A swap to the better

"And now..." Iven grunted,"...he has returned again. I'm pretty sure it's because of what happened last time, but we are unknown to his intentions. We had been informed before that Iason was recreating his gang. They even got indulged in smuggling, robbery and murders. And to make matters worse, he has seen you. We tried to keep you away, but it was already too late. The day you saved Noah.....those were his men. Heeld, you remember him....is his right hand man..."

"But I have no connection to them", Seb protested,"They barely know me. I'm like a nobody".

"You are not!", Iven turned his face at her sharply,"You are one of my people, that's enough for a reason to them. I can bet that they have been keeping an eye on you since that day. That's why Iason was here today. He knows it all!".

"What does he want from me? Is he mad because I beat up his boys?",Seb asked.

"He couldn't care less about that", Iven spat,"That heartless bastard only cares about himself! And he has a nasty habit what's mine. If he can't own them....he'll just destroy them!!!".

The last line gave Seb the shivers. But another thing struck her

"Hey!", she said suddenly,"How am I your person?".

Iven stared at her eyes for a while. That's what gained her attention right now??? It's really unbelievable! She's always so distracted and fickle minded that she gets swayed from the real topic. She wasn't worried if Iason would try to harm her, but she rebelled on the fact that Iven called her his person. But again, thats what always lightens the environment each time. One naive but earn comment from her lifts the intensity!

Iven lifted and dropped his shoulders showing his disappointment. She can be a nuisance sometimes. He rolled his eyes and sighed briefly.

Then all of a sudden he grabbed pace and brought his face right in front of Seb's, leaving only a few centimeters between them. His gaze was so intense and they were so direct with Seb's eyes, that it made her fluster. She gasped but couldn't break the contact. As if they were magnetized. They faced each other for quite a while.

Iven's lips puckered into a smirk,"Is that wrong?", his voice suddenly turned so deep and seducing.

Seb had her voice gone. She managed to whisper," Well...you see...I don't belong among your brothers right?...I'm just an a....acquaintance.....".

Iven narrowed his eyes more and his lips smirked more. Seb looked away immediately and looked down. Iven chuckled at her reaction.

"How long you are going to deny me as well as yourself?", Iven spoke.

Seb looked up with blank eyes.

"You still don't understand your situation you have brought yourself in to?", he said again in a devilish tone," If I don't exaggerate, I say, I am the the ruler of my empire which I created. I've got my brothers who work on the snap of my fingers, and you...being the only women in my life! Who do you think you are??? Don't you read books? Don't you realize it yet???".

Seb popped her eyes and kept staring. what was Iven implying? Was this a puzzle? But she didn't know the answer and the best way to dodge that is to escape.

"I don't....", Seb started saying as she took a step back, preparing to dash off.

As she turned around and start to sprint, Iven re flexed within a second and grabbed her arm. Seb's plan was plundered. Iven tightened his hold and pulled her roughly closer to him.

"Don't you run away",he told,"Why are you escaping me?".

"Who? me? no way...I'm not...", Seb fumbled, trying to shake off Iven. She can't fight back properly when she's flushed.

Iven held her wrist up and dragged her attention," Stop fidgeting!", he commanded," How naive can be be? How many hints should I drop more? Can't you read my eyes???".

"Iven...what are you saying? Be clear...", Seb finally stopped resisting.

Iven finally lost his patience. He pulled Seb and grabbed her by her shoulders, shaking her," Look at me!!! Don't you know what I'm trying to imply? What I've been trying to imply this whole time? I've been very open about this whole time. I won't understand if you don't let me know your side. I need to know what you feel, I need to see your heart...show it to me".

Seb had no expression at all on her face.

Iven wanted to see her heart, which was beating incredibly fast at the moment. What was this feeling? has it been there this whole time? No one had made her feel the way Iven did. She felt beautiful and protected. Was this mutual in both cases? She wanted to tell to Iven out loud not because he wanted to hear it, but also because she wanted to say it to him. She wanted him to see her heart. Only, she didn't know how....

Iven sighed and pulled Seb gently closer to him. He had his face beside her ear. They were close enough for Seb to feel his breath on her nape.

"I know it Belle...", Iven said in a gentle whisper,"...I know it all. But you need to tell me from your mouth for me to be prominent. I want to hear it from you. I want you to say it that you agree to be my person. Even if you can't, a small response would do too. It must come from you. And in these perilous times, I need it the most and as soon possible, so that I can protect you without any boundary".

"Iven...", Seb finally spoke,"I....I don't know how". She wanted to say what he wanted to hear. She didn't want that tormented face of him in front her.

Iven smiled. His lips were touching her ear. Seb didn't move an inch, she trusted Iven,"I know that...I can make that happen for you...", he whispered,"...I'll help you".

"What will you do?", she asked.

"Don't worry, I surely won't give you a hard time. You don't even have to say anything, I just need a response," he said sheepishly,"It's gonna happen anytime soon now..."