The Truth

"What? What will you do, Diana?" Ian bit out, inching closer, his voice low and sharp. "You don't want to divorce him? Fine, okay, it's all up to you, your decision. But let me tell you something."

He leaned closer, his tone dropping to a deadly whisper. 

"You are going to end up watching me kill Stefanos Rassi and it won't be my fault. He likes to hurt you, and one day, he will slip again. And if there is one thing you have to know, it is that no one hurts what's mine." 

Diana's eyes widened, heat crawling up her neck and flushing her face. 

She pushed him hard enough, he stumbled back and let go of her. 

Diana ran her fingers through her hair, confusion mixing with her already tense and unsure emotions. 

"You are crazy! I need to get out of here." 

"And go where?" Ian asked coolly. "Back into the rain. I'm not letting that happen, because I don't have an umbrella to come with. One of the guest rooms is yours. Use it."

"I don't want to spend another second in your house."

"Oh please. Pure stubbornness," he scoffed, lowering himself onto the edge of his desk, one ankle crossed over the other and his arms folded. "Go ahead then. Be my guest. I won't stop you."

Diana stood there for a moment, holding his gaze like she was expecting something. And when he didn't move or even say a word, she stormed out of the room and headed downstairs, to which she came to a stop at the exit.

The rain was still pouring heavily. She couldn't stay under this all night. She would catch a cold, and might even fall sick. 

Grunting in frustration, she stomped back up the stairs and stopped before the door of his office. 

She was reluctant, but she knocked. 

The door opened almost immediately. 

Ian stood, tall and smug, his damp white hair tousled with a few strands dripping over his forehead. 

"Would you look at that?" His lips curled into a victorious grin. "Back so soon, my doll?" 

"I'm not your doll." 

"There's no need to be so grouchy, Diana." 

"Stop giving me nicknames." 

"You don't like it?" 

"I don't," she said, though her voice cracked slightly at the end. 

"Mhm, liar," Ian hummed. "Lie all you want, but you know you love it." 

———

Killian walked into the office. 

Ian glanced up from the documents and brushed his hair away from his face. "Where is Hallow?"

"He's hiding," Killian replied. "If Ms. Sorin finds him here, she's going to connect the dots and she'll know that you've had her watched for close to three months." 

"Watched' makes it sound bad." Ian narrowed his eyes. "I needed someone I trust near her because I'll do anything to ensure the safety of my mate. It is that simple. I want her safe."

Killian walked further into the office, his brows furrowed. "How come I never knew all these while she was your mate? Why did Hallow know—" 

"Hallow didn't know. He simply did as I asked him to." 

He hesitated, but asked, "Do you really have no intention of rejecting her?" 

"Reject her…?" Ian raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?" 

"Why would I do that?" 

"Because…she's human?" 

Ian stared at him.

"And?" he said flatly. 

"Sir, we can't mate with humans, you know that. No one has ever done that, and I don't think it's a good idea for you to be the first." Killian shook his head. "No one will accept it. Besides, our time here is limited, I don't understand why you're getting involved with the human even if she's your mate." 

"Killian." Ian deadpanned.

Killian swallowed. 

Ian's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Look at my face, do you see the word I care written all over it?" 

Killian released a defeated sigh. "Of course, you don't care sir. You've always done what you wanted and you didn't care about people's opinion, but what about when she finds out what you are?" 

"Meaning what?" 

He pressed on, "Do you think when she finds out what you truly are, she's going to be like, 'Oh, you're not human?" He batted his lashes flirtatiously. "Well, that's nothing to worry about, I like you either way?' It's not going to go that way and that is one of the reasons we don't get romantically involved with humans. We are not humans and regardless of her being yours, she won't accept you, sir." 

"Killian—" 

"It's the truth, sir, and you know it. I think it's best you stop this now before you get too deep and tangled with her."

Ian made no response but stood up from his chair. 

Killian froze. 

The air in the room changed. Pressurized. Heavy. 

Ian stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back. He didn't touch him, but Killian's wolf whimpered, knees going weak under the weight of his intimidation. 

"S-sir…" 

He felt his airflow cut off. He was suffocating, staggering backward and inhaling and exhaling frantically. 

"Alright, alright, I-I may have gone a bit too far with my words. I was only—" 

Ian's fingers came around the collar of his working suit, jerking him forward until their faces were inches apart. 

"The human or my relationship with her is not your business, Killian," Ian said, voice cold and even. "You work for me and that is about it. Whether I reject her or not is none of your business and clearly you can see I have no intention of doing such, so keep your opinions to yourself."

He shoved him back with anger ingrained in his eyes. 

"She won't accept me because I'm not human? Not a big deal. It'll be a secret for as long as it can. And if you do anything stupid, Killian, I'll tear you apart with my own bare hands." 

His eyes gleamed with threat. "Don't cross that boundary. I'm warning you."

"Get out." 

Killian didn't waste a second longer, fleeing the office and closing the door behind him. He breathed heavily and ran his fingers through his dark strands, chest pounding in fear.

Ian Basti was dangerous.

And completely, recklessly obsessed with a human he shouldn't be involved with. 

A human who had him wrapped around her fingers.