Heart Of Stone - Episode 88&89&90

       

HEART OF STONE

Heart Of Stone - Episode 88&89&90

 (..Sold•To•The•Pit•Of•Hell..)

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025.

By: Naomi Cindy B.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★a

[Cold-hearted Harem]

Rumi and Anatoli had their seats beside the pool, clinked their glasses and shared another smile before drinking, trying to pretend to focus on the party and at the same time waiting for when the two intruders would get closer.

The champagne in their glasses refused to shake as their bodies stilled at the same time, and that was enough to alert the knights.

They're aware of being seen.

They took two steps back, and Rumi instantly stood with Anatoli.

Rumi cast a spell to stop every of the other guests from moving, and they all went still like the champagne, so they now have time for the knights.

Cheyenne took off her hat, and Sage shifted his hat back to the middle of his head, revealing his face too.

"It'd always be you guys, Ryker's hunter and huntress," Anatoli sneered darkly.

"Sneaking in? Height of foolishness." Rumi smiled, wrapping a chiffon on her waist to cover up.

"Since when?" Cheyenne smiled back, but there's enough venom to lace a dozen bullet under that smile.

"The same father who's the Genesis of the problems?" Sage nodded. "I'm convinced that you and Xena share a brain, half and half."

"You have a pretty face, too bad your mouth rivals a sewage stink!" Rumi laughed.

"Listen, daftie! We came here to teach you both a lesson for what you did, but here's an advice for you—free of charge. Run from your animal of a father, or your untimely death will come directly from him!" Cheyenne slammed angrily.

"No, don't run." Sage chuckled. "I'd love to see how the corpse of a daughter killed by her father looks."

"Done with the lectures?" Anatoli spoke up.

"Shut up, old wuss!" Cheyenne bared her long nails.

Sage suspended his black rope from his wrist.

Together, they lunged father and daughter.

Rumi's spell failed. She suddenly can't cast another one on them cos the people she spelled to stay still are still there, so she hid behind her father.

Anatoli cracked the wall beside the knights, crashing a dust concrete down on them, but they skillfully rolled out of it, and Cheyenne's nails found his bare legs. 

She tore him in five lines, representing all of her cruel nails.

Anatoli couldn't do anything but scream, shaking the silent neighborhood.

Unable to watch her father getting overpowered, Rumi kicked Cheyenne in the face, and the latter rolled back, but Sage didn't let her go for that.

He wrapped his rope on her neck from behind, strangling her.

Rumi gasped for breaths, writhing and shrinking to her knees.

Anatoli picked one of the round fallen concretes, replicating it to five just like he did the hairpin.

The five went to Sage, but before it could clash with him in the face, Cheyenne was already there.

She punched three away with her fists, and Sage kicked two.

Together, they blew father and daughter twice in their faces.

Rumi fainted flat, but Anatoli is strong as fûck. He successfully gave Sage a gash on the shoulder.

"Let's go!" Cheyenne dragged Sage, both levitating to the wired fence.

Anatoli ran after them, but they vanished from there.

Taking a breath, Anatoli fell on the ground, blood pouring from his face from the punch he received.

His jaw got dislocated, so his mouth isn't straight. Also, his nose is bended.

His chin has a large wound, too, his torn leg is still bleeding.

He looked over at Rumi on the ground. She's the same.

Dislocated jaws and wounded cheeks, bleeding mouth. There's a round wound on her neck from Sage's rope.

Anatoli crawled there, and instead of finding a way to tend to both of them,  his eyes fell on her exposed bóobs top

He was already bringing his hand to it when he heard someone cough, and the hand stopped halfway.

His face went up, and Caspian entered with a delighted smile.

He squatted in front of him.

"Yunno, I'm a man-slut or the debauchery pig like many would say, but lusting on my own daughter? That's a little too low, don't you think?" He whispered.

"It's not... what...you...think" Anatoli struggled to talk with his bended mouth as he sat on the ground.

"But..." Caspian leaned to him, eyes a refuge of evilness. "You're like my business partner, so your secret is safe." 

Anatoli looked away.

"But your face is a total mess, you got beaten by the knights?" He laughed.

"You knew the knights entered?" Anatoli squinted.

"The invited guests list shot up by two. Who else would be bold enough to sneak into my harem if not his knights? I deliberately let it slide cos I wanted to see what you and Rumi would do, but I'm disappointed." Caspian's smile disappeared, replaced with a hard acidic glare.

"You came here to snatch his wealth with your mediocre powers? You couldn't even defeat his knights, but you're targeting him? Are you shitting me? You've been planning this for how many years? And yet, you're still as useless as ashtray in a damn car!"

"Rumi believes I'm not very strong, I have to keep it that way." Anatoli replied, standing up.

He spat blood on the fallen bricks.

"You're only pretending to be a weak-ass dude cos of your daughter?" Caspian touched his shoulder.

"Good! Very good!" 

"You have a runny mouth, don't go and mistakenly say it. Rumi is smart and suspicious." Anatoli whispered.

"Rest assured," Caspian closed his eyes and opened it... "I'm no idiot."

Rumi coughed back to life on the ground, and the two men shifted their eyes to her.

She groaned, punching herself in the mouth to reset her jaw.

"The beauty is finally awake, can you at least remove the spell you put on the guests?" Caspian spoke.

"What about the broken walls? Won't they get suspicious?" Anatoli asked.

"Suspicious in my house?" Caspian scoffed. "It's part of the fun. Rumi, Remove the spell."

Rumi removed the stilling spell, and the guests began moving, resuming what they were doing.

They didn't even notice the broken walls in the hall.

"I'll have the home manager get someone to plaster the walls back," Caspian said, pulling a cigar to put light on.

"I'll be in the room. We got beaten so bad that I don't even wanna look you in the face right now, Pa." Rumi held her side rib as she walked away.

"It's worth the shame, girl. I understand you!" Caspian shouted.

"Stop it," Anatoli muttered, and Caspian laughed again.

He guided Anatoli to his home office since the old man can't walk by himself.

Cheyenne's nails marks on his legs is trying to really cripple him.

Caspian set him on the soft couch in the spacious tobacco-reeking office.

He got them a bottle of spirit which he popped with dramatic loudness.

"My doctor should be here anytime soon, you'll get treated." 

"You know human real doctors can't do anything about wounds causes by Luminarians. I can heal myself,but Rumi isn't aware I have healing ability, so...I have to keep it bleeding till we get back to Luminaria. I'll pay a healer alchemist to heal us." Anatoli explained.

"Oh..." Caspian pushed one of the spirit bottle to him, grinning as he drank from his own.

"I get that, but tell me...when did all of your plans start? A storytime?" He shrugged, casually strolling around the old man's chair while swirling the cup of spirit he's holding.

"You're not normal," Anatoli looked up swiftly.

"I'm far from normal, dawg." Caspian stated frankly.

"It started when Ryker's pregnancy turned six months," Anatoli said.

                   [350 Yrs Ago]

Dominika is now seven months gone, meaning in two to three months, she'd be giving birth to the bloodsucker child, but the surprising thing is that immediately the pregnancy clocked six months yesterday, she stopped trying to trying to kill herself.

She's calmer than usual, and she has been trying her best to not drink directly from the blood bags. 

She has been on blood transfusion without saying a word to her husband.

At first, Anatoli wondered why, but he later came to a conclusion; she got tired and decided to accept her fate.

That must be it.

Dominika just finished taking her second blood bag for today, and she had fallen asleep, so Anatoli took the twins to the top pavement to play with them and spend time.

Xena got herself busy with the popcorn bag, but Rumi didn't seem interested. She just sat beside her father, placing an head on his lap.

"Why does mother dislike the child in her belly?" She suddenly asked, her voice too rigid for a three year old.

"Because..." Xena drawled from the other side with her mouthful of popcorn.

"Because?" Anatoli faced her. Rumi lifted her head and faced her, too.

"Because... He's...bad. A bloodsucker." Xena replied, her voice nothing close to sharp. She's stuttering a little.

"But... teacher at daycare said children are blessings, just like us." Rumi said.

"Children are blessings, but that one in your mother's womb is a curse, a bloodthirsty one who makes your blood run dry." Anatoli said.

His phone buzzed.

Seeing it's a new line, he left the kids at the concrete, going to the staircase to pick up.

"Yes?"

"Your wife is carrying a demigod, and you're probably planning to kill your wife after she gives birth, cos you want to steal the child's powers in the future?" An unknown voice dropped.

Anatoli went lower on the staircase, his eyes dilating.

"What do you mean? Who are you? How did you —"

"I'm an helper, I wouldn't watch you kill yourself." The voice interrupted.

"Tell me who you are!" Anatoli demanded with desperacy.

"You won't be able to do anything without the godslayer sword, and to get it, you'll have to find your way into the Millions Family." The voice said, hanging up.

"Godsla—hello? Hello?" Anatoli repeated restlessly.

                   [Present Time]

"That was the first time we communicated, and since then, she has been my Master in the shadows, always helping." Anatoli said.

"And you haven't seen her?" Caspian demanded suspiciously, tapping his index on his glass rim.

"We'll only meet when I get the sword, we had a deal. She's a godslayer, and only a godslayer can wield the sword, so I'd be needing her help by then." Anatoli replied.

"A godslayer? You mean Esme? I know that whore." Caspian inquired.

"No. There are two. Esme is one, my hidden Master is the other." Anatoli said confidently.

"Cool. So...you found the sword yet?" Caspian sat in front of him.

"I found out the location already, but a little more time before it'd be eligible for me to get." Anatoli smiled.

"Isn't there a legend that whoever slays the gods with the godslaying sword gets half of the gods powers? And if you're lucky to get the FrostOrb too, you get fully empowered as a demon," Caspian pulled his frame closer to whisper...

"The Bloody Demon," 

"Why else do you think I'm struggling so hard? Of course I want the power," Anatoli replied, staring down at his bleeding leg.

Caspian smiled, taking a sip.

That's never happening.

Not when he's here as the original demigod.

Anatoli has no idea about that fact, so he's just gonna use this old man.

"Ever heard of exhumation ritual?" He said, capturing his attention.

"Exhumation?" Anatoli blinked.

"Your wife is the only dead member of your family, was she burnt or buried?" Caspian asked.

"I always told people she was burnt, but she was actually buried in our former household, under the bed she birthed Ryker on." Anatoli replied.

"Good. When you get back to your city, go exhume her skeletal bones, grind them to dust and take it with your tea. She's the demigod's mother, her bones still carries powers you could use against him." Caspian said.

"Seriously?" Anatoli gasped.

--

[Rumi's Room]

Realizing that the wounds on her body would not heal unless they get back to Luminaria, Rumi just let them bleed away.

She's sitting at the feet of her bed, her mind bouncing back and forth with what she heard from Anatoli earlier...

"Rumi believes I'm not very strong, I have to keep it that way."

She was actually already awake when Anatoli said that, she only just lay there to hear more.

Now why would her father pretend to be weak for her?

Why??

She walked to the window, leaning there for a while.

Sensing she needed ginger, she got herself a small coke wrap and put some powder on her palm, sniffling it all at a go.

It hit the spot, right there.

Her head rang, loud and crazy. Shinny tears ran down her eyes, then she remembered Sage's words too...

"The same father who's the Genesis of the problems?" 

How?

She slammed her own head on the window, wounding herself severely more to calm down.

Also, why is her spell casting ability shaking? Earlier, she couldn't cast more than one spell. 

What's going on?

--

[Glass House]

The knights only sustained minor injuries,the gash on Sage's shoulder being the biggest.

They took turns to heal each other before settling for dinner at the dinning table.

"Don't you think we entered and exited the harem too easily?" Sage suddenly said, baring his mind.

"Caspian probably knew, and he just let us have our time. I wouldn't underestimate anyone at this point." Cheyenne replied, dropping her fork.

"You mean?" Sage said.

"Don't be silly, he probably let us have the fight cos he wanted to test the ability of his new partners in crime?" Cheyenne replied.

"Hmm," Sage nodded.

Cheyenne smiled slightly before drinking some water.

"I'm gonna go drum for a while, I miss my jazz set." She said, leaving him at the dinning.

As she walked away, Sage stared at her backside for a beat, his hand tightening on the fork handle till she was outta sight.

Soon, the sound of her drumming filled the mansion, and he quickly finished his food, wanting to go be her only audience fast, but his phone stopped him by tingling.

He pulled it out, gasping when he saw 'boss' on the ID.

He rushed to the jazz room to get Cheyenne.

--

[Luminaria, Fire Palace~Shayla's Bedchamber]

Shayla is fast asleep on Ryker's chest already. Sleep got the best of her after they did it thrice, and she has been deeply dozing since then.

They're both still naked, though. And he's still inside her, yet to pull out. She's literally sleeping with it.

Ryker's phone is to his ear, and his fingers are picking out her hair strands as he waited for Sage to pick.

"Boss!!" Sage's hyper voice bursted the speakers, and he quickly put the phone away from his ear...

"Shh. Wake her, I'll come down to Russia to kill you."

"Oh...apology. But I missed you!" Sage gushed like a girl.

"I should have called Cheyenne first," Ryker said, humourless.

"Right, you should have called me first, I don't make noise unnecessarily." Cheyenne's voice followed.

"How're you both holding up?" Ryker asked, resting his chin on Shayla's hair. She stirred, her arms tangling tight around him.

His cóck moved inside her, causing him to groan soundlessly, insane with her unending warmth.

The knights reported everything hitherto, and he listened attentively till the end.

"I'll be in Russia tommorow," He said simply and hung up.

It's hightime to meet the unintelligent dimwit—Caspian.

After his meeting with Pearl, he has been planning to meet with him, now time is due.

He stroked Shayla's face, dearly, feeling very bad that he had lied to her, but it's for the best.

--

[Same Night, Vipers Household]

Under the cover of the dark, Winona has been following Astor for an hour.

Since she started getting suspicious about him, she has been cautious.

She couldn't get herself to sit still, so when he suddenly left the West Palace tonight, she followed.

"Why would he come to Vipers Household?" She muttered, waiting for a minute after he entered the gate, then she entered, too.

She was tiptoeing, softly steadying her breaths till she entered the dusty old house.

She made her way to the Archive, expecting to meet Astor inside, but he wasn't there.

Frowning, she stayed still.

Where had he gone?

"Winona?" His voice broke behind, making her jump. 

She fell back on her butt.

Astor stood there in front of her, holding a brown journal to his hip

"F+k! You scared me!" She held her chest, rising.

"I should be the one saying that. Why were you following me?" Astor asked, coming closer.

Winona smiled, awkwardly.

He's aware that she followed him? 

Maybe she underestimated him.

"Since the fake orb shattered, the West got deadass, I...decided to follow you when I saw you going out." She lied smoothly.

"Then you should have said so instead of sneaking, I'm your stepfather, Winona. You can't keep suspecting me." Astor said.

"No!" Winona raised her hands. "It wasn't suspicion, I really followed you cos I was bored, and now that you're here, why not let's continue our search for any clue about the curse?" She smiled, grabbing a book.

Astor watched as she sat below a shelf, backing it and flipping pages.

His eyes rolled, secretly to the right.

He slipped a small note into the book he's holding, returned it to the shelf and picked another book.

He sat beside Winona, and they started searching together.

Winona glanced secretly at him.

Her suspicions still hasn't died.

She'd die on the hill that Astor is hiding something which she's definitely going to find out.

They both left after two hours of fruitless search, and the moment they stepped away, the figure in red cloak appeared in the middle of the archive 

It picked the brown journal that Astor dropped, opened it to the middle and took the small note.

It left through the backdoor.

--

[Millions Family Penthouse, Xena's Room]

Xena didn't expect the approach to be easy, but Zeke was so open-minded.

He allowed her without doubting her intentions.

She was given the last room, and she settled quiet well. 

She's to rest tonight, and tomorrow they'll sign the alliance contract.

She doesn't even care if Soren is in agreement or not. All she wants is marriage with him to shame Ryker.

Also, once she becomes his wife, she'd automatically be a princess. 

That's enough to choke Shayla.

She'd have her own closet, too, and be in riches.

She'd find her father and sister, and she'd take good care of them as the new family head.

After all, she was the first to come out when their dead mother gave birth to her and Rumi.

Now that Ryker is gone from the family tree, she's the new first child.

As for the brandings on her forehead, Zeke has promised to find the cure, so she's calm about that one.

But her animal ability is giving her problems, and she has no idea why.

For weeks now, she hasn't been able to communicate with animals or summon them.

Is she losing her ability?

That creepy thought kept her awake in bed throughout the night, and that was why she knew when someone entered her room.

She kept laying still, pretending to be asleep till the person got close. 

Despite the room darkness, she could clearly see the shinny long knife with the person.

Getting to her bedside, the knife was raised. Xena rolled off the bed to the ground, slapping on the lamp beside the bed.

The knife stabbed the mattress instead, and Mercury's hateful murderous face came to play.

"What the hell is going on with you! You're gonna kill me?" Xena gasped.

"I can't be with Soren anymore, accepted, but you also can't have him! I won't allow it!" Mercury roared, bringing the knife down on her head.

"You sick freak!!! Get away!!!" Xena jumped to the other side of the bed.

Mercury followed.

Xena ran out of the room, bumping into Soren in front of it.

She went behind him, and Mercury burst out of the room.

Her arms dropped when she saw Soren.

"Back to your room," Soren ordered authoritatively.

As if under a spell, Mercury dropped the knife on the ground.

She returned to her room, and Xena came out from behind Soren.

"Thank you, Soren" she held his arm, but he glared, and she quickly let go.

"You know what's good for you? Leave this house first thing tomorrow morning, cos all I can think of is killing you." He muttered.

"But you saved me from Sadie at the city tower. You suggested the torturing cos you didn't want me to die. You saved me from Mercury just now too." She said dreamily.

"You're senselessly entertaining," Soren scoffed, coming closer.

Xena blinked twice.

"I saved you cos even if you're gonna die, I'll be the one to kill you, and your bloody brother! I can smell the Morozov family blood on you, that's enough reason to make me want to end you. Stay out of my way, or I'll really get married to you and kill you on our wedding night." He whispered like a dark creep, pushed her out of the way and left.

Xena folded her fists, anger exploding inside her again.

"Is he mad at me because of Ryker? Even after I left Ryker, his influence still won't get off my way?" She muttered, kicking the door open.

She returned to her room and slammed the door shut.

Zeke and Esme have been watching from their own room door, and they both look impressed.

"It's finally starting, his expected change." Esme sighed.

"He's turning 341 in some days, why don't we fix the wedding for then?" Zeke replied.

"Perfect," Esme smiled.

"I'm not hearing Pearl anywhere. That nocturnal witch wouldn't be this quiet at night." Zeke wondered.

"She returned to her palace, I saw her leaving at 12." Esme replied, returning into the room.

"Whose child was she bragging about carrying? And I'm sure I saw a love thread on her finger." 

"Carrying a child?" Zeke scoffed.

"We'll see about it very soon. I'm keeping her around cos her powers will definitely help later,"

"Help us?" Esme faced him, pointing a finger forward. "She's infatuated with Ryker, think she'd agree to do anything against him?" 

"She won't do anything against Ryker, but she'd do against Shayla. Did you forget we're dealing with two gods here?" Zeke hugged her from behind.

Esme relaxed, shutting her eyes and inhaling the smell of his burnt face.

"And as for the love thread, if it was a real love thread, it should be seen by the partner alone. Everything about her is fake, I wouldn't set my mind on her claims." Zeke clarified.

"So...the process starts the moment we move to the East Palace tomorrow?" Esme asked.

"Yeah. We've rested enough." 

--

[Next Day]

Anatoli and Rumi returned to the city early morning, and the first thing they did was going to an alchemist to heal their wounds.

As they stepped out of the alchemist shop healthily, the morning sunlight bathed their faces.

"Today's 13tg? It was 15th in the human realm" Rumi checked her watch.

"Human world is faster with days or hours sometimes, you should know these things." Anatoli smiled.

Rumi went silent.

"Soren's 341st birthday is coming soon, we should—"

"Before we go further with the plans, I'm going to find my sister." Rumi interrupted him.

"But I told you she's be fine," Anatoli sighed frustratedly.

"I'm going to confirm by myself, will call you when I find her." Rumi replied and turned the other way, hijacking a bicycle from a kid.

She pedalled away.

"Should I just get rid of her and use Rumi instead? Rumi is obedient than this problematic crackhead!" Anatoli smacked the wall.

His phone sang, it's a new line which he picked skeptically.

"Yeah?" 

"Father?" Xena's voice sounded.

Anatoli smiled, rubbing his tongue on his teeth with an evil smile.

"Daughter"

--

[West Palace]

Rumi made a clothing store detour before coming here. She had her hair dyed and switched her aesthetic to the boring type, matching Xena's.

She was allowed entry into the West, and she met Kasia, Blaise and Winona at the lobby.

Faye and Astor are absent.

"Xena?" Blaise stood first.

"I'm afraid you're not welcome here anymore. We decided to leave the demigod's side, and you're his sister, so..." Winona said.

"I'm glad you're fine though. Yunno...from the feast chaos." Kaisa added genuinely.

"Aren't y'all after the real FrostOrb? Or maybe the FireStone? I can tell the Millions Family are ten times ahead." Rumi said with Xena's sweet smile.

"What do you mean?" Kasia stood.

"I'm here to see Faye. Let me meet her, then we can talk." Rumi replied.

After a second thought, Kasia gave her a direction.

"Third room," she said.

Rumi went upstairs, swinging the third room open.

Faye and Astor are inside, discussing in suspicious whispers.

"Rumi," Faye stood.

"Impressive, you see through my Xena disguise at a glance?" Rumi smirked.

"What are you doing here?" Astor demanded calmly, hands pocketed.

"I sent you a message, Faye, saying I knew what you are. I know you and Astor are from the Vipers household. You both are the greatest enemies of this West Palace, and you're both here for revenge." Faye said.

Faye and Astor looked at each other, speechlessly.

"But I'm not planning to spill your beans, I'm not that retarded." Rumi continued, sitting in bed and raising her sneakers to place on the pillow.

"What do you want?" Faye asked.

"I once asked my father to investigate you both, and he did it within a day. Now I feel like you both have the ability to investigate him too." Rumi said, eyes suddenly rolling up.

"I stayed at the motherless camp till I turned 50, and that was when I accidentally bumped into him. He recognized me as his long long daughter with my rare blonde hair, but now I'm starting to think it wasn't really an accident," Rumi walked to them.

She stood in their middle, placing an hand on each of their shoulders and locking eyes tightly with them.

"I want everything you both can find on my father, before and after he came to get me from the camp. Every f+kin drop of info." She muttered.

--

[Fire Palace, Bedchamber]

Shayla mewled as her lashes parted, giving way to the brightness of the new day.

She lifted herself a bit, and she felt Ryker's c+k slipping out of her p+$sy¥.

She bit the corner of her lip, smiling as she brought her smallest finger to his nose bridge, tracing it.

His eyes are closed, seems he's still very much asleep.

"He actually left it inside me? Is that a kink?" She whispered, snuggling closer with a giggle.

She touched his lashes, then his plump ear shells, deeply admiring his facial features.

He's got four moles on his face.

His eyes opened, slowly, and her smile broadened when he brought an hand to her hair, stroking.

"You left it in" she said.

"You didn't like it?" He whispered, rubbing her chin with drowsy eyes, his deep morning voice so sweet.

"No...umm...I love it, ..." She said with red cheeks, and he smiled.

"We're visiting Russia today,"

"Really?" She gasped, blinking.

"The look in your face says you're happy, you're not bothered by the Millions Family?" He poked her nose.

"I'm bothered, but it's your revenge, Ry. Your revenge is also mine, so I'll move when you do." She said.

They left bed, had their bath together in the tub and dressed modernly.

"The Millions are waiting for the sword before they can attack, and I'm waiting for it, too. I have a errand boy remember?" He said as they went down the sleek hall.

"We have," she replied, and they chuckled, coming to a stop.

He easily opened a passageway on the wall.

"We don't have to go to the Crossover Command Building?" She asked.

"That's below me," he replied.

Shayla chuckled, her happiness boundless.

Just seeing him like this, feels her with immense joy.

Likewise him. 

Ryker feels genuine happiness, watching as her eyes became smaller when she smiled deeply.

He was already kissing her as they entered the passageway, and their lips are still dancing like mad addicts till the door closed.

The moment it closed, Liza and Kade appeared in front of the gate.

"The gate won't open for you, mother. She sent you away the last time." Kade said, highly frustrated.

"Sometimes, persistence works," Liza replied, sitting on top of the rock.

"I'm waiting till the door opens"

Kade huffed, but he dared not say.

--

[Russia-Moscow, Frost H2O]

Since the announcement of the CEO's arrival yesterday, the press got more than ready to feed their cameras and fill their reports.

As early as 7am, they were waiting in front of the headquarters, chatting through gists and expectations.

There are twenty staffs outside to do the welcoming, plus Cheyenne and Sage as the head.

The treasure hunters, shine team, and the attention seekers.

Different cadres.

Soon, a black Porsche rolled inside, halting at the triangle entrance.

Undoubtedly, it's him.

Reporters carried the weights of their cameras and mouthpieces, running forward.

Cheyenne and Sage were faster, but according to the rules, he hates when people open his doors, so they just stood beside the car till Ryker opened the door himself.

Cameras were like blinding sunlight on him as he rounded the car to go open the door for Shayla.

He helped her out, her princess-like pink dress so adorable, the neat bangs in her hair, and the face itself.

She was awed as the cameras rushed her face, more than Ryker's. 

They focused on her.

"Mr. Ryker Morozov, is she an important figure?"

"Is she an acquaintance?"

"Should the city be preparing for a wedding?"

"Please just a word! Just a reply!"

They completely forgot about the death of the securities, attention shifted completely to her.

Ryker held to Shayla's small hand, interlinking their fingers as they cut through the eagar crowd.

Cheyenne and Sage were enough to keep them far off, and Shayla made sure to not smile too much, somehow nervous to the newness of this thingy.

For the first time, she's surrounded by humans.

"Who's the beauty?" The questions of the reporters filtered in again.

With an head tilt, Ryker turned smoothly, over his shoulder.

He rubbed the back of Shayla's hand as he spoke affirmatively...

"My girlfriend, Moy Rodnaya." He replied, not missing a beat especially with the Russian words.

Shayla's heart nearly bursted. He just affirmed it in front of the city!

The smile she has been holding back shattered all-over her face, and her sparkly eyes watched him with pride

Hers. 

Her own.

Her Ryker.

Ryker's reply threw silence to the reporters, like someone had robbed them of their voices.

The camera even fell from one or two of them. 

No woman could claim a relationship with him in the whole world, but now he appeared with a beauty out of nowhere for this declaration?

Cheyenne and Sage stayed professional, and Ryker?

He doesn't give a f+k about anything else. He focused back on the walk into the headquarters, but the moment he took a step, it happened.

The air echoed with the blast of a gunshot, and it only took one second before the reporters all scattered.

Some wise ones went down, laying low completely.

Before the merciless bullet could pierce Ryker's chest, Shayla's eyes glinted, and the bullet stopped in the air before falling on the ground.

But Ryker was unfazed. It's as if he expected this turnout. 

A glare from him, the whole city froze except them, and the knights.

Cheyenne and Sage vanished, and Shayla quickly faced Ryker.

"Ry," she whispered, gasping again. Her eyes aren't scared, but they're worried, and angry at whoever shot that bullet.

"I'm fine, Shayla." Ryker gave her a assuring smile.

That was more than enough, so she nodded.

They teleported together, reappearing on top of three buildings away from the skyscraper.

Cheyenne and Sage are already there, but they're not alone.

There are three other people. 

Two of the people are kneeling in front of a sniper tripod— definitely the ones who shot, but they're frozen in place like the rest of the city.

The third person is in the grasp of Cheyenne and Sage.

He's in their middle, smiling darkly like a daredevil, his moustache and beard rose like dahlia thorns on his facial skin.

Caspian Yusluv.

Of course he wouldn't freeze. Ryker's powers would never work on him.

After all, he's the real owner of the mantle.

Ryker's eyes immediately resembled an hellion's, just jaws tightened.

"Finally we met in the grandest way ever, my substitute," Caspian growled, but his fierceness experienced a glitch when Shayla's confused face came to view.

It's the first time he's seeing her face-to-face, and to hell with the pictures he saw.

This woman is prettier, hotter and s€×ier than any woman he had ever laid eyes on.

What's sweeter is that...she's his woman—his rightful woman.

His divk hardened right there, for her. 

It rose madly without his permission, and he came shamelessly.

His cûm leaked out of his p@nt$.

TBC

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