The Ice King’s Weakness

Chapter Nine – Claiming Territory

Elena’s POV

The restaurant was buzzing—soft jazz in the background, clinking glasses, the murmur of well-dressed patrons.

I tried to focus on the pitch, on the investors across the table, but all I could feel was the tension simmering between me and Adrian.

He’d been unusually quiet, his eyes flicking to me now and then with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

And then he noticed him.

The man who’d been watching me from the bar—the one who just slid into the seat beside me with a disarming smile.

“Hi,” he said smoothly. “I couldn’t help but notice you from across the room.”

I barely had time to react before Adrian’s hand was on my arm, pulling me slightly toward him.

“That’s enough,” he said, his voice low but deadly.

The man raised his eyebrows, but there was no mistaking the warning in Adrian’s gaze.

“I’m with her,” Adrian continued, voice sharp, “and I don’t appreciate you ignoring the signals.”

I looked at Adrian, stunned by the raw possessiveness radiating off him. Part of me was thrilled—another part was terrified of what this meant.

The man backed off, muttering an apology, and Adrian didn’t release me until the waiter arrived with the menus.

“Sorry about that,” Adrian said, his voice softer now, but still tinged with possessiveness.

I nodded, suddenly aware that from this moment on, things between us wouldn’t be the same.

He had claimed me.

And I wasn’t sure if I was ready to fight it.