Reyna’s POV
I stood frozen as John’s words echoed in the air, tension wrapping itself around the room like a suffocating fog.
“Jake,” John said, his tone sharp and dismissive. “You’re interrupting my time with Reyna.”
My breath hitched as Jake’s gaze flicked to me. His expression was unreadable, but there was a storm brewing in his eyes. I wanted to say something, to diffuse the growing tension, but my voice was caught in my throat. I looked at him helplessly, silently pleading for this confrontation to end before it spiraled out of control.
Jake’s jaw tightened, and he nodded curtly. “I’d like to have a word with you when you’re done talking to her.”
John smirked, clearly unfazed. “Of course. I’ll find you when I’m ready.”
Without another word, Jake turned on his heel and left the room, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him amplifying the silence that followed. My heart was pounding, each beat louder than the last. I couldn’t bring myself to look at John, but I could feel his eyes on me.
“Where were we?” His voice was low, almost teasing, as he closed the distance between us.
I forced myself to meet his gaze, but before I could react, he leaned in. I turned my face away just in time, his lips brushing my cheek instead. He froze for a moment, then straightened, his grip tightening on my arm.
“Reyna,” he said softly, his tone laced with a dangerous edge. “Have you suddenly grown feelings for Jake?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. How could I explain the mess of emotions swirling inside me? The pull I felt toward Jake, the guilt, the confusion it was too much.
My silence was all the confirmation John needed. His expression darkened, and he pulled me closer, his fingers digging into my waist. “I see,” he murmured, his voice dripping with something akin to disdain. “Let me make one thing very clear I’m not backing out without a fight.”
I gasped, his words hitting me like a slap. He released me abruptly, stepping back as if to give me space to process what he’d said.
“You’d better be ready to choose, Reyna,” he said, his tone softer now but no less commanding.
I stared at him, my mind reeling. Choose? How could I possibly make such a decision when I didn’t even know what I wanted?
John walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. He turned to look at me, his expression unreadable. “Get ready,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Then he was gone, leaving me alone in the room.
The weight of his words settled heavily on my chest, and I couldn’t stop the tears that spilled down my cheeks. I pressed my hands to my face, trying to stifle the sobs that threatened to break free. Everything was falling apart, and I didn’t know how to piece it back together.
My entire world had shifted in the span of a few hours. The bond with Jake, John’s possessiveness, Diane’s scheming it was all too much. I felt like I was being pulled in a thousand different directions, and the pressure was unbearable.
I sank into the nearest chair, my hands trembling as I tried to steady my breathing. But no matter how hard I tried, the tears kept coming. How had things gotten so complicated?
My thoughts turned to Jake, to the way he had looked at me earlier in the hall, and again when he interrupted us just now. There was something in his eyes, something raw and unspoken, that both terrified and thrilled me.
And then there was John so sure of himself, so determined to claim me as his own. The way he had pulled me close, the way he had spoken to me, it left no doubt in my mind that he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
I buried my face in my hands, my tears soaking my palms. I felt like a pawn in a game I didn’t understand, and I hated it. But more than that, I hated the part of me that didn’t want to fight it. The part of me that was drawn to both of them, that couldn’t seem to make up its mind.
“Get a grip, Reyna,” I whispered to myself, my voice shaky. “You have to figure this out.”
But even as I said the words, I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Nothing about this situation was simple. And the longer I stayed caught between Jake and John, the more tangled everything would become.
For now, all I could do was take it one step at a time. But deep down, I knew that sooner or later, I would have to make a choice. And when that time came, I just hoped I’d be strong enough to follow my heart, wherever it might lead.
___
Jake’s POV
I sat at the bar, nursing a glass of wine, the rich crimson liquid swirling lazily as I rotated the glass in my hand. The sound of faint chatter and music drifted through the hall, but I barely noticed. My mind was elsewhere-on Reyna, on John, on the mess that tonight had become.
Taking a long swig of the wine, I relished the sharp burn as it slid down my throat. It did little to calm the storm brewing inside me, but at least it gave me something to focus on. The tension in the room was thick, and I knew it was only a matter of time before John found me.
I didn’t have to wait long. His presence was announced by the sound of footsteps, heavy and deliberate, as he walked toward me. I didn’t bother turning around. I simply tipped my glass to my lips and took another drink.
“Jake,” John said, his voice cool but edged with something sharper. “You wanted to talk?”
I set the glass down and turned to face him. He stood tall, his posture rigid, his eyes locked on mine. There was no warmth in his gaze, only curiosity laced with a hint of suspicion.
“Yes,” I said, keeping my voice even. “Do you love Reyna?”
For a moment, he stared at me, and then he laughed. The sound was harsh, almost mocking, as if I’d just asked the most ridiculous question imaginable.
“That’s rich,” he said, shaking his head. “The question you should be asking, Jake, is when did you start having feelings for Reyna?”
I frowned, but he didn’t give me a chance to respond.
“Because let’s not pretend,” he continued, his tone dripping with disdain. “You’ve never been warm to her. In fact, you’ve been nothing but cold and indifferent. So, tell me what changed?”
“Change is constant,” I said simply, meeting his gaze head-on. “People grow, their perspectives shift. It’s not that complicated.”
He snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Spare me the philosophy, Jake. You think I don’t see what you’re doing? Back off. You don’t have a chance with her.”
A muscle in my jaw ticked, but I kept my composure. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, John. And as for chances, let’s not forget that the throne you sit on right now is rightfully mine.”
His expression darkened, the playful edge in his demeanor vanishing in an instant. “Careful,” he warned, his voice low.
“I stepped down for you,” I pressed, my voice firm. “Because I wanted peace. I let you have what was never yours to begin with. But don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.”
John took a step closer, his eyes blazing. For a moment, I thought he was going to hit me his hand twitched, his fist clenching at his side. But then, just as quickly, he dropped it.
“Not worth it,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to me. He turned on his heel, his back rigid as he began to walk away.
“Walk away, John,” I called after him, my tone calm but loaded with meaning. “But remember this you don’t own Reyna. She’s not a prize to be won.”
He stopped in his tracks, but he didn’t turn around. For a moment, I thought he might respond, but then he resumed walking, disappearing down the hall without another word.
I exhaled slowly, my grip on the edge of the bar loosening as the tension in my body eased. The encounter had been brief, but it left a bitter taste in my mouth. John might think he has the upper hand, but he didn’t understand the depth of what I felt for Reyna. He couldn’t see past his own arrogance, his own desire to control everything around him.
I picked up my glass and drained the last of the wine, the fire in my chest burning brighter than ever. Reyna wasn’t just some trophy to be fought over. She was more than that-more than John or anyone else seemed to realize. And if he thought I was going to step aside and let him dictate how this would play out, he was sorely mistaken.
The throne, the title, the respect I had walked away from it all once for the sake of peace. But when it came to Reyna, I wouldn’t yield. Not this time. Not for anyone.