Chapter 46 Battle Of Jealousy
The ground trembled.
Lyra spun just as the flames around her territory surged violently outward, reacting before she could stop them. Trees bent. Ash spiraled into the air. Cassian shifted instinctively into a defensive stance
“Leave.” The single word cut through the clearing like a blade.
Dante stepped fully into the firelight.
His Alpha aura crashed into the territory, raw and furious, forcing the flames to recoil as if recognizing him despite Lyra’s command. His eyes locked on hers, dark, burning, shattered.
Cassian growled low. “This is her land,” Cassian warned.
Dante didn’t look at him.
“Go,” Dante said again, voice vibrating with lethal authority.
Lyra lifted a hand sharply. “Cassian.”
Cassian hesitated, eyes flicking to her face. Whatever he saw there made him nod once. He stepped back, retreating into the shadows, but not leaving the territory entirely.
The moment they were alone, the air exploded.
“Have you lost your mind?” Dante roared, stalking toward her. “Marking offers? Royal bonds? With him?”
Lyra stood her ground. “You crossed my border.”
“You tempted fate first.” His voice cracked. “I felt it. Your fire reacting to his presence. To his touch.”
“He didn’t touch me.”
“That doesn’t make it better!”
Flames leapt between them, responding to her rising anger. “You don’t get to come here and interrogate me like I still belong to you.”
Dante stopped inches away. The bond surged violently, heat and longing crashing together.
“You do,” he said hoarsely. “Damn it, Lyra—you do.”
Her breath stuttered.
For a heartbeat, the world narrowed to the space between their mouths. The fire softened, curling around them like a living thing. Dante’s hand lifted, hovering near her cheek.
She could feel how badly he wanted to touch her.
“How dare you,” she whispered. “You pushed me away. You let them doubt me. You stood silent while Seraphina tore me apart.”
Pain flashed across his face. “I was trying to protect you.”
“By breaking me?”
“I didn’t know how else to keep you alive!”
Lyra shoved his chest, fire flaring. “You don’t get to decide that anymore.”
Dante grabbed her wrist, in desperation. “You think I don’t see what he’s doing? Cassian wants you.”
“And?” she snapped. “You don’t own my future.”
His grip loosened, hurt flooding his eyes. “No. But I know you.”
The bond tugged painfully.
“I know the way your fire leans toward mine,” Dante said softly. “I know how you breathe when you’re lying. I know that look, you didn’t accept his offer.”
She froze.
Dante’s thumb brushed her pulse, gentle. “You didn’t refuse either.”
Her lips parted. “This is my choice.”
“And I’m allowed to hate it,” he growled.
Emotion slammed into them both in anger, jealousy, longing so sharp it hurt. Dante leaned in, forehead resting against hers.
“Say you don’t feel this,” he murmured. “Say it, and I’ll leave.”
Lyra trembled. The words stuck in her throat.
She didn’t say them.
The moment shattered as a horn sounded in the distance, warning bells from her border.
Both of them pulled back instantly, attack again.
Dante’s jaw clenched. “Enemies are moving.”
“I know,” Lyra said.
Silence stretched, heavy and unresolved.
Dante took a step back. His voice was low, dangerous, aching.
“You can be Queen,” he said. “Build kingdoms. Command fire. Rule th
e damned world if you want.”
His eyes burned into hers.
“But you will NEVER belong to him.”