Bonds

Chapter 10

My world narrowed to the unwelcome sight of Alex’s cold state and Miranda’s glittering eyes, their silhouettes framed by the warm glow of the restaurant. “Fancy seeing you here,” Miranda purred, sashaying towards our table with an air of malicious triumph. I blinked, the blood in my veins. suddenly icy. Of all the restaurants in the city, they had to choose this onb7

Ivan felt the shift in the atmosphere, his gaze following mine. His frown mirrored my own, a deep furrow creasing his forehead, “Miranda,” he acknowledged curtly, his voice clipped. I wasn’t sure who he disliked, his sister or Alex.

Miranda, oblivious to the tension she’d created, breezed closer, her voice dripping with sweetness. “Amaya, how lovely to finally meet you! The wedding chaos and pre–dinner frenzy kept us from properly connecting” She extended a manicured hand towards me, eyes glinting with a veiled challenge. “Miranda McCall, Ivan’s charming little sister, And this,” she announced with a theatrical flourish, “is Alex, my fiancé but I am sure you need no introduction.” The way she drew out “fiance” felt like a deliberate barb which was weird because she couldn’t possibly know about my marriage to him.

My father had made sure to bury every connection we ever had, so I was but a shadow in Alex’s life.

A once before.

I forced a smile, plastering it onto my face like a poorly–fitting mask. Straightening my spine, I met her gaze with a chin held high. “It’s lovely to meet you both,” I said, my voice calm despite the storm raging within. “Why don’t you join us?”

My invitation hung in the air, heavy with unspoken tension. Alex remained silent, his unreadable eyes fixed on me. Ivan frowned, a furrow creasing his brow, but stayed quiet.

Miranda’s smile widened, a predatory gleam flashing in her eyes. “Oh, wouldn’t want to intrude on your cozy little date night,” she drawled, dragging out the last word with exaggerated emphasis. “Besides, Alex and I would have made reservations elsewhere if we had known.”

The lie was transparent but none of us said anything

“Nonsense,” Ivan countered finally speaking, his voice low and firm. “There’s plenty of space. Pull up a chair.”

Alex stepped forward, his face unreadable, an impassive mask, “We will go somewhere else,” he said, his voice a rough scrape.

I met his gaze, a silent challenge sparking between us. The past, with its tangled threads of love and betrayal, hung heavy in the air. But this wasn’t then. This was now, and I was no longer the fragile girl he’d left behind.

“It’s fine,” I said, my voice steady despite the tremor in my heart. “The more the merrier, right?”

She shot me a

voice dripping with feigned sweetness after they settled in. “Tell me all about what you think of married life. Must

to give her

be an adjustment,” I replied, keeping my voice neutral. “But Ivan and I are

shot me a grateful glance, a silent reassurance that he stood by

didn’t

flowed like molasses. Miranda peppered me with thinly veiled insults, each one met with a calm, measured response. Alex

her problem was. We had never met before this but I knew everything she was doing was to bait me, it wouldn’t work.

Chapter 10

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that brought a smile to my face.

feel Ivan’s concern, his hand brushing mine under the table in a silent gesture of support.

wasn’t he

suffocating atmosphere any longer. “Excuse me,” I announced, pushing back my chai. “I think

rose immediately, his worried gaze locked on mine. “I’ll come with you,” he said,

Amaya can handle a

me. Turning to ivan, I met his gaze. “I’ll be back in

I stepped out into the cool night air. The star–strewn sky felt like a balm on

Miranda’s venom from my

my eyes, letting

wasn’t the end, I realized. This was just the beginning of something

i didn’t want to be part of it. The suffocating tension inside, coupled with the unexpected encounter with Alex, had left me raw. I needed air, any air, so instead of going into the restaurant, I opted for the cool bite of the

beneath me like a glittering jewel box, momentarily distracting me from the turmoil

of humor. Because silhouetted against the pale light at the rooftop’s edge

leap out of my chest, but I held it down, refusing to let him dictate my rhythm. His back

here?” I asked, my voice

clenched subtly. “The same thing you are doing,” he

wind. It was the same tone he’d used four years ago, the day he walked away, leaving me a shattered shell of the woman I once was. Now, it

lunged to the surface, her fangs bared at the mating mark burning on my shoulder, a constant reminder of our broken bond. At