**Chapter Title: The Flames of DesireVictor’s heart was still racing from the battle, but the warmth of Emma in his arms had begun to calm the storm inside him. Her lips against his had ignited something that had long been buried, a flame that had been waiting for this exact moment to burn bright. But as much as the heat between them roared, there was no time to indulge in it. Not yet.They pulled apart slightly, both breathing hard, the intensity of the moment lingering between them. The battlefield around them was quiet now, only the groans of the defeated and the rustling of the wind filling the space. His soldiers had secured the area, and Maria was being dragged away by Victor’s men, still snarling but defeated.Victor looked down at Emma, her face flushed from the battle, her lips slightly swollen from their kiss, and his heart thudded in his chest. She was everything he never knew he needed. Strong, loyal, fierce.“We need to get out of here,” Victor said softly, his voice ro
Victor and Emma sat across from each other at a secluded table in a quiet restaurant, a place away from the prying eyes of the city. They had come here for lunch, to take a break from the chaos of their war-ridden world. Yet, the tension between them had less to do with their relationship and more with the enemies lurking in the shadows, waiting for any chance to strike.Victor’s gaze was locked on Emma, who was casually sipping from her glass of wine. Despite the soft lighting and the peaceful setting, his mind was already back on the battlefield. He clenched his jaw, pushing away the disturbing thoughts of their enemies, Lord Arkan, Maria, and everyone else who wanted them dead.“I don’t trust this peace,” Victor muttered, his voice gruff. “They won’t stop until we’re buried six feet under.”Emma placed her glass down, her eyes sharp as she looked at him. “I know. They’re waiting for us to slip up. That’s what they do, watch and strike when we least expect it.”“Damn right,” Victor
Victor walked into the office, Emma by his side, exuding an air of calm despite the whispers that had already begun before they even reached the door. His presence, though quiet, was impossible to ignore. The rumors of his demise had spread like wildfire, and the disbelief in his return was evident in every set of eyes that watched him move through the room. "Is that...Victor?" someone murmured.“I thought he was dead,” another whispered, clearly shocked.Victor’s expression remained unchanged, but Emma’s eyes flicked to the side, catching the faces of the ones speaking under their breath. She didn’t like the way they were looking at Victor, their voices laced with suspicion and disdain.“This man doesn’t know when to stay down,” one of them said louder this time, shaking his head in disbelief.Emma stopped walking abruptly, her eyes narrowing. She’d had enough.“What did you just say?” she snapped, turning to face the group who had been gossiping.The men shifted uncomfortably, avoi
“You’ve all crossed the line,” Emma’s voice cut through the air like a blade, as she stood in the center of the office, staring down the workers. Her eyes blazed with fury, her body tense with restrained anger. The room went silent as everyone turned to face her, their whispers dying off under the weight of her glare. Victor stood behind her, his expression unreadable, but the tension in his posture said everything. He wasn’t going to stop her. Emma’s voice was cold and steady. “You think because Victor hasn’t said anything that you can treat him however you want? That his silence means weakness? Let me make something very clear — Victor may be calm, but he is far from weak. And if you think you can keep humiliating him, spreading your gossip like cowards, you’re about to see exactly how dangerous he can be.”One of the men in the back tried to laugh it off. “Miss Emma, we didn’t mean—”Emma cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand. “Stop with the excuses. You meant every word. You
Emma was still seething after giving the staff their final warning when she heard the sound of heels clicking aggressively behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The room had gone too quiet, and a thick tension hung in the air as Maria stormed toward her.Maria’s voice, dripping with venom, cut through the silence. “How *dare* you?”Emma slowly turned around, her eyes narrowing as she faced the woman. Maria’s face was twisted in fury, her eyes blazing with anger. “Is there something you’d like to say, Maria?” Emma asked calmly, though her voice was tight with restrained emotion.Maria laughed bitterly, crossing her arms. “Oh, there’s plenty I want to say. But let’s start with this: are you not *ashamed* of yourself? Standing here defending *him*?” She jabbed a finger in Victor’s direction, her voice full of disdain. “A *nobody* over your own family?”Emma felt her stomach twist, but she refused to back down. “Victor is far from a nobody, Maria. He’s done more
Victor took a deep breath, his face hardening with resolve. His hand still rested on Emma's arm, but his gaze shifted to the door Maria had just stormed through. “You know what? I’m done playing nice,” he muttered, his voice cold with determination.Emma turned to him, noticing the fire in his eyes. “Victor, what are you thinking?”He pulled away from her slightly, his jaw clenched. “I’ve had enough of Maria’s games. Enough of her lies and manipulation. She thinks she can treat us like pawns? Not anymore.”Just then, the door burst open again, and Maria stormed back in, her face twisted in fury. “I’m not done with you!” she spat, her eyes blazing. “You think you can humiliate me and walk away? Victor, you “owe” me!”Victor didn’t flinch. Instead, he slowly turned to face her, his expression unreadable but his tone sharp as a blade. “Owe you?” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. “You really believe that, don’t you? That I “owe” you something?”Maria stepped closer, pointing a fin
Victor’s gaze lingered on Emma for a moment longer, the weight of everything that had just happened slowly washing over him. He’d finally broken free from Maria’s grasp, from Grandpa Ben’s manipulation. It felt like he’d shed the chains that had bound him for years.But the storm wasn’t over. They both knew it.Emma’s voice broke the silence, gentle but firm. “Victor, Maria’s not going to let this go. Neither will Grandpa Ben. You need to be ready.”Victor’s eyes darkened, his resolve hardening even more. “I know,” he said, his voice low. “But I’m not afraid of them anymore. Let them come. I’m done running.”Emma nodded, her eyes full of admiration. “Good. Because they’re going to push back, and they’re going to push hard. We have to be ready to hit back even harder.”Victor’s grip on her hand tightened, his jaw clenching. “I’m not backing down this time. They’ve underestimated me for too long.”Emma smiled, her gaze steady. “That’s what I love about you. You never give up, even when
“You deserve a break,” Victor said, his voice soft but firm, his eyes locked onto Emma’s.Emma gave him a puzzled look, the tension still simmering in the air between them. “A break? Victor, we don’t have time to"Victor cut her off, shaking his head. “We’ve been fighting nonstop, Emma. I see it in your eyes, you’re exhausted. You need to rest. *We* need to rest, even if just for a moment.”Before Emma could protest, Victor scooped her up into his arms. She let out a soft gasp, clutching his shoulders instinctively. “Victor, what are you doing?” she asked, her voice breathless from the sudden movement.Victor smirked down at her, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Taking you somewhere you can relax. You’ve earned it.”Emma’s protests melted away as she settled against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She was tired, that much was true. Her body ached, and her mind was running on fumes, but she had been too focused on the fight ahead to admit it.Victor carried her