feeling a hint of concern about my simple outfit. I had never felt like this, but, weirdly, I had a feeling that I needed to dress up.

He stepped closer, his gaze soft yet unwavering. “You are stunning, Iryen,” he said, his voice thick with sincerity. “Your beauty is beyond what any outfit could ever capture. It’s in the way you move, the way you look at me, the way you simply exist. Trust me, you’re perfect as you are.”

The intensity of his words sent warmth spreading through my core, and I struggled to hold his gaze, feeling vulnerable.

He was a vision of effortless beauty, the kind that left you breathless without even trying.

His muscular arms, chiseled abs, and broad shoulders spoke of strength, of a body built for both power and protection.

But it was his eyes that undid me, those hazel depths, often burning with a fire I could never fully decipher, now shone with flecks of gold, like sunlight dancing across restless waves.

A hypnotic blend of strength and quiet allure. He made it impossible for me to look anywhere else. His sharply defined jaw, so angular that seemed carved from stone, yet when he smiled, it softened, and in that fleeting, reckless moment, he became something even more dangerous.

He became mine to lose.

And somehow, without a word, he shattered every wall I’d ever built around my heart, simply by existing.

My foolish, desperate heart that never stood a chance.

“Thanks, you are not so bad yourself,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, trying to conceal my feelings, but the intensity of his gaze made my words falter.

His expression shifted, and pure, utter horror mirrored across his face.

His eyes widened, and his mouth parted in shock, as though I’d just said the most absurd thing in the world.

The moment my eyes met his, I couldn’t hold back a laugh—an unexpected, joyful burst of sound.

I tried to suppress my laughter, but it only made it worse.

I raised a hand to cover my mouth, hoping to salvage some dignity.

His initial horror shifted to pure delight as I tried and failed, unable to hold it back. His eyes sparkled with amusement, and his mouth twisted into his signature smirk. That’s when I noticed them—dimples. He had dimples.

Goddess, if I wasn’t far gone before, I definitely was now. My heart gave an unexpected jolt, and I had to fight the urge to flush, but it didn’t stop the warmth from spreading across my cheeks. The effect he had on me was unmistakable, and it was growing harder to ignore.

Clearing my throat, I forced a smile. “As much as I appreciate you complimenting me, I’m not going to a restaurant in such simple clothes.” I insisted, resuming my way toward the bedroom to change.

His amusement seemed to vanish in an instant, replaced by something far more intense—desire. His gaze swept over my body, measuring every inch with a hungry focus.

“Trust me,” his voice lowered, carrying a rough edge, “you’re nothing like simple.”

The words sank into me, a slow burn as his eyes flickered with undeniable desire. For a moment, I hesitated, but then I let go of the doubts. Clearly, he was more than pleased with how I looked.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to change. Can’t exactly go driving around in boxers, can I?” he said, his tone playful.

For a moment, my gaze wandered over him, catching sight of the way his body shifted under the light and of his semi-hard length, before I glanced away. I’m so gone, and there is nothing I can do anymore. I’ve crossed that invisible line where want turns into need, and need turns into surrender.

Adrian changed into dark jeans that clung to his thick thighs and a deep navy shirt, simple but perfectly fitted, showcasing the muscles of his arms and the sharp lines of his torso.

Casual and, oh gods, this man doesn’t seize to impress me.

He turned to face me with a slight smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

Every movement he made had a raw, masculine appeal.

My heart skipped a beat, every inch of him seeming to draw me in like a magnet.

His purpose matched his clothes to mine—casual yet elegant, fit for a morning drive and a lunch at a restaurant.

He caught my gaze lingering on him, and the smirk widened into something more dangerous, playful, yet with an edge I knew all too well.

“Ready?” His voice was a whisper.

I nodded, swallowing down the growing fascination that coiled tighter in my chest with every passing second, and walked beside him to the underground garage.

Though his car was impressive, I was more captivated by the sleek black motorcycle he headed to.

It was unlike anything I had ever seen before, a stunning contrast to the typical vehicles I’d come across in my time here.

Everything about the bike seemed tailored to perfection—aggressive yet elegant.

It demanded attention without a single word.

I knew a lot about Nyssaion, but it had been so long since I had indulged in anything here, and seeing this bike made me realize how much it had changed in the time I’d been away.

More than mere transport, it was a speed-built work of art.

It felt like a reflection of Adrian himself—intense, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore.

As he approached, my heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. There was something about the way he moved, the confidence with which he approached this sleek machine, that made my stomach flutter.

“We’re not taking the car?” Concern filled my voice, my eyes flicking between him and the sleek black motorcycle. I had never been on a bike before, let alone one like this. The thought of being out in the open, exposed to the wind and the speed, made my stomach churn with anticipation.

Adrian’s lips curled into a playful grin as he glanced at me, his hazel eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and those damn dimples appearing to taunt me. “You’re nervous?” he mocked.

“I’ve never been on a bike,” I admitted, my tone betraying my unease. “Is it safe?”

He chuckled, the sound low and comforting, and made me feel a little more at ease. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it under control,” he assured me, giving the bike a casual tap as if it were just a pet.

There was something about the way he said it, so sure of himself, that made me realize I was at his mercy.

It was the uncertainty of being so out of control, so vulnerable, that made the pit in my stomach tighten even more.

Passing me the helmet, Adrian climbed onto the monstrous bike with ease, his movements fluid and confident.

I hesitated, staring at the bike, and then up at him.