Gunnar’s POV
"What do you want?" I asked directly, because there was no point in circling around it.
"You already know," he replied without hesitation.
"No," I said, holding his gaze firmly. "I want to hear you say it."
For a brief mont, his expression shifted slightly, like he respected that response more than he expected to.
Then he spoke again.
"I want the bond broken," he said clearly. "And I want it done properly."
I let the words sit for a second, letting the silence stretch just enough to make it clear I wasn’t taking them lightly.
"And if we refuse?" I asked, my voice low but controlled.
He didn’t hesitate.
"You won’t refuse," he said, his tone certain, like the outco was already decided in his mind.
That confidence alone pushed my patience further.
"You don’t get to decide that for us," I said, my voice sharpening slightly.
"I already did," he replied calmly, not raising his voice, not changing his posture.
That answer hit harder than it should have, because part of understood exactly what he ant even if I didn’t want to admit it.
My eyes moved to Riley again.
She still hadn’t moved.
That was the problem.
That was the leverage.
When I looked back at him, he was already watching , like he knew exactly where my thoughts had gone.
"I’m giving you a choice," he continued.
"A choice?" I repeated, not liking how that sounded at all.
"Yes," he said. "We settle this properly, the way we always have."
I already knew what that ant.
But I let him say it anyway.
"Explain," I said.
He held my gaze without looking away.
"We fight," he said. "Just you and . No interference. No interruptions."
The room went quiet again, but this ti it wasn’t confusion.
It was tension that had beco heavy and clear.
"You expect to agree to that?" I asked, keeping my voice steady even though everything inside was already shifting toward that decision.
"I expect you to understand the situation Gunnar Dravenmoor," he replied.
"And if I don’t?" I pushed.
He didn’t hesitate this ti either.
"Then you walk away," he said calmly, "and I take her with ."
That was the mont everything settled inside .
That was the line he wanted to reach.
And he knew it.
I took a slow breath, my eyes still locked on his.
"If I agree," I said carefully, "this ends here."
He smiled again, that sa controlled expression that never fully showed what he was thinking.
"That depends on you," he replied.
That wasn’t the answer I wanted.
But it was the only one he was going to give.
I stepped closer, closing the distance just enough to make it clear I wasn’t backing down.
"If I fight you," I continued, my voice lower now, more focused, "and I win, you leave. You don’t co back. You don’t ever touch her again."
He watched closely, his expression steady. "And if you lose?" he asked.
I didn’t hesitate."I won’t," I said.
That made his smile widen slightly.
"That confidence is why I chose you," he said quietly.
I ignored that completely.
"Let’s end it here," I repeated.
He tilted his head slightly, still watching like he was asuring sothing I couldn’t see.
"Then prove it," he said.
The tension in the room tightened again, sharper this ti and fucking closer to breaking.
Then he leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping just enough to make sure I heard every word clearly.
"Tell , Gunnar," he said, his tone calm but carrying sothing deadly underneath, "are you ready to fight for her again, or are you going to stand there and watch take what’s already mine? It’s either you or just like I’ve always wanted"
User Comments
0 comments from readers