Chapter 24%
Unaware of the changes in the Valcruz estate I woke up to the smell of coffee and the soft rustle of a pages being turned.
The moming sun filtered in through the french windows and carved a scenic view that made me feel like it was heaven until a soft chuckle startled me.
There he was.
Killian Arrows.}
Leaning back in the armchair by my bedside with a thick hardbound book resting in one hand–Pride and Prejudice.
He was reading one of my favorite novels with a coffee mug in his other hand, skimming through the pages leisurely
“Goodmorning darling.”
tel was a
And then without a warning he reached out and ruffled my hair like I was a child.
Gently. Almost absentmindedly.X
Like I was something warm and fuzzy…did he mistook me for a golden retriever?.
“What.” I blinked again, voice scratchy with sleep.
“You look like a kitten just waking from a nap.” he murmured smiling slightly. “Messy….grumpy and unfairly adorable.”
I narrowed my eyes at him as a pout formed on my lips automatically making him laugh.
A moment passed and he gently handed me a glass of warm water.
“Get ready darling.” His voice dropped. “Those so called relatives will be gone in an hour and them I will be taking you out.“? 1 sat up confused. “Out where?”
He sipped his coffee. “Have you witnessed the sea from close? The mountains and the sea concide here and its a very beautiful place…atleast it will be something that doesn’t remind you of ballrooms and betrayal.”
My heart skipped a beat before I nodded
Taking an hour to get ready we left before noon, it almost felt like we were on a long drive with soft music and smiles until the car stopped at the edge of a hidden cave.
From down below it was a path only suitable for walking narrow and littered with so many exquisite wildflowers. The breeze was clean and laced with salt.
I took off my heels and ran barefoot through the warm sand making Killian follow my laughter, running behind me after rolling his sleeves as he was chasing a small child who he feared would get lost.
it was the first time in years I felt alive
“I have never seen anything like this.” I whispered
“Yes, never seen something like this before
But instead of the mountains he was looking at me, making me blush.
Then I saw her- a tiny kitten trembling under a bush, dirty and shivering.
“Oh no..”
I crouched, carefully scooping the little thing into my arms. She was all bones and blue eyes, almost severely malnourished.
“You are safe now baby” I whispered, brushing a leaf from her fur8
“Let me.” Killian said.
Before I could protest he gently took the kitten from me, cradling her with a tenderness I hadn’t expected from a man who once threatened to dismember diplomats.
“She’s filthy.” he said. “If you are going to adopt a beast, at least let me carry the ugly thing.”
I laughed. “That’s not very polite.”
“I am not a polite man” he said, smirking.
“You know she is not that bad…its just no one showed her love and care so she appears all dirty.” Killian heard my words and his feet stopped for a moment.
“Bad or not…it was all an unfortunate past…now that she is mine, I will shower her with care and comfort…for love is something I am not even sure I am capable of doing but I know she deserves everything.”
I laughed a little knowing that he was not talking of the kitten but it was his clumsy way of comforting me.
It made him glance down at me with soft expression. It was just that a moment passed and his smile vanished, dark clouds of anger covering his features.)
At that moment unfamiliar men emerged from behind the cliffside
Men in dark suits who were armed began circling around us
Killian didn’t reach for a weapon. He didn’t even move.X
The kitten purred in his arms.
“Athena Valcruz.” one of the men called. “You need to come with us. We don’t want to hurt you. We have been sent by Xander Thorne to take you home.”
10:04 AM c d
Home?:
My stomach twisted
Killian looked at me once…just once. Not a word passed his lips.}
And yet I understood.}
He was giving me a choice!
The man who had once ended people for blinking too loudly… was silent.
Waiting.
I stepped forward and took out the hidden piston in my back pocket before pressing the cold muzzle against the nearest man’s forehead.” “I already am home.” I said calmly. “If you dare threaten us, I will make sure
that you will leave in coffins.“”
The shadows shifted and Killian’s guards emerged silent and deadly. The sand bristled with the weight of loyalty.
More weapons raised as now those unfamiliar men send by Xander were surrounded on all sides. And then came him.
Peter.
Xander’s butler. The same one who used to silently take my dresses. Who delivered my designs, sewn with hope, straight to Jessica’s hands.”
He stepped forward, trembling.
Miss Athena,” he said softly. “Please… our master…he..he searched every comer of this world for you. He’s not the same man anymore. Just one chance. Come back. Let him explain.”
A blur of motion.
Killian moved faster than sound.
The knife was at Peter’s throat before he could blink.
“Athena is not a fucking toy.” Killian said, voice colder than steel. “She is not a souvenir. Not something that filthy bastard gets to break and then beg for as he pleases.“}
Peter couldn’t speak as the blade pressed deeper.
I stepped beside them.8
Laid a gentle hand on Killian’s wrist. He pulled back, barely
Then I turned to Peter my voice even.8
“You can tell Xander Thorne…” I smiled softly. “That unlike him I am not a cheater.”!!
“I don’t abandon my promises, I don’t play with people like they are playthings.”
“And most importantly?” I said, walking back to Killian, linking my fingers with his. “I will never leave my fiance…unlike Xander who broke our engagement, I am not a fool like him.”
Peter flinched.
“Oh and do tell him that I said- thank you.”
“Because of him. I finally met a man who would burn the world for me. If it was him at this moment he would have did not think twice before turning this ground red with his enemie’s blood not even once considering how I would feel but tell him that thanks to him…only after ! left him I knew what a real man would do for his woman.”
Then I turned and walked pway.
The waves washed over our footprints, but my heart had never been steadier.!!
Because I was no longer the girl in the comer of someone else’s life.
I was Athena Arrows.
And I was exactly where I was meant to be
10:05 AM
