Nico's POV
What the hell!
How did she know? She’s looking at me with so much anger and mistrust. Did Aurora betray me? Everyone is staring at me, and Jackson looks like he is two seconds away from wringing my neck.
“Well? Are you going to answer me or sit there like a fish out of water?” I gulp, I know Jax heard.
I think that’s the only reason why the hateful look he is aiming at me is starting to fade from his face.
“I…I…how?” I sound like a blubbering idiot, but she has me stumped. She is loving every minute of this, judging by the smirk on her beautiful face.
“Oh, you mean how did I know you and Aurora are both lying assholes? That’s easy, I have a secret power for sniffing out the bullshit!” There is so much venom lacing each of her words.
Aurora has a hand clamped across her mouth in shock. So she didn’t rat me out after all…who did, then?
Ryan's POVI can see the look of heartbreak on Jax’s face. He’s devastated. He thought I was his mate, only to be told that I wasn’t, and to make matters worse, his true mate has rejected him. Jackson’s expression changes from heartbreak to betrayal. The woman he trusted so much has lied to him and broken his trust in the worst way possible. No one says a word as we wait for Jax to process the information and all its ramifications.“I think we should forget about this conversation and move on to figuring out how to help Ryan.” I was grateful for the subject change, but at the same time, I would love to slap Chase for bringing the attention back to me. So, I did what any grown-ass woman would do at that moment—I stalled.“I think we should all take a break and reconvene tonight. It seems like we could all use some time to ourselves.” Everyone quickly agreed and started shuffli
Nico's POVI see the moment she processes my words—her face falls and her beautiful hazel eyes with the peculiar yellow ring start to glisten. I fucked up big time, and I know I have just broken her heart more than any person has ever done before. I just told her that the man she thinks she loved was meant to kill her, not love her.She was never his to love, and he fucking knew it; he betrayed me by seducing her and making her love him. My blood starts to boil as I think about his conniving ways, and I clench my fists, trying to control the rage coursing through my veins.“Thank you.” What the fuck is happening here? Did she just thank me?“I don’t understand? Why are you thanking me?”“Because for the first time, you haven’t lied or given me half-truths. You were honest. I appreciate your honesty, even though it hurts me. Can you please expl
Ryan's POVHis touch was like fire, and my body felt so hot and needy from his proximity. I couldn’t think about him being this close to me. I was hurt, so hurt, from what I had just learned. Looking into his violet eyes made me feel things I shouldn’t feel. Kai had just died, and here I am begging Nico with my eyes to kiss me or fuck me. I was trying to shake myself out of my thoughts and pull away, but I couldn’t. I was a prisoner, and he had the key to release me. His eyes kept jumping from my mouth back to my eyes; he was contemplating whether or not he should kiss me.I wanted him to kiss me. If he did, I could escape my thoughts for a while. I knew I could get lost in Nico; he constantly hurts me with his lies, but he was the only one who could mend me. Nico was slowly leaning down, so close I could feel his breath on my lips. I snaked my tongue out to moisten them and his eyes followed my movement, his eyes turning so dark they
Nico's POVI didn’t look up when Ryan left the room. I couldn’t. I could tell Jax and Dom both stayed behind, but I couldn’t look at them either. If I did, they both would know the truth.“She’s your hugacko, isn’t she?” Trust Dom to put the pieces together. I heard Jax’s sharp intake of breath. Well, now they both knew.“Does she know?”“No, I haven’t told her. I don’t want that to have any sway in her decision.” I knew as soon as the words left my mouth they were both going to be pissed.“You need to fucking tell her, Nico! She has a right to know.” I stood and marched over so Dom and I were toe to toe. I needed him to see the look in my eyes.“It is my burden to bear, not yours.”“So you’re just g
Ryan's POVJackson turned and snapped—I mean, full-on went to bite Nico.Nico quickly jerked his hand away and stepped back.Jax was shaking and trying to take deep breaths. His hands were turning into claws.I gasped.Jax spun toward us and his eyes had turned yellow. He started growling again. He took a step in our direction, and I froze.Nico jumped in front of Jax, shielding us from his view."Brother, you need to calm down. Aurora is safe, and she’s here with you now." Jax didn’t reply; he just stood there, staring at Nico.Hair burst from the pores of his arms, and long gray hair was present on his legs, too. Jackson was going to shift, and I felt like I was going to piss myself. "Aurora, you need to talk to him; you’re the only person he is going to listen to at the moment." Aurora raised from her seat, no sign of fear on her face at all. She didn’t even see
“I shouldn’t even be saying this, but you can still turn around and run, love. You owe my realm nothing. You owe me nothing. I’m a selfish bastard, I admit that, but I would never force you to marry me. Do I want to marry you? Yes, I do. But you’re so young and have your whole life ahead of you. If we marry, you will be expected to return to Farrarie with me and rule by my side. You will be Queen.” Fuck, I didn’t think of any of that. I would have to leave my realm and live in his. Though, it’s not like anyone here would miss me, aside from Alex and Chase.I would have to leave everything I know and move to a whole different world. Part of me was scared shitless and another part was longing for the adventure that move would bring. It would be a new beginning for me, a fresh start where no one would know of my past. I could start over.“As scared as I am with this whole unlocking my power thing and
Nico's POVI know she is hiding something, but I can’t figure out what. Her cousins know her secret, I’m sure of it. They never questioned her exit, and they always questioned her whereabouts. I needed to figure out her secret; she knew things she shouldn’t.Before I could get more lost in my thoughts, a bread roll hit me in the side of the head, snapping my gaze to the left and glaring at the asshole who dared to throw anything at me. I wasn’t surprised to find the asshole was none other than Chase. The prick had a smug smile on his face that had my hand itching to slap off.“Now that I have your attention, your majesty, what do you really have planned for your wedding with my cousin?” He’s a smart fucker, I give him that, but I couldn’t let on that I had ulterior motives for my wedding day.“I have no idea what you mean, little witch.” His play
Ryan's POVAfter I left the mess hall, I made it back to my room in record time. I quickly made my way over the bed and grabbed the small vial Alex had given me. Without hesitation, I drank it and laid down. A short while later I was being shaken awake. I blinked a few times, trying to get my eyes to focus, and when they did, I saw both my cousins standing by the edge of the bed.“Did you do it? Is it done?”“Yes, Alex, he’s coming to us now.”“Okay, we need to be ready. Are you ready to tell the others the truth?”“Yeah…I think so, Chase. I understand a lot more now, and when he is woken he can help me understand more. He is a key piece in this war; I needed the others to think I was scared and uncertain about marrying Nico blindly or else they would have asked too many questions. Nico is very bright, and he would have