Chapter 72
Nikolai
I was never a patient man.
I tried to be. I had spent years learning how to hold my tongue, how to smile when I wanted to bare my teeth, how to walk away when all I wanted to do was fight. But patience had never been my strength, and today was proving that more than ever.
Damon had been pushing my limits for weeks now.
It wasn’t just his words. It was the way he looked at me—like I was beneath him, like he was waiting for me to prove what he already believed. That I wasn’t fit to lead. That I wasn’t strong enough. Smart enough. Capable enough.
I could handle insults. I could handle challenges. I had been dealing with them my whole life.
But today, I was already on edge.
Because of her.
Ella.
Or Nuel, as she was known to the rest of the world.
