Aurora's Gambit: Defying Destiny

Chapter 12

Isla del Valhalla

Aurora's POV

The silence in the car was suffocating.

Lucian had just kissed me—abruptly, nang wala man lang babala. Hindi ko mawari kung para saan ba ang halik na iyon. It's not my first time kissing a man. My missions were way worse than that kiss and I was not even bothered by those people I have kissed just to successfully finish my missions, but this time, it really got be bothered. That kiss was not like all the other ones I have experienced.  Dagdagan mo pa na parang may kakaiba din sa paraan ng paghalik ni Lucian sa akin kanina. 

It wasn't like the possessive, taunting gestures he had done before. This was different. Yes it was brief. Hell, I could even compare it as a smack but why is it that I was really bothered by that kiss? It was short yet commanding... and I let it happen.

I pressed my fingers against my lips, still thinking about the kiss and also the happenings earlier. Just minutes ago, I was being paraded around like a prized possession, forced into an engagement I had no say in. Now, I was in Lucian's car, being taken to God-knows-where, away from the chaos I had unknowingly created.

The engine hummed softly as we sped down the road. His men occupied the front seats, focused on the route ahead.

"What the hell was that back there?" Bulyaw ko kay Lucian pero huli na nang mapagtanto ko amg ayos naming dalawa. My face heated from the embarrassment. I was sitting on his lap all along while I was preoccupied with my thoughts on that scandalous kiss!

Lucian didn't answer immediately and I took that as a chance to escape from his lap but his veiny arms immediately took action and put me in place, forbidding me to let go from him. 

He adjusted my position to his liking, his expression unreadable, before finally meeting my eyes. "You were being dragged into a game you weren't prepared for. I simply took you off the board," he simply said. 

My hands balled into fists. "Took me off the board? So you just decided to interfere? Without my consent?"

His lips curled slightly. "He was claiming what's mine. I had to take it back."

Ano daw? He's claiming what's his? And he's pertaining to what? To whom? Ako?

I inhaled sharply, trying to suppress the urge to strangle him. "I was handling it."

Truth is I was not. I was unprepared. I had zero plans. That scene is not a part of the novel. Maverick and I were not supposed to meet until Phoebe's 50th birthday. I don't know what is happening. Everything is not unfolding the way it has to be. Did I really alter the flow of the story that much?

Lucian scoffed, leaning back against the seat while still keeping me on place. "Oh, I could see that. You were practically glowing with happiness, dancing with your soon-to-be fiancé while your dear family sold you off like a well-trained pet."

Napahinga ako nang malalim. This fucker! How dare he call me my family's pet?

"I didn't need you to rescue me," I said glaring at him.

He tilted his head, his silver hair falling slightly over his forehead. "No?" His voice dropped to a taunting whisper. "Then tell me, baby, were you going to stop the engagement before or after the wedding vows?"

I opened my mouth, then snapped it shut. Damn him. Nakakainis siya.

His smirk widened, victorious.

"You arrogant son of a—"

Before I could finish, the car slowed to a stop. I frowned, glancing outside. We were at a private airstrip.

A sleek black jet sat on the tarmac, its engines humming in preparation for takeoff. The runway lights cast an eerie glow over the surrounding darkness, making the entire scene look both ominous and surreal.