novelxo Chapter Betryed 67
Betryed 82 Betryed 82Chapter 67
SAGE
I woke up with throbbing pain in the head. I feel like I've been punched in the head multiple times. This is what trying to cut the alpha off of our mind link. I never knew it was possible. But doing so takes a lot of energy.
from
1. slowly opened my eyes, and I was immediately greeted with the scent of freshly brewed coffer sifting through my nose. I suddenly felt hungry, and my stomach started to grumble. "Good morning
My eyes were immediately drawn to the man across from me, lounging effortlessly in a chair by the window. Titus. He was a vision of relaxed power, dressed in a simple dark shirt that cling to his broad chest, the morning light casting a soft glow over his features. He held a cup of coffee in one hand, steam rising lazily from the surface, while his other hand rested on a tablet, his focus divided between work and whatever he'd been keeping an eye on-likely me.
I blinked, trying to shake off the haze of sleep, but it was hard to ignore the way his presence filled the room. He seemed so at ease, so completely in control, and for a brief moment, I wondered how long he had been sitting there watching me, waiting.
If
"Good morning," I mumbled, my voice still heavy with sleep as I pushed myself up from the bed, feeling a little disoriented by the intimate setting. It wasn't just the bed or the quietness of the room-it was him. His eyes followed my every movement, calm and assessing, as if he could see straight through me. quickly grabbed the edge of my robe, pulling it tighter around me and fumbling with the tie, making sure every inch of me was covered. I tied the knot a bit too firmly, my fingers working nervously over the fabric, needing something to focus on. I refused to let him see how much his gaze affe affected Once the robe was securely in place, I cleared my throat, forcing myself to look at him again. "You've been up for a while. I see, I remarked, eyeing the half-empty cup of coffee in his hand and the way his fingers effortlessly scrolled through the tablet. He didn't respond right away, merely lifting his eyes from the screen to meet mine, a small, knowing smile tugging at the comers of his lips. "I like to get an early start," he said smoothly, his voice rich and deep, sending a shiver through me despite the warmth of the morning sun. "Especially when the company is this... captivating"
me
I rolled my eyes, but my heart skipped a beat. He wasn't playing fair, and he knew it.
I could feel my pulse quicken, though I tried to mask it with a casual shrug. "Captivating, huh? "I shot back, pretending his words didn't affect me as much as they did. But the way his eyes lingered on me made it impossible to ignore. He had a way of speaking, of looking at me, that made even the most mundane things feel charged.
Titus set down his cup, leaning forward slightly in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees. His movements were slow and deliberate, as if every gesture had a purpose. "You have no idea, do you? "He asked, his voice low and velvety, sending another ripple of awareness through me.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to keep my composure. "Well, forgive me if I don't believe everything that comes out of your mouth. You've got a... "habit of playing games,
He chuckled softly, the sound both amusing and infuriatingly confident. "Cames, kitten? I assure you, this is no game."
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, the playful glint disappeared, replaced by something more intense. Something that made my stomach flip. I couldn't tell if it was a warning or a promise, but whatever it was, it had me holding my breath. I shifted awkwardly, feeling the weight of the moment settling between us. "Why are you staring at me like that? "I asked, trying to deflect, my tone sharper than I intended.
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15:21 Tue, Oct 22 Chapter 67
He leaned back in his chais again, a slow smirk creeping onto hiclips Because Lenjoy watching you squirm, trying so hard to keep that distance berween us he said smoothly, his gaze stiff locked on me. "But we both know that wont last forever My cheeks flushed at his words, and I hated that he was right. The tension between us was impossible to ignore, an matres how much I tried to fight it, there was an undeniable pull
still. I wasn't about to let him know that "You're really full of yourself, you know that I muttered, standing up from the bed. I needed space-a moment to breathe without his intense eyes burning into me
Tims stood up as well, moving with a casual grace that only made things worse. He crossed the room in a few long strides standing too close, his persener overwhelming "Maybe he mured, his voice low and teasing, but only because I know "And what's that Tasked, my voice barely a schliper av Hlooked up at him, heart racing
His eyes searched mine for a brief second before he leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. "You"
The single word sent a jolt through me, and for the first time, I didn't have a quick comeback.
I took a deep breath, pushing down the whirl of emotions his simple word had stirred inside me. He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, like 1 was the only answer to a question he had never even asked. But I couldn't afford to get swept up in hum, not now "Breakfast? "He asked casually, his voice breaking the tense silence between us: "I had it prepared earlier Care to join me
1 hesitated, my pulse still racing from his last remark, but I forced a smile. "Sure. Why not? "I replied, my tone trying sound indifferent, even though I was anything but. Anything to keep the upper hand.
Titus led the way, and I followed him out onto the terrace, where a small table had been set. The morning air was crisp, a welcome contrast to the tension still simmering between us. The sun cast a soft glow over the palace grounds, but it slid nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. He pulled out a chair for me, ever the gentleman, despite the games he played. I sat down, nodding my thanks but keeping my gaze firmly on the spread before us-fresh fruit, pastries, and something that smelled savory and delicious. Anything to avoid meeting those eyes of his Titus took the seat across from me, and even though the table separated us, I could still feel the weight of his presence. He poured us both coffee, the silence stretching between us, thick with unspoken words. I lifted my cup to my lips, hoping the bitterness of the coffer would help me focus on something anything, other than him.
As we continued eating the silence wasn't uncomfortable, but it was heavy, filled with the weight of everything left unsaid. Titus was calm, sipping his coffee, yet I could feel the tension in the air, like a storm gathering on the horizon After a moment, heet his cup down and looked at me with that piercing gaze that always seemed to see too much. "You know, last night something happened, he began, las voice calmn but with an edge that made my heart race
I didn't respond, waiting for him to continue. I already had a sinking feeling about where this was going
"How
did you do it? "He asked, leaning back slightly, his eyes studying me. "How did you manage to cut me off from the link?"
I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Of course. He was talking about how I managed to shut him off of our link. Last night. I had severed it somehow, which blocked him from feeling me and from knowing what was going on in my mind and in my body. Thad no idea how I'd done it, only that it had worked.
"I... I don't know," I admitted, my voice faltering slightly. "I just tried"
Titus raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with that answer. "You just tried? You cut off something that shouldn't be severable. You manage to hide your thoughts away from me, and you don't even know how you 2/4 15:21 Tue, Oct 22 OG Chapter 67 3232
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I let the be
his gire, the
ed beneath his word: 1 wasn't more what to tell him I didn't have mothe grate explanation for how I'd managed to block him. All I knew that I had been desperate-desperate to keep him from
mat. man invading my thoughts, from chestrolling me through that intimate bond we shared And in dust desperation, something trude me had stapped, and the connection between in had shoidered, if only temporarily
11
that
just focused on not letting you in Isaid my voice firmer this time I don't know how it worked. It just did."
Tirus was quiet for a long moment, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. "That's not supposed to be possible," he said, more to himuli dan to me. "No one has ever been able to cut off a link like that? Thugged trying to keep my voter catal, though the tension acroiling tight inside me "Maybe Fm pst different"
I'm
He looked up then, his eyes locking noto mine with an intensing Bhat made my breath catch Different, he repeared softly. as if tasting the word on his tonger. "You've always been differri Sage I just didn't realize hose much until now
+
I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable with the direction this conversation was taking "Look, I didn't do it to prove a point. T said quickly "I just needed space. Your Majesty Last night I couldn't let you have that kind of control over me Thus tibed his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered my words. "Control? Is that what you think this is about? raised an eyebrow, my chin lifting in defiance. "Isn't it!"
!
His lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile, one that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. "No, kitten. It's not about control. It's about setting everything right"
narrowed my eyes, refusing to back down. "Nothing about this is right. Your Majesty," I replied, my voice laced with arcasm. His title felt bitter on my tongue, a reminder of the power he wielded and the way he always seemed to believe be could bend the world-aand me to his will.
His wil
Titus leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table as his gaze bored into mine. "You don't understand, Sage. It's about restoring order to what's been broken
"Broken" "I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "The only thing that's broken here is this-1 gestured between us, "this twisted game you keep playing. Whatever it is you think you're fixing I want no part of it."
Has eyes darkened, his smirk fading as his expression grew more serious. "You think you have a choice in this?"His voice was low, almost a growl, and I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, as if the air in the room had thickened. "You've been part of this from the moment we met. This bond, this connection between us-it's not something you can just walk away from"
swallowed hard, fighting the unease that curled in my stomach, "I didn't ask for any of this," I said quietly, my voice wavering slightly despite my best efforts to remain strong, "I didn't ask for you."
His gaze softened, but there was still an intensity behind his eyes that I couldn't ignore. "Neither did 1" he adinitted, his voice quieter now but no less powerful. "But fate doesn't care what we want, Sage. It doesn't care about consent or about control. It just İL." I shook my head, my heart pounding. "I don't believe in fate"
Titus chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Whether you believe in it or not, it's happening. And the sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for both of us."
I bristled at hus words, at the arrogance in his tone. "Accept what? That you get to decide my future! My life? "My voice was rising now, anger bubbling to the surface. "I'm not some pawn in whatever grand plan you've concocted, Titus. I'm not yours For a moment, silence hung between us, heavy and charged. His gaze never left mine, but there was something unreadable in his expression, something almost vulnerable.
Clupter 67
"You're not a pawn, Sage" he said finally, his voice barely above ashisper "You're the queen"
My breath caught in my throat, and for a second. I couldn't find the words. The weight of his statement hit me like a wave crashing over the fragile defenses but sound myself
Til
“Quern! "1 repeated, my voice a soft echo of dobelief. I don't want to be your queen"
Titus reached across the table, his fingers Trushing against my hand, sending an electric jolt through me. "You already are he said quietly, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race. "You just haven't realized it yet." 1 pulled my hand back, shaking my head "No 1 whispered, my nice trembling. "This isn't what I wanted
"I know" he replied, his voice thick with something I couldn't quite place. "But it's what you're meant for"
I stared at him, a whirlwind of emotions tearing through menger, fear, confusion. I wanted to run, to put as much distance between us as possible, but a part of me was moted to the spot, unable to break free from the pull he had on me
This is bigger than both of us.
Stood abruptly, the chair scraping/continued, his voice calm, but there was a fire behind his words, a conviction that made my pulse quicken. You can fight it all you want, but in the end, this is where you belong
loudly against the floor as I pushed it back. "I don't belong anywhere near you." Ispat, my voice shrking with a mixture of anger and something deeper-something I refused to acknowledge. hed my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to scream. "You don't know me," I hissed through
his gare never wavering as he watched me with that maddening calmness. "You will," he said softly. almost as if he were making a promie.
Titus remained seated, HGenched gritted teeth. You don't know anything about me."
His eyes fikckered with something I couldn't quite place-was it pain? Regret? But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced once again by that infuriating confidence. "I know more than you think, Sage. And whether you like it or not, this is just the beginning" "I think I heard enough. If you'll excuse me, I'll go back to my room.
I turned on my heel, refusing to let him see the turmoil raging inside me, and stormed out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest
As I slammed the door behind me, his final words echoed in my mind, chilling me to the core