Elliott narrowed his eyes, not sure if he should believe Spike. "Wait, so you do want them to be cute, but you think it's too good to be true? I'm a bit confused," he said. Spike laughed, and explained, "It's just that things never go that smoothly in real life. Something always goes wrong. I'm worried that something bad is going to happen to them." Elliott nodded, understanding what Spike meant. "I get it. You're just being cautious," he said.Spike felt a blush rising to his cheeks. He knew that Elliott was a good person, and he felt grateful to have him as a friend. But he also felt guilty for the way he had treated Elliott before they became friends. He knew he had been mean and selfish, and he didn't want to take advantage of Elliott's kindness. "I'm really sorry for the way I treated you before," he said. "You didn't deserve that."Elliott smiled, and put a hand on Spike's shoulder. "It's okay," he said. "You were just having a hard time, and you didn't know how to deal with it.

"Spike, I need you to tell me what's going on," Carnelian said, her voice gentle but firm. "Why have you been acting so strangely? And why have you been trying to interfere with my relationships?"Spike looked at her with tear-filled eyes. "I'm just trying to protect you," he said, his voice shaking. "I've seen your future, and it's full of heartbreak. I know that if you get too close to Travis, it will only end in pain. I'm only doing this because I care about you. I'm sorry if I've upset you."Travis clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists at his side. He had taken a leap of faith by pursuing a relationship with Carnelian, and it took every ounce of courage he had to do so. And now, Spike was trying to ruin it all. He felt betrayed and angry, and he couldn't help but wonder if Spike was jealous. He wasn't sure how to react, but he knew he needed to stay calm and try to resolve the situation.Spike's eyes were filled with tears, but Carnelian stood firm. She knew that he was o

The emperor nodded, and a servant ushered the Blackwoods to their rooms. Another servant led Aviva and Celeste to their own rooms, while Markus was left standing alone in the throne room. The silence was deafening, and he could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and focused. He needed to be ready for whatever came next.Celeste's eyes were red and puffy, and her voice trembled as she spoke. "I can't do this, Markus," she said, her voice breaking. "I don't want to marry the emperor. I don't want to be a bargaining chip in this political game. I just want to be happy, and I can't be happy if I'm forced to marry someone I don't love." She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. Markus put his hand on her shoulder, wishing he could take away her pain.Markus opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. What could he say to make this better? He was just as lost and confused as Celeste, and he fe

The emperor's gaze was cold and calculating as he considered his options. He could dissolve the alliance, casting Celeste aside like so many other women he had used and discarded. Or he could simply dispose of Markus, silencing the one who posed a threat to his power. No matter what he chose, it would be a cruel and selfish decision, made without regard for the people whose lives he held in his hands. His arrogance and entitlement blinded him to the human cost of his actions.As Markus watched Aviva and Roman, a knot of tension and anxiety formed in his stomach. He had seen them together before, but never like this. Something was different, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Roman's usually confident and arrogant demeanor seemed to have softened, his face betraying a hint of vulnerability. And Aviva's expression was a mix of joy and sorrow, her eyes betraying a deep sense of longing. What were they talking about? And why did it seem so important?The words that finally cam

The guards scattered, some of them shouting in alarm, others simply staring in shock. Aviva was the only one who remained calm, watching the scene unfold with a look of steely resolve. She knew that Roman was capable of great destruction, but she also knew that he was capable of great compassion.Uriel struggled against Roman's grasp, but he was no match for the strength of the god of thunder. He could feel the heat of Roman's flames against his skin, and he knew that if he didn't do something soon, he would meet a painful end."You can't do this!" Uriel cried, his voice high with panic. "You'll be no better than me if you kill me!"Roman's eyes narrowed, and he brought his face close to the emperor's. "Maybe so," he said, his voice low and menacing. "But I'm not the one who murdered my own father."Roman released his hold on the emperor, stepping back and letting him slump to the ground, defeated. "I am not a murderer," he said, his voice shaking. "But you have forced me to confront t