RYN

The moment I woke up, I felt a presence in my room and immediately grabbed iny knife to point

My eyes searched the dark room wildly before a bright light pierced the room. Squinting my eyes, I realized I was facing the wrong place and when I looked ik the other side of the mom, I frowned.. "Oh. It's you" I grumbled as I stared at Miro but I was glad my voice was back. "What? Expecting your boyfriend?"

My face heated up at his words. "He's not my boyfriend."

"But you wish he was, don't you?"

My mouth dropped open as I stared at his amused smile. "I do. I'm not that kind of girl" I rolled my eyes.

Miro rsked, sucking his teeth. "There you go again with that nasty habit of yours."

"What are you going to do about it?" I raised my chin, feeling a smile creep up my face.

"Ah I I see. You think my brother will protect you from me!

I nodded, moving my head up and down in an exaggerated manner.

"Fine." Miro sprang to his feet and my smile faded as I watched him warily. "What I'm going to do," He rested his hands on his waist and pretended to think about it. "Will you like Lasagna for dinner?" I brightened I up at that. "Yes, please!" I beamed.

"Good" He nodded. "Roll your eyes at me again, and I won't cook it for you again."

My smile faded aded and I glared at him.

"Deal!" He asked, with a raised brow, making me frown deeper.

"Deal. I muttered.

"I can't

hear you

"Deal!" I shouted.

"Miro!" T

'Theon's voice came from downstairs, warming my insides.

"What?!" His brother answered.

"You're bothering our guest!"

Miro did a mocking mimicry of him before rolling his eyes. I shifted my neck to the side in a sassy manner, watching him

and when he suddenly realized what he just did, he glared at me. You didn't see anything"

Itsked, making a thinking face. "Well, a chocolate chip cookie ice cream would really be nice to buy my silence."

Miro's eyes narrowed at me. "I don't negotiate with terrorists."

"Oh, I see." I said, before taking a big intake of breath and raising my voice. "Your Highnes-"

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Chapter 71 та

In a flash, Miro was covering my mouth with the palm of his hand and I couldn't help the giggle that bubbled out of me

Shhh" He whispered Tine. You won!"

My giggle calmed and then something in the atmosphere changed. Suddenly, Miro and I were staring deep into each other's Curves. I saw a trace of longing in his green eyes but it could have been anything else because in a flash it was gone... Miro got up from the bed and composed himself. The old jackal Miro was back and unsmiling. "III prepare the Lasagna." he said before leaving the room

I went into the bathroom to have my shower and when I saw myself in the mirror. I almost cried. My neck was bruised purple, dark blue or just dark.

In all my years of abuse, I had never been bruised this bad. Dutions must have really really wanted me dead.

His words rang agam in my mind.

"Poor Orphan Gurl"

No one would investigate your death."

losed my eyes as my throat constricted, willing myself not to cry.

But the tears pieced through and I found myself covering my mouth to silence my sobs while my other hand held my

stomach.

All the memories came flooding in. How my ex-pack and ex-Alpha treated me. Sleeping alone out in the cold or in the storage room. Eating from the trash can.

Goddess I I whimpered and the next thing I knew, someone was barging through the bedroom door and before I could react. Theon opened the bathroom door.

He was dressed in a Stanford University sweater on black slacks.

I stared at him through the glass as his big frame towered over mine from behind. His eyes were cold and emotionless. "I hate it when you cry. It bothers me." He said.

I sniffed, wiping my face. "I'm sorry." I swallowed. "I'll try not to let it happen again." I sighed.

His eyes assessed me from the mirror in a robotic way. He placed his large hand on my head and forced me to turn around. Raffled. I obeyed, slowly turning till I fully faced him, my head as tall as his thick neck.

Then he raised his arms wide in a gesture for a hug and a smile crept on my lips and I walked into his embrace. He wrapped. his arms around me and I closed my eyes, enjoying his scent, his warmth and his rock hard solid abs. Ryn! Focus. Don't betray yourself again. I reminded myself.

"Feeling better?" He asked, when I pulled back.

I nodded in reply. "Yes. Thank you but you don't really have to do that anytime I'm upset. I'm a big girl. I can handle it."

"I agree but the thing is when you get emotional, I get emotional and then I can't work. So the sooner you get

better..."

"The faster you can get back to work." I finished for him.

"Perfect. Now my brother is cooking, would you like to join us?"

"Yea. As soon as I get showered and changed."

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Then gave me a curt med but we stood there in the silence. None of us, moving.

Theon stepped forward and my heart raced at the anticipation of a kiss or a hot moment. He leaned downward, his hand lightly touching my face

I leaned upward, craving that kiss that sets me on fire. Just before our lips could touch, I remembered the doctor's warning about stealing his life force, and before his lips could touch mine, Trumed my cheek and got the kiss there. Embarrassed. Hooked away. Not wanting to see how cringe I felt. His brows furrowed but he didn't say anything. He simply straightened up and patted my hair. "See you soon." He said, and left the bathroom before finally leaving my room. When I was sure he was gone, I closed my eyes in disappointment and facepalmed myself. What the hell is wrong with me? How could I have forgotten the Healer's warning?

Gods! That was close. I better be mindful next time. I can't let anything happen to Theon. Not when he's fighting my hartles for me even though he gets something out of it.

I think I am starting to like this power shift in the Moonstone. I love that he can be more in control of his sexual urges than me. This way I can be myself around him and only be cautious of getting too deep.

With

one final glance at my bruises, I went for a shower.

Once I was done. I

I changed into a light blue pajama set and dried my hair with a towel. Sadie had introduced me to some skincare routine so I was doing that when my phone beeped and buzzed.

It was from Adam. Adam. "Hey,

I was going through your file and discovered you are doing well in every other aspect except combat. You seem to be lacking in that aspect. If you want, you can come in early tomorrow and I can teach you some moves before debriefing." I pondered on his text and realized what an opportunity this was for me. Quickly, I wrote back a text stating that I'd be seeing him early tomorrow morning. Glad things were working out, I left my room and went downstairs to join the twins.

Entering the kitchen I found Theon seated at the kitchen island with his earpiece in, facing his laptop while Miro slaved away in an apron, cooking.

Both brothers noticed me the moment I stepped in and they both simultaneously looked at me from head to toe. I looked at myself, wondering what the problem was.

My pj trousers were ankle length and my top covered my body. That was deliberate. Especially because of what I heard. about them from Dutton.

"Is something wrong?" I a I asked as they stared at me.

Miro glanced at his brother before going back to the pot. There was something in his expression that I could not identify.

"Come. Sit." Theon said, removing his ear piece while tapping the seat next to him.

I joined in and took my seat, beaming

Then a question came to mind that I never asked.

"May I ask something, Prince Miro?"

He turned to me with narrowed eyes as if to say, "What is it again?"

I smiled at his apprehensiveness. "Just a simple question."

"Fine. Shoot" He said.

"Why is it that you guys have servants for everything else except the kitchen? Why are you always the one cooking?"

The twins exchanged a glance and from the corner of my eye, I saw Theon shake his head as if to tell Miro not to tell me something.

Now what could the twins be possibly hiding from me?

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