King of Thrones

Chapter Twelve- Caught Between the Shadows

Livia’s fingers trembled as she stared at the message on her phone.

Ethan: I’ll be there in 10.

Her breath hitched. No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. Ethan was early. Too early. And Roman—Roman was standing in her bedroom, completely unfazed, like the idea of being caught didn’t even faze him.

“You need to leave,” she whispered, eyes darting toward the door.

Roman didn’t move. He just watched her, his arms crossed over his chest, amusement flickering in his eyes.

“You’re panicking, little mouse.” His voice was low, dark. “I don’t run and hide. Least of all for him.”

Livia clenched her fists. “You have to. He’s almost here.”

Roman stepped closer, his presence suffocating, intoxicating. “So?”

“So—” Her voice caught when his fingers traced along her jawline, the touch featherlight, contradicting the chaos inside her. “He can’t see you here.”

“Why?” His lips hovered near her ear. “Are you afraid of what he’ll do? Or are you afraid of what you might do?”

She shoved against his chest, but he didn’t budge.

“Roman—please.”

He exhaled sharply, his patience running thin. “You’re lucky I find you so goddamn fascinating, Livia.”

Then, without warning, she grabbed his wrist, yanked open the closet door, and shoved him inside.

A slow chuckle rumbled from the darkness. “Really?”

“Stay. Quiet.” She snapped, slamming the door shut just as the sound of footsteps echoed outside her room.

Her heart pounded.

A soft knock.

“Livia?”

Ethan.

She forced herself to breathe, smoothing her dress before opening the door. “Hey,” she said, her voice sickeningly sweet.

Ethan smiled, stepping in. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”

Her stomach twisted. She could feel Roman in the closet, his presence like a caged animal waiting to break free.

Ethan brushed a hand over her arm. “You seem nervous.”

She forced a laugh. “I’m just tired.”

Ethan’s eyes scanned the room, sharp and assessing. “You sure you’re alone?”

Livia’s throat tightened. “Of course.”

His hand trailed to her waist, pulling her close. The air in the room thickened. Ethan’s hold felt suffocating.

And then—

A sound.

A nearly imperceptible shuffle from inside the closet.

Ethan’s head turned. “What was that?”

Panic surged. “Nothing—”

Before he could move, Livia grabbed his collar and pressed her lips against his. Desperate. Distracting. A game of survival.

Ethan groaned against her mouth, his grip tightening. His fingers dug into her waist, his kiss rough, claiming.

But all she could think about was the man behind the door.

Because she knew. He was watching.

The weight of Roman’s presence seeped through the walls, a storm barely contained. She could almost hear the way his breathing would have slowed, his fists clenched in fury, hating what he saw.

And then—then—

The closet door creaked open.

The moment Ethan stepped inside, Livia felt the weight of her decision press down on her chest.

She had chosen this.

She had pushed Roman into that closet, thinking she could control him, thinking she could hide him away like some dirty secret.

But Roman had never been the type to be hidden.

And now, as the closet door creaked open, a shiver crawled down her spine.

Ethan turned at the sound, his brows furrowing.

And then—his entire body stilled.

A thick, suffocating silence settled between them.

Roman stepped into the light, slow, composed—like a wolf emerging from the shadows, completely unbothered by the fact that he had just been shoved into a damn closet.

The look on Ethan’s face shifted from confusion to something sharper.

“You.”

Roman smirked. “Miss me?”

Livia’s stomach twisted.

Ethan knew Roman. Of course he did.

Roman wasn’t just some nameless stranger—he was the one name whispered in warnings, the one person Ethan had always told her to stay away from.

Livia opened her mouth, but Ethan beat her to it.

“What the hell is he doing here?” His voice was tight, controlled rage bubbling beneath.

Roman exhaled, amused. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

Ethan’s hands curled into fists. “You need to leave. Now.”

Roman hummed. “Tempting.” His eyes flickered to Livia. “But I think I’ll stay.”

Livia took a step forward, putting herself between them. “Roman, go.”

Roman’s gaze snapped to hers. His expression didn’t change—but something dark flickered in his eyes.

Ethan grabbed her wrist. “You heard her. Get out.”

And that was the final mistake.

Roman didn’t hesitate.

He moved fast—grabbing Ethan by the collar and slamming him against the wall before Ethan could even react.

“Roman, stop!” Livia shouted, trying to pull him back.

But Roman wasn’t even tense. He held Ethan there with a grip that was frighteningly effortless.

“You don’t touch what’s mine.” His voice was quiet, but the danger in it was deafening.

Ethan let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Yours? That’s cute. Because last time I checked, she came back to me.”

Roman’s jaw twitched.

Livia felt her pulse drop.

“Ethan—” she started, trying to de-escalate, but Ethan wasn’t done.

“She doesn’t want you, Roman.” Ethan’s voice was sharper now, edged with something almost taunting. “She made her choice.”

Roman’s grip tightened.

Livia panicked.

She shoved at Roman’s chest, trying to separate them. “Let go, Roman.”

Roman didn’t move. His fingers flexed against Ethan’s shirt, but his eyes were on her now.

Waiting.

Challenging.

She took a breath. Steeled herself.

And then, in a firm, unwavering voice—she said it.

“I chose him.”

The words felt like acid on her tongue.

Roman stilled.

Ethan smirked. “You heard her.”

Roman didn’t look away from Livia. Didn’t even blink.

Then—his lips curled into something slow, something terrifyingly amused.

“Oh, really?” His voice was so soft it made her shiver. “So that’s how it’s gonna go, Livia?”

Livia swallowed hard.

Roman tilted his head, stepping forward. Ethan was still trapped under his grip, but Roman’s focus was entirely on her now.

His next words slid through the room like a knife.

“But does your Paris boyfriend f**k you the way I do?”

The air vanished.

Ethan tensed. Livia froze.

Her entire body burned with fury, with humiliation, with something she didn’t want to name.

And before she could think—before she could stop herself—

She slapped him.

The sound cracked through the room like a gunshot.

Roman’s face snapped to the side.

Ethan exhaled sharply, eyes widening in shock.

But Roman…

Roman laughed.

Slow. Deep. Dark.

He turned his head back to face her, his jaw tight where her hand had landed, his expression unreadable.

Livia’s chest rose and fell. “You don’t get to say that to me.”

Roman licked his bottom lip, amusement flickering in his gaze.

“You just made a big mistake, little mouse.”

Livia swallowed.

Because the way he said it—low, quiet, almost teasing—wasn’t a threat.

It was a promise.

And she had no idea what she had just unleashed.