Chapter 391

Chapter erot

VALKNIK

Move away from bet?” Atticus snarts, grabbing my arm and yanking me behind bum protective, the

towers he had passed me falling to the floor.

Gade doesn’t move, but I see the way his jaw tightens, and the flicker of blue in Is, and the filcker of

blue in his eve as he stands there, emotionless and calm on top, but I know that beneath that external

tagade he almost comitered.

“Unband her. Now,” he says, his words chillingly cold.

For a second, I am looking at this from Atticus’s point of view and I remember Zade isn’t just the guy

who’s giving me hugs that feel like the safest place in the work, not the guy who takes all my shit, but

he’s also extremely powerful…

And dangerous if he wants to be.

“I’m ok,” I say to him softly, hoping he realises that this is just Atticus being at big brother. Zade’s eyes

flash again, and this time, there’s a glint in his eyes.

“I think she’s old enough to make her own decisions, Payne, I don’t like my woman being manhandled

by anyone.” There’s a menacing warning in his voice, no matter how calm his tone is.

ke your tracker. Who knows what

“Your threats don’t bother me. You left and you’ve been up to? Do you really think I would be ok with

you being alone with her?”

“A little late to worry about her being alone with me. As for the tracker; I was promised freedom, yet I

was bound. I didn’t ask for any of it. But since your people made the decision, it was up to me what I

did with my freedom.”

Your people… the clear divide between us.

He advances towards Atticus like a predator ready to slice into its prey.

“That decision came with terms.” Atticus snarls.

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. He has done nothing wrong. Atticus, please. Calm down. It’s a

relief that Zade has been here with me… if he wasn’t I’d have been raped and dead long ago.” I say,

my stomach churning at the thought. Atticus‘ eyes flicker with surprise and Zade reaches for me, not

bothering that he is close to Atticus who might just attack, as he takes my arm, and pulls me free from

Atticus’s hold, before he steps back and wraps his arm possessively around.

my shoulders from behind, his eyes trained on Atticus, almost as if challenging him to say something.

“What proof is there that he didn’t set it…” I gasp and Atticus sighs, his brows furrowing and I’m grateful

he stopped himself. Those words that he almost spoke would have cut deeper if he had finished the

sentence.

“Atticus…”

“He isn’t good for you… Valerie… remember who he is. He was part of the Sable.”

I nod. “He was… so was Sebastian-”

“Who chose the right path in the end and as much as I hate defending him, he had reasons.”

“And Zade also chose to do the right thing when he surrendered. Tell me Atticus, if Zaia was the one

chosen for the Sable, would you have given up on her?”

Those words hit him hard and he tenses, glancing sharply at Zade before turning to me fleetingly and

then looking away for a split second, giving me the answer he has not put into words.

He might be getting over her, but we all know he loved Zaia deeply. Sometimes I honestly felt he was

better for her than Sebastian, but the heart wants what the heart wants… and their love has always

been strong, even if they had a lot of hurdles to cross. →

“There are a thousand differences between him and Zaia. She’s different.” Atticus tries to get me to see

his reasoning.

“I’m glad you can see that,” Zade says, cutting this conversation short. “Dinners. getting cold.” –

He lets go of me and turns, leading the way to the table, whilst Atticus stands, frowning. “I’m not

hungry.”

“Don’t be dramatic. We’re all adults here. Come on.” I say dismissively.

He clenches his jaw. “Does anyone know about this?” he asks me sharply?

“No,” I answer truthfully. “But I know Zaia will have my back.”

Atticus frowns at that and seems a little annoyed as he allows me to lead him to the table, which only

makes his irritation rise again. There are four seats, and Zade has already taken one.

Atticus pulls one of the two empty seats on this side of the table out for me, a clear sign he didn’t want

me sitting beside Zade. For goodness‘ sake, what is this?

+15 BONUS

Highschool?

Zade looks unbothered, loosely resting his elbow on the empty chair beside him, his face as impassive

as ever.

“Thanks… but I’ll sit over there,” I say to Atticus.

I see the flash of hurt in his eyes because, in everything, he always made sure I didn’t feel alone…

After Jai, he was always there for me… but I need him to see Zade makes me happy.

I smile up at him gently, leaning up and kissing his cheek before I walk around the table to Zade, who

doesn’t move, watching me as I sit down.

My heart races under his gaze, his arm grazing my back as he brushes his fingers lightly over the back

of my neck, sending a sizzling jolt of pleasure through me.

‘You didn’t have to do that. He might just cry,‘ He remarks mockingly through the mind link. 2

I smile slightly, although I know I shouldn’t, as Atticus takes the seat opposite me. My poor brother.

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