Chapter 230

Grayson’s POV

“No?”

Ava’s expression remained unwavering, her posture rigid. She inhaled deeply, then repeated, more firmly, “No.”

For a moment, I simply stared, the word jarringly illogical. It wasn't an option.

Behind her, Isabella cleared her throat. “Uh, I think we’ll give you both a moment.”

Before either of us could respond, she took Elaine’s wrist and swiftly led her from the room, closing the door behind them. Ava stepped back, instinctively creating distance, but I closed the gap immediately.

“Grayson, I really need to check on my mother—”

“What did you mean by no?” I interrupted.

She exhaled sharply, irritation flaring across her face. “No. As in, a word indicating a negative response.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I didn’t ask for a dictionary definition, Ava. I asked you.”

“Well, I just gave you my answer.”

“Ava—”

“Hey,” she snapped, her voice rising. “Don’t yell at me like I owe you something. You don’t get to do that.” She shook her head, fury evident. “We’re done. I don’t care if I’m your fated mate or not. I refuse to mark you, making this connection even harder to break. Now excuse me, I have to—”

She turned to leave, but I moved before she could take another step. Grabbing her wrist, I pulled her back, twisting her until her back was against the door. I locked it.

“We’re not done talking about this,” I said, my voice low.

She blinked, slowly arched an eyebrow, her expression unimpressed. “You do realize I can shift and break this door down, right?”

I closed my eyes briefly and sighed. “Ava.”

“Don’t say my name like that,” she muttered, shoving at my chest, but I didn’t move.

I opened my eyes and searched her face for a crack in her composure.

“I said I was sorry,” my voice was quieter now, but firm. “What else do you want me to do? Do you want me to beg you to forgive me? Because I will.”

That stunned her. A flicker of shock in her eyes before she masked it. She swallowed, shook her head, her jaw tightening. “I don’t want your apology, Grayson.”

“You think I don’t mean it?”

“I know you mean it,” she said bitterly, “And that’s the problem.”

My brows furrowed. “Ava—”

“No,” she interrupted, her voice laced with exhaustion. “I don’t want you to say anything because I don’t want to forgive you this time.”

That hit harder than I expected.

She stepped closer, her eyes burning with frustration and hurt. “You wore yourself out and got yourself kidnapped. You didn’t even give me time to process how much you hurt me before throwing me into more turmoil.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she held her chin high. “So, no, Grayson. I don’t want anything from you. We’re done. But since we have to deal with Darien, we’ll find a way to stop him. Then we will be truly done.”

A cold dread settled in my chest.

She straightened her shoulders, forcing out the words as if she’d already accepted them. “Go and find whatever way you can to break your curse and leave me alone.”

My hands curled into fists.

“I’m not starting this cycle with you again,” she finished, “Because I am tired, Grayson.”

I stared at her, barely breathing. My chest was tight, my pulse pounding, but I forced myself to remain calm.

“Fine then,” I said, my voice clipped. “When this is over, we will discuss custody of the child. And then I’ll leave you alone.”

Her expression shifted instantly, her eyes narrowing. “I thought you didn’t want a child?”

“Well, I do now,” I snapped. My fists clenched. The thought of letting her go made my stomach churn.

She let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Oh, now you do?”

“Yes. Now I do.”

“Okay then. Fine!”

“Fine.”

“Great!”

“Great.”

We stood locked in a gaze that felt charged with tension, a lit fuse threatening to explode. I could feel the pull between us, tightening with every breath.

I don’t know who moved first. All I knew was Ava’s frustrated, “Damn it,” before our bodies collided.

Our mouths met, raw and desperate. There was no hesitation, only fire, only need. It was fast and hungry, all heat and clashing breaths as I backed her against the wall.

A shiver ran through her as my hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer. She was warm, soft, the only thing I’d craved for days, and touching her ignited a wildfire within me.

Her fingers dug into my shirt, pulling me closer. It was all-consuming, like quenching a thirst that had lasted too long.

I wasn’t thinking. I couldn’t think.

Her hands tangled in my hair, and I groaned against her mouth. She gasped between kisses, her nails digging into my shoulders, and I didn’t care that this was reckless, that we’d just been screaming at each other.

Nothing mattered but this.

I pressed my forehead against hers, breathing raggedly. “Tell me to stop,” I rasped, even as my hands skimmed down her back.

She didn’t.

Her lips found mine again, urgent, as if she needed this as much as I did. We were drowning in it.

Her scent enveloped me, familiar and intoxicating, and I could feel her heartbeat hammering against mine. The reality of everything—our argument, everything I’d done, the words she’d spoken—faded.

She was here. And I would never have enough of her.

Somewhere in the haze, I heard her breath catch as I tilted her head, deepening the kiss. Her body melted into mine, and my restraint snapped.

My grip tightened, lifting her slightly, pressing her against me. Ava made a soft sound against my lips that sent a jolt through me.

She was kissing me like she hated me. Like she loved me. Like she couldn’t tell the difference anymore, and neither could I.

I could feel her trembling slightly, her breathing uneven. My hands moved instinctively, supporting her. Because she was—

She was pregnant.

The thought barely pierced the haze, but when it did, I hesitated, just for a second.

She felt it.

Ava broke the kiss abruptly, her lips parted, her pupils wide as she stared at me.

We were both panting, chests rising and falling unevenly. Her hands were still in my shirt, mine still on her waist, but there was a flicker of something else now—realization.

It was like we’d just surfaced for air, the weight of what had happened slamming into us at once.

I swallowed, my throat dry. Ava licked her lips, still catching her breath.

Neither of us moved. Neither of us spoke. Then a knock sounded on the door, making us recoil, but our eyes never left each other. Then Isabella’s voice sounded through the door. “Lilian, your mother is back.”

She paused. “And she has some really, REALLY bad news.”