I knew that tensions were brewing all around us. I could feel it even in my room. Sadly, most people would never know why I ran. Hell, I wasn’t even entirely sure anymore. After my bath, I couldn’t sleep and Lesley suggested that we go for a walk. We were walking through the gardens when I noted people making their way back to town. Many of them were crying, and some of the faces were of the family Lorenzo and I went to see.“Lesley, would it be possible for me to see the dead?” I whipped around, giving the poor girl behind me a fright. She seemed to think about it for a moment and then nodded. I wasn’t sure if she was asking permission through the pack link or if she was just thinking about it, and frankly, I didn’t care. Even if she said no, I would have found a way to go and pay my last respects.Silence fell over the great hall as we walked in and it almost felt as if people were too scared to approach me. I walked to where the first warrior’s family was standing near him and than

I no longer felt as if I wanted to run. For the first time in a very long time, I wasn’t thinking about a house in the forest. I wasn’t sure if it was because the one I did have turned out to be yet another horror story in my life or if it was because I was finally close to having a family, but it didn’t really matter which. I could honestly say that I was happy.Unfortunately, before Lorenzo and I could officially start dating, there had to be a ball and I couldn’t help but laugh when his mother announced it. Lorenzo’s intention to court me had to be officially announced in front of all the nobles since they would all be given the opportunity to object to our union. It was all part of their pomp and fuss and he hated every moment of it.Lorenzo was a great king, because of it. He didn’t want to spend his time lazing about or having parties that cost his people money. He wanted to take care of them. All of them. That now included the pixies who might want to stay in what used to be th

THERE WAS SO MUCH TO ORGANIZE and so little time, that I was slowly beginning to wonder if Lorenzo and I would ever really have a date. We were constantly busy preparing for either a meeting with someone or the next ball in our honour, so I didn’t even realize on the morning of our first date things were different.Lesley was more excited than normal when she helped me to get dressed before breakfast, but before I could comment on it, a guard appeared to tell me that Lorenzo was looking for me in the foyer. I was a little confused as I made my way down the stairs to find him standing there in riding clothes with a basket in one hand.“Good morning, I was wondering if you would like to escort me to an event today.” Mischief danced around in his eyes and I squinted mine as I looked at him.“There is no event in my diary. What am I missing?” I was feeling really awful thinking I missed something when he burst out laughing.“Well, we have been so busy lately, that I thought you could use

“Lorenzo, perhaps we should move this conversation somewhere private.” Everyone … Literally everyone was staring at us now, and I was beginning to feel as if both of them need to be properly put in their place! “She was the one going around publicly trying to humiliate me, and I haven’t just heard this from you, Ariana. Two other people mentioned it to me tonight.” I sighed, knowing there was no way I was going to save this woman from further humiliation. If I wasn’t the only one hearing her gossip … She had made her rounds all right … I took a step back, but thankfully, I could feel that Lorenzo had at least calmed down a little. “Take your wife home!” Lorenzo growled at the woman’s husband. “And I expect to see both of you in my office first thing in the morning!” The man nodded and as they left the ballroom, I could see he was furious hissing at his wife. Dammit. I really didn’t mean for this to happen, but what else was I going to do? I couldn’t very well lie to Lorenzo when he a

THAT EMBER THAT SPARKED didn’t seem to want to die down and the next morning, as I walked into the dining room, it seemed to light up like a bonfire at the sight of Lorenzo. An ache started to form down there and it was frustrating since it felt as though I had peed my damn pants!I knew exactly what it was. Some of the slaves talked about it over the years and some seemed to enjoy whatever they did with a male to relieve that pain, while others seemed to hate it and said that it hurt. What I’ve also heard is that when you are wet, it doesn’t hurt, but when you aren’t …“Ariana?” My eyes snapped up to find everyone staring at me. “Are you alright?” The queen looked worried and I frowned.“Yes, I’m fine, Your Highness. I’m just incredibly hot. Is anyone else hot?” I tried to cool myself with a napkin, but what was really happening registered a split-second later when Lorenzo’s growl echoed throughout the room and he moved incredibly fast, pulling me into his arms. His canines were just