Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 50

"What's your condition?"

Victor's lips curled up, his words slow and deliberate. "Break up with Magnus. Stay far away from him."

Isadora had ended things with Magnus ages ago, though nobody seemed willing to believe it.

Was this just another case of a man's damned possessiveness?

Victor and Magnus were the heirs to two of Capitolion's most powerful and bitterly opposed dynasties. Maybe Victor just couldn't stand the idea of a woman he'd been with still being tangled up with his greatest rival.

Isadora nodded, agreeing without hesitation. "Fine. I'll break up with him.”

Victor narrowed his eyes, clearly surprised by how quickly she'd acquiesced.

He studied her closely, searching her face for any hint of hidden emotion-but got nothing.

Suddenly, a sharp bark shattered the tension in the garden.

Startled, Isadora instinctively pushed Victor away, worried someone might see them-even though this was Stratus Manor, and everyone here was on Victor's side. Still, she couldn't shake her discomfort.

She smoothed her dress and ran a hand through her hair, trying to regain her composure.

A big, fluffy golden retriever-freshly bathed, its white fur practically glowing- came bounding across the lawn toward them.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

dog, Beatty jogged after it, breathless and flustered. "Slow down, Pudding! Wait

across the grass like a streak of lightning, Isadora instinctively reached out her

was nearly bowled over by an enthusiastic,

this time, instead of falling backward, Victor caught her-and the dog-in one swift,

bit, and with a teasing hint of disdain,

She called

five foot five and nearly a hundred

you clearly don't understand. This is what

think you could stand to put on a little weight. It'd make you even

nerve of this

certainly sturdy—at least eighty pounds by the look of it—and had

of greeting, Isadora suspected her

Pudding's freshly washed fur; it

smells so good after

the compliment, responding by

enthusiasm that Isadora

eyed the dog's shameless display of affection and found himself irrationally annoyed. He nudged Pudding aside with his

"Woof! Woof!" Pudding protested.

the dog a sideways glance. "Settle down, would

shielded Pudding. "Don't be

crooked smile on his face. "Harsh? You two have only

already