Alastair's Point of View It was well past sunrise and there was no sign of Amadeus. Trouble had a way of catching up to my twin but this was ridiculous. At least he could have called. Set my mind at ease to where he was. But no. Instead, he made me wait in the foyer, legs crossed and the clock ticking away. For all I knew, they could have discovered him. Locked him up somewhere and I would never see him again. Nerezza could be thrown in there with him. No. At least if something happened to her, Phaedra would contact me. Tell me about what had happened and make sure that I came to her rescue. Or so I hoped. Sighing, I scrubbed my face with a hand. Let the dread of the day settle into my bones. This wasn't what I had envisioned for my life. Not even remotely. But it was my life now. There was no persuading Nerezza to choose another path. So, I had to sit in silence and worry until someone made their presence known. Another minute ticked by and I heard the gate open. Excitement jabbe
Nerezza's Point of ViewReginald had sent an entire team to dress me up for our lunch. According to one of the maids, she had overheard from another maid that Reginald was taking me out for lunch. To some fancy restaurant somewhere in the city center. They had gushed about it profusely. How a lowly commoner now held all the attention of the king. How there might still be hope for them. When I turned my back, another maid would scold them. Tell them how I was the exception. About how beautiful I was and that was why the king had wanted me among all others.w I pretended not to listen. Or to get offended by the statements. All they had ever known was this life. As I had once only known my simple life as well. So much more happened around them that they weren't aware of. I was glad they still had that level of innocence. Had someone to fight their battles for them.Somewhere in my heart, I knew I wanted the same. Had relished Amadeus coming here because I imagined him fighting Reginaldf
Priamos' Point of ViewI was halfway around the world, following a lead I had gotten. Years later, the rumors still ran like wildfire. Of a gang that stole children. Sold them on the black market to families who couldn't make their own. Nothing especially sinister happened to the children. Most were bought by wealthy people. It enraged me all the more. Some nurses were in on it. Received money for procuring the best offspring. Once she had stolen a child, she would vanish into the night. Change her name. Start somewhere else. The cycle went on and on.My leads had dried up in the first few months. People were tight-lipped. Wouldn't give away the people who helped them to survive. Gave them money for whatever reason. Money that they had gotten from families buying kids. All of it was sickening. I was in some human country now. With mountain ranges on all sides. No electricity. Running water was also only meant for the wealthier families here. The village was small but I had found a h
Prince Reginald's Point of ViewThis was the part of being the prince that I detested the most. Mountains of paperwork. Meetings to be held that were of no great concern. Late nights filling in forms and setting forth new motions for the upcoming week. Nothing to write home about. Not that home life was any more interesting than this.Where was the action? The war and human misery? Where were the people bowing at your feet, begging for mercy? This was not what I had had in mind when I agreed to take over from father sooner rather than later. Although, the bugger was somehow beating the odds. I'd have to make a mental note of it to tell the doc to add extra of that poison from now on. His inclining health was a problem.Just as I set down my first mug of coffee for the morning, Beatrice stormed in. Her hair was a mess. Robe falling around her, untied. Which was highly immoral. But her face looked worse than normal. Her too-large eyes were now in slits. Nose scrunched up in distaste. I
Nerezza's Point of ViewSomehow they found me in my old home. All three of them. None of them knew what to say to me when they entered. But I barely acknowledged their presence. Dug the palms of my heels into the carpet I had walked over the last time my parents had been alive. Having them here almost felt like we were disturbing my parents. That they were sleeping upstairs and the moment they noticed boys with me, I would never hear the end of it.No one had bought the house. For obvious reasons. The walls were cracked. Windows shattered. The sink was stolen from the cupboard. It was all in ruin. Most of our possessions were still inside. Crumbling with age. Still smelt faintly of my mother. Her perfume a painful reminder of what I had endured the last few years.Old family photos hung on the walls. As if someone had drawn a line at tearing down the personal touches. But the rest was a nightmare. Feces, both of a person and animal, lay scattered about. Needles for drug addicts. The c
Priamos' Point of ViewThe cold bit into my skin. Pumped ice through my veins. Blackness had somehow seeped in right after I turned. Well, was forced to turn by Nerezza's palpable fear. Something was wrong. Missing. I needed to get to her. Get out of this frozen landscape. She was alone in this world and from that incapacitating feeling, I knew she needed me.Even though the freezing cold surrounded me, there was a warmth at my side. I turned to look at my left flank. Noticed the tiny head still draped over me. Puffs of air took form around the nostrils. Shallow but there. The fawn from earlier.I angled my head upward and noticed the frozen blood from the mother just above me. The sun was slowly creeping back over the horizon. Made the ice and snow glitter around me. It did nothing to curb the cold. Or even make a dent in it. Exhaling, I tried to sit up but the fawn stirred and I stopped. Spooking it would result in a large headache for me.I had to get back. But I couldn't leave hi
Nerezza's Point of ViewWe went back to the house. Solemn and silent. I had confessed something to them that I shouldn't have. A secret of mine so deep that I had long since kept it hidden. Even from myself. There was no doubt in my mind that they would ask questions about it later on. Bombard me until I gave in and told them everything.How exhausted I was. How I wanted to flee the palace. I didn't want to marry Reginald. Hell, I barely liked him anymore. His sweet sentiment of yesterday was just that. A sweet sentiment. Nothing more. Nothing less. Because I couldn't turn a blind eye to what he was now tolerating. What he was doing with his son.Our people deserved more. Needed more. That was the reason I kept doing what I should. Paved the way forward, even though my bones shivered from exhaustion. They needed more than this. More than this life. No one would ever give it to them, except for me.Phaedra had her own agenda. Given the chance, I knew she would send them all burning as
Nerezza's Point of ViewOur lips danced together. Sparked and bit. Lysander bit down on my bottom lip. Pulled it until pain twinged itself into my body. Slithered down to my wettening cunt. I ground against him. Begged for more friction between us. Amadeus' lips trailed over my shoulders. Licked and nipped at the exposed skin. Goosebumps rose wherever he kissed. Trailed his tongue. I imagined that skilled tongue between my legs. Felt it move. I had closed my eyes, savoring the sensation.Until Alastair plunged his hand into my hair at the base of my neck. He pulled. My scalp screamed and I moaned as my lips were ripped away from Lysander. Settling for my neck, Lysander kissed the base of my throat. Bit down on the soft breast just below him.Alastair kept pulling. Planted his lips over my ear. Sucked the tender flesh. Bit the side of my neck. All of their advances left my chest heaving. Left my body needing more. I increased my pace between us. Willed them to take it all off. Bare me