We will get Aleric's PoV next! Who is excited? :D
ALERIC. “I just wanted to say welcome.” The pretty little blond says as she holds out the hamper filled with chocolates, wine and a mug with my initials. How thoughtful… but I’m a little busier admiring her breasts. “Beautiful,” I say with a smile as I reach over and take the hamper from her. She smells good, expensive perfume and, of course, her own scent is pleasant enough. She blushes and bites her lips as I place it down on my desk. Despite there being a shared teachers’ lounge, I am an Arden and so of course that comes with perks. After all, our father is one of the ones who made this all possible. “Thank you… oh wait you meant the hamper, yes thank you I made it!” She gushes and I smirk, leaning against my desk. “I actually did mean you.” I say softly. So fickle. She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear as she looks up at me with eyes that hold lust. “Thanks.” She says, no longer as coy as she was. “If you do need anything or want anything… I’m always here.” I stan
SKYLA. “Ah, it’s hot! Careful!” Kataleya scolds as she swats my hand away gently from the sizzling grill that sits in front of me. “Does it matter? I will heal.” I remind her, sucking my finger clean. We are down at Kayoko’s Grill, grilling our own meat. It’s sizzling hot and damn delicious. We used to come here with Song and Azura, have some sake and enjoy chatting about boys, life, and stuff in general, but both of them have graduated. In fact, Azura has a cute little three-month-old baby now! “Missing them?” Kataleya asks knowingly. I nod. “Yeah, you know the four of us were pretty wild.” I wink at her. Her smile falters and she nods. “You and Zu were, but yes… it’s not the same. It’s still nice, me and you…” “Yes, it is… What is it, Kat?” I ask. There’s more… she’s not telling me, but something is on her mind. She tilts her head, her long sandy brown hair falling over her shoulder then her dark eyes stare at the sizzling cubes of meat on the grill. “I… I won’t be here for gr
SKYLA. I don’t move, the first rule of survival… stay calm… I keep my breathing steady, my eyes blazing plum purple, the exact colour of whatever or whoever that is… we’re pretty far but those eyes look almost… reptilian… I’m not completely sure as I’m not close enough… and then again, there shouldn’t be snakes out here… this is England, not Australia. I briefly wonder if I actually ended up falling asleep and dreamt that I’m in the land down under. I finally get why they call it that. That place must be hell with the number of things trying to kill you over there. Focus Sky. The smell of the earth and the crisp air are enough to tell me that I’m definitely wide awake. Neither of us moves for several seconds and I slowly rise to my feet, eyeing the reptilian or whatever it is. Wait, maybe it’s a snake shifter! Do they exist? Hell, anything can exist, I mean, I’m a Lycan. Despite how calm I am, that sense of foreboding is only growing, and my gut is telling me that I should assess
SKYLA. I see its shadow loom in the tiny window, which is far too small for it to fit through. Heck, I just about managed to fit! Thank god I’m not blessed with Mama’s curves or my ass wouldn’t have fitted through that damn window and that snake would have had my ass for dinner. Can you just imagine me walking around with my ass bitten off? I'll probably be dead soon after. Silently I climb into the bathtub, shuddering at the thought. I can feel that chilling aura grow, and I can hear its breathing outside. Silently I place my hand over Malevolent’s mouth, steadying my breathing as I lie down in the bath, not wanting to be seen… Go away… I hear a distant, powerful growl that makes my heart soar. Is someone out there? I hear a hiss before something huge slams into the side of the cottage, not once, but twice. Fuck! I flinch, praying the walls hold, and I’m about to run from the bathroom, but suddenly there’s silence. Exhaling deeply, I wait for a few moments about to get up when
SKYLA. Now that I wasn’t expecting and I can’t help but smirk at his struggle, he growls in frustration, letting go of me and turning his back on me. I chuckle, sliding my gown up over my shoulder. “You really are so boring.” I tut, pushing past him, not bothering to tie my gown as I shamelessly turn and stop in front of him. “You’re not my teacher right now.” “No thanks. How did you get hurt?” He asks icily. “I don’t really like to share my secrets.” I reply icily, “Now, do you want to join me or do you plan to leave?” He’s refusing to look at me and my stomach twists when his gaze falls on the bathroom door. The broken glass… I see his gaze go to the ground, his frown deepening. There are bits of dirt but I hope the dark wood flooring disguises it somewhat… He seems to be thinking something over before he looks at me sharply, clenching his jaw as he reaches down and yanks my gown together. “Have a little respect for yourself.” He says coldly, his words making irritation flash t
ALERIC. She’s… I don’t kiss women on the lips. There’s something about it that disgusts me, but when I saw her standing there, clearly upset with whatever Royce had said to her, I was unable to stop myself. Perhaps I knew if I wanted to make this look as genuine as possible, I would need to. I’m not a hundred percent certain… Either way, I am not complaining. I wrap my arms around her waist. Her scent is alluring and as much as I’m enjoying her confidence, I like to be in control. I smile against her lips. This isn’t so hard… “Patience Sweetheart,” I murmur against her lips as I grip the side of her face tighter and tease the tip of her tongue. She tastes just like Pear Drops… I explore her mouth, feeling pleasure rush south, running my hands up her waist until I reach the sides of her breasts. So perfectly moulded into my hands. ‘I’m waiting, Aleric.’ Royce’s sharp voice comes into my mind. ‘You should carry on. We’re about to have a drink and maybe more.’ I reply jokingly, if on
ALERIC. An hour later she’s finished describing what she saw, and I am intrigued, because all we have ever seen is the plum eyes. It’s always so fast… “Sounds like a huge snake… only there’s no snake of that calibre.” I muse, she’s proved helpful, and she’s intelligent. I like that. “Yeah, and my claws didn’t make a dent.” She says, a frown on her face as she sits opposite me holding a mug of hot chocolate. I had settled for tea since she had limited options. I still do not know how she is staying out here in the middle of nowhere. “Interesting…” “So does Dad know about this?” She asks, her sharp eyes observing me. And there we have it, always thinking the king needs to know it all. He isn’t the only one who's been protecting this country. “Yes, he does, as does the council, however, all we are seeing are people being killed by something that leaves no traces. Neither Arden Corporation nor Leo Rossi were able to identify the cause of death. Aside from the few who have been mauled
SKYLA. As the door shuts behind him, my small smirk fades away, and I look around the cottage. That cosy touch feels empty… My stomach drops, guilt filling me, followed by a void, one so deep it almost hurts to breathe. This is the part I hate the most; I know my flaws… I know when I’m fucking up but it doesn’t stop me from self-sabotaging everything. Even then, it’s easier to identify my flaws and another thing entirely trying to move away from them. Breaking a cycle that, for a fleeting moment, fills that emptiness, is hard. I live in those moments… It offers me temporary relief, a distraction I really need from the constant war that wages in my mind. But it always comes to an end and then it all sinks in, knowing I fucked up. But deep down I know I’ll do it all over again, because I need that, those small moments of reprieve they offer me. Picking up my phone, I unlock it and click on the chat app. It’s instinctual, another bad habit of mine that I’ve picked up recently. It has b