Irene Barclay ran from her wedding- that's the only information the world had, but he knew there was more. Xavier Luca knew that as cold and as empty as her heart was, she would not leave everything behind. Not now. Not when her last act in his pres...
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"I've been at this for days," Noelle mumbles, holding onto the sides of her head as she leans onto the table. I look at the computer screen in front of her that shows me the empty folder. "I'm exhausted." She adds, her accent sounding void as she lifts her eyes to see me. I raise my brow.
"Yes, your incompetency is tiring indeed," I tell her, folding my arms over my chest as she sits up straight, frowning as our eyes meet. "Keep looking," I command, turning to leave when she groans behind me making me turn back.
"Irene, I need to rest." She says, inching forward from her chair. I tilt my head.
"No."
"I don't need to ask for permission." She says with the roll of her eyes and I scoff.
"Except, you do." I step closer to her, making sure I have her full attention. "You're not in Russia or New York anymore, you're in Mardidor and I give the orders here." I bend down to her level. "I'm also the one keeping your cousin alive, don't forget that," I tell her with a somewhat spiteful smile, before straightening my back and turning to leave, ignoring the curses she whispers.
I step out of the room and walk down the stairs to the main corridor that was filled with multiple trainees just a few minutes ago. I look around with a sigh, it's oddly quiet in here today. Alarmingly quiet if I had to be honest.
"Mam?" Spencer calls out from behind me and I know it's him because he's the only one who insists on not calling me by name. I turn around to see him and he waits with a smile when I do. "It's Vladimir." He starts, extending a hand towards the corridor that leads to the infirmary. "He's awake." He tells me and nods towards the same direction as his hand. I smile back at him before falling into step beside him.
"Where is everyone?" I ask him, noticing the empty rooms we pass along the way.
"It's sparring day." He tells me and smiles again. "It's a tradition that Dimitri started. Everyone is either fighting or watching the fighting. I've been instructed to take you there, after." He explains, looking over at me briefly before refocusing his gaze in front of him.
"Will you be fighting?" I ask, motioning to his nose, which at least doesn't look broken, but is very swollen and discoloured- a harsh contrast to his pale skin. He shakes his head to tell me no and I nod in return. "Good call," I say and he doesn't reply, avoiding my gaze still. I smile. "Did Dimitri also send you to keep an eye on me?" I ask and a soft tint of red meets his cheeks.
