Ivana

Later that day, everyone decided to go out to the training grounds to show off their skills. I changed into black leggings and a gray tank top. I was in the middle of stretching when Killian appeared in front of me. I lifted my hands above my head to stretch my shoulder and back muscles.

"What now, Killian?" I said and twisted my upper body. His eyes roamed my body as I did it before flickering back up to me. They darkened with lust and I felt my body responding immediately under his gaze. I gulped and brought my arms down.

"Train with me, Ivy." He said huskily.

He walked closer to me and I pushed him away. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me up against his body. His upper body was completely naked as he only had on a pair of black athlete shorts. I maneuvered out of his grasp but he swung me around with my wrist behind my back and my back pressed against his front as his other hand wrapped around my front. His lips moved to my neck and I fought back a moan.

"What are you going to do now?" He asked.

I head butt him. He growled and let go. I turned around and smirked.

He wiped at his lips. Blood leaked and I wanted to apologize immediately but I swallowed back the apology. I wasn't going to bend. He wanted to fight, so fight I will.

"So, little Ivy has been training while I was gone." He taunted.

"I'm not little anymore." I responded as threw a punch at him but he grabbed my fist with his hand and twisted my arm. I winced at the pain that shot through my shoulder.

"I can see that." His eyes roamed my body once again and my body tingled all over. Damn him. His eyes moved back up to meet mine. He pushed me and I fell to the ground on my hands and knees.

Growling I turned around and swiped my leg under his feet. He jumped out of the way and in a flash was in front of me kneeling. He gripped my ponytail and tugged.

"Remember when I use to tug on that ponytail of yours." He whispered.

Tears were threatening to come from the corner of my eyes but I refused to cry. I grabbed a handful of sand and threw it at him. He let go and I took advantage by pushing him back to the ground, straddling him but he flipped me over like nothing. I fell to the ground on my back.

"Weak." He taunted.

"Shut up." I growled and made an attempt to scratch him. I got his chest—four red scratch marks marred his chest.

He snarled and pinned my hands above my head as he leaned down to face me. "What are you going to do now? Cry? Poor little Ivy is going to cry back to her mommy and daddy?"

I was angry and upset that he was teasing me again like how he use to. Why was he being so mean? I struggled under him and he wickedly chuckle at my attempt.

"Let me go." I shouted.

"No."

"I mean it! Let me go!" I warned.

"What are you going to do if I don't?" He asked.

I bit my lips as I felt so much anger boiling inside of me. He was constantly teasing me. The past was coming back to like it was only yesterday and I felt so much pain. It hurt me. Why did I think he would change? He would never change. To think that he being my mate will change his teasing way. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as I couldn't contain it any longer.

I turned away, unable to look at him. People stood watching, pointing their fingers at us. A couple of them were snickering. I bit my lips to stop myself from crying. Killian let me go immediately and I pushed him off me. I stood up, unable to look at him I ran toward the palace doors. Tears began running down my cheeks. Why do I allow myself to be so affected by him? He was nobody!

You're lying. He's your mate. You can't deny the bond you feel for him. You are hurt by his words.

I growled and ran into my bedroom, slamming the door close behind me. I hate him. I hate that he was my mate. I hate that he was chosen for me. I cried because of the hurt I felt. I cried because I was angry at him.

The sound of knocking on the door had me whipping towards it. His soft voice came on the other end.

"Ivy." He knocked again.

"Go away." I growled.

"Open the door, Ivy." He demanded.

I didn't answer him. I wiped my tears and walked into the bathroom, turning on the shower I quickly stripped from my clothes and showered. The sound of his knocks fading away under the running water. If he was going to just come in and tease me again then he can forget it. I was sick and tired of him.

After taking a shower, I put on a pair of khaki shorts and a white t-shirt, moving to sit on the window ledge; I stared out at the field where people were still training. Pulling my legs up, I wrapped my arms around it and thought back to the days when Killian was sweet to me.

"Why are you crying, Ivy?" Killian said from behind me. I sniffled and looked up at him as I knelt on the ground. I lifted up in my hand my pet fish my dad bought me.

"Fredrick is dead." I sobbed.

He moved to kneel before me and I watched as he dug a whole big enough to fit my fish. He took the fish from my hands.

"Its okay, Ivy. He has moved on to a better place. We need to place his body to rest so he would be at peace." Killian soothed before slowly lowering my fish to the ground. I sniffled and wiped at my tears.

"Do you mean it?"

He turned to me. "What do you mean?"

"Do you mean it that he has gone to a better place?" I asked.

He nodded. "I mean it."

"How do you know this, Killian?"

"I just know. Trust me, Ivy. Moon Goddess is our creator and cares about us. She will never leave us alone in the dark. She will be there for those who have passed away." Killian reasoned.

I slowly nodded and sniffled as I wiped away the last of my tears. "Do you want to say something to Fredrick?"

He gave me an impish smirk. "I do."

I nodded and he turned to look at the place he just buried Fredrick as he thanked Fredrick for being there for me and that we will miss him. I cried again and Killian, although, I know he hated watching me cry he sat as I sobbed over the loss of my pet fish.

I sighed and stood up. I don't understand him. He confuses me. I was about to take a nap when he knocked again on the door.

"Ivy, please open."