NovelEnglishChapter erot
VALKNIK
Move away from bet?” Atticus snarts, grabbing my arm and yankingbehind bum protective, the towers he
had passedfalling to the floor.
Gade doesn’t move, but | 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 | know that beneath that external tagade he almost
comitered.
“Unband her. Now,” he says, his words chillingly cold.
For a second, | am looking at this from Atticus’s point of view and | remember Zade isn’t just the guy who's
givinghugs 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,” | 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, | don’t like my woman being manhandled by
anyone.” There's a menacing warning in his voice, no matter how calm his tone is.
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ke your tracker. Who knows what
“Your threats don’t bother me. You left and you've been up to? Do you really think | would be ok with you being
alone with her?”
“A little late to worry about her being alone with me. As for the tracker; | was promised freedom, yet | was bound.
I didn’t ask for any of it. But since your people made the decision, it was up towhat | 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 cwith terms.” Atticus snarls.
| 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.” | 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 pullsfree 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...” | 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 | hate defending him, he had reasons.”
“And Zade also chose to do the right thing when he surrendered. TellAtticus, 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 tofleetingly and then
looking away for a split second, givingthe answer he has not put into words.
He might be getting over her, but we all know he loved Zaia deeply. Sometimes | 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 getto see his
reasoning.
“I'm glad you can see that,” Zade says, cutting this conversation short. “Dinners. getting cold.” -
He lets go ofand turns, leading the way to the table, whilst Atticus stands, frowning. “I'm not hungry.”
“Don’t be tic. We're all adults here. Con.” | say dismissively.
He clenches his jaw. “Does anyone know about this?” he askssharply?
“No,” I answer truthfully. “But | know Zaia will have my back.”
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Atticus frowns at that and seems a little annoyed as he allowsto 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?
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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,” | say to Atticus.
| see the flash of hurt in his eyes because, in everything, he always made sure | didn’t feel alone... After Jai, he
was always there for me... but | need him to see Zade makeshappy.
| smile up at him gently, leaning up and kissing his cheek before | walk around the table to Zade, who doesn’t
move, watchingas | 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 | know I shouldn't, as Atticus takes the seat opposite me. My poor brother.
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