Icarus tightened his grip around Anaya's waist as they ascended the stairs to the upper floor of the bar. It felt as if he could sense the whirlwind of thoughts racing through her mind. Glancing up at him, she caught his intense stare and quickly averted her gaze, determined not to let his brown eyes sway her resolve. She knew she had to stay focused on her plan, no matter how difficult it was.

Upon reaching the top of the stairs, the room opened up before them, revealing a gathering of familiar faces. Anaya's heart skipped a beat as they smiled and outstretched their arms in a welcoming embrace. She and Icarus returned the gesture, relishing the momentary respite from their inner conflicts. Nicholas tipped his head toward Icarus and headed toward the dance floor, blatantly ignoring Anaya's presence. She couldn't understand his anger toward her.

Immanuel greeted them with his trademark larger-than-life smile, seemingly oblivious to the tension simmering between Anaya and Icarus. He gestured for the waiter to set down the glasses and then leave.

"What do you think?" he asked, joining Ellie on the couch.

Anaya forced a smile on her face and surveyed the room. The dim lighting cast a hazy glow over the revelers, adding an air of mystery to the scene. Intricate murals adorned the walls, depicting mythical creatures and fantastical landscapes. The scent of freshly poured drinks mingled with the heady perfume of excitement, creating an intoxicating atmosphere. People stood closely, their enthusiasm infectious. They swayed to the rhythm of the music, their laughter and animated conversations blending into a joyful cacophony. Anaya took note of the various exits that might come in handy later. Her plan depended on slipping away unnoticed, disappearing into the night, and leaving Icarus behind.

"It's incredible," she replied, infusing her voice with warmth, despite the turmoil brewing within her.

"Yeah? Thanks!" Immanuel beamed with pride. Ellie smiled and planted a kiss on his lips.

Anaya couldn't shake off the dissonance between the external joy and the internal torment that plagued her as she observed their interactions. She realized that breaking free from Icarus meant severing connections with everyone. But she couldn't tie him down to her, not when her kingdom was after him. She wanted him to live the way he did before she arrived and disrupted everything.

She turned to Icarus, noticing that he looked no better than her. "I need to use the restroom."

"I'll come with you."

"It's fine," she said, gently squeezing his hand. "I can go."

He nodded reluctantly and watched her leave.

Anaya hurried downstairs, navigating through the crowded bar. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a hollow emptiness settled in her chest. She let out a ragged breath and glanced at the door — only ten steps away, and she could be out of his life.

"Going somewhere?" He closed the distance between them and spun her around to face him.

Startled, she blinked up at him, unable to speak. He gripped her hips and yanked her into his chest, his mouth descending upon hers. The kiss was excruciating—hard, desperate, and demanding. He didn't give her a chance to pull away as he pressed her against the nearest wall. She whimpered and wrapped her arms around his neck when he nibbled on her bottom lip, coaxing her mouth to open for his invading tongue.

"Icarus," she mumbled against his lips, struggling for air.

"Shut up!" he growled. His feelings weren't just fueled by rage; he was deeply hurt. His mate had turned her back on him, ready to flee from his life. She didn't understand that she had become his life in a matter of a few months. Without her, he was as good as dead.

"Breathe. Can't."

He stepped back, his gaze still fixated on hers. Instinctively, he reached out to wipe the sheen of sweat that had formed above her brow. She stiffened at his tender touch, her eyes meeting his. Thousands of emotions passed between them, and then he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her midriff and holding her tightly against him. He nestled his face in the crook of her neck and squeezed his eyes shut, willing away the strong emotions that rippled through him.

Feeling wetness against her neck, she cursed herself as tears filled her own eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Dammit!" A strangled noise escaped his lips. He cleared his throat and pulled back. His eyes glistened with a golden blaze, and his hands shook as he cupped her face. "I'm angry."

"I'm so sorry, but this is the only way."

"No. Don't you ever think about leaving me."

"What's the point of living if you aren't there with me?"

He smiled at her, a sad, wistful smile. "I understand. I wouldn't be able to either if I were in your shoes. But at least now I can face my fate with the knowledge that I tried to do the right thing."

Anaya couldn't fathom the thought of taking the life of the one person who was destined to be hers.

"But—"

She forgot what she was saying when he pressed his lips to her forehead, inhaling her sweet scent before leading her to the bar section. Immanuel gave them a questioning look, which they ignored as they took seats on the stools.

"What do you want to drink?"

"Anything is fine." She shrugged, her mood dampened. She wouldn't give up, even if it took the entire night.

"Here you are!" Hazel returned from wherever she had gone, huffing in annoyance. "I was looking for you guys." She turned to Immanuel and glared at him. "Couldn't you send a text? I wasted my time for nothing when I could have been with my mate."

"Your mate could have texted you," Immanuel retorted.

"Or you could have just mind-linked me." Icarus looked at her as if she were plain stupid. She shot daggers in his direction before turning away to order her drink. Her mate whispered something in her ear that made her smile, her cheeks turning scarlet. It didn't require a genius to figure out what he might have said.

Anaya couldn't help but smile at them, just as Icarus handed her a glass. She murmured a thank you and took a sip of the cool liquid, feeling the sensation burn her throat but also finding it pleasant. At that moment, an idea sparked in her mind. If she could get Icarus drunk, she might be able to slip away without any hassle.

"Bro, come with me for a minute," Immanuel called out to Icarus.

"I'll be back. Take care of her," Icarus instructed, his eyes never leaving Anaya's.

"Where did they go?" she asked.

Hazel leaned in close, her voice hushed as she said, "Today is Ellie's birthday. They went to get the cake."

Anaya gasped. "He invited us for her birthday celebration? Why didn't he say so?"

"It's part of his plan. He told us to act like we don't know about it. He's pretending not to remember."

"And now he's going to surprise her. That's very sweet of him."

A newfound determination swept over Anaya. She wanted an opportunity, and she had just found the perfect one.

Immanuel returned and placed an open box in front of Ellie on the table. Her eyes widened at the sight of the cake with the words "Happy Birthday, Babe" written on it.

Right on cue, the entire bar started to sing the birthday song.

Her smile turned into a full-blown grin, and she threw herself at Immanuel, hugging him tightly. "I knew you wouldn't forget. Thank you."

She proceeded to cut the cake, sharing it with her mate and the rest of the group.

Icarus' eyes narrowed when Anaya approached him with a slice of cake and shoved it into his mouth. His siblings chuckled, drawing his gaze to them.

"Is she drunk?"

"Looks like it."

"Fuck, I told you guys to look after her."

"We did. You didn't say she couldn't drink."

Icarus cursed under his breath. He watched Anaya carefully, trying to assess her state. She took more slices of cake and fed them to Immanuel and Ellie, hugging them tightly. "I'm going to miss you guys so much."

This isn't good, Icarus thought. "I'm taking her home. You guys can carry on."

"No!" she shouted, her voice filled with defiance. "I haven't danced yet."

"We can do it another time. Let's go home."

"No, I want to dance tonight. I want to dance with you."

She grabbed his hand and tugged him down the staircase, straight to the dance floor. He tried to whirl them toward the exit, but she scowled at him. "Why won't you dance?"

"One dance?" he asked.

"One dance," she promised.

He obliged, only so that they could leave quickly. She grabbed another glass on the way and downed its contents before he could blink.

"Here, hold me." She placed his hands on her hips and wrapped her arms around his neck.

And so, they surrendered themselves to the music, moving in a rhythmic motion, their hearts entwined in a dance of conflicted emotions.

Only two chapters are left! How do you think the story will end?