Cora’s POVWhy the fuck is my heart beating like there’s a sick drum medley going on in my head? I've been to a shady meeting before. Twice even—granted, the second time was because he used Nina as bait, but that's when we officially became partners, so it definitely counts.So, if I’d sat through meetings without so much as wondering if the mystery person next to me would turn around and gut me, it only meant that something had changed this time around.I knew what had changed, why I was nervous about another meeting that’d signify how much closer I was to getting my revenge—to ending Kai’s life and achieving the feat that’d kept me alive for the last few months.Even now, as I pushed the door of the chapel open, that feeling of dread tugged at my insides and just like every other time before now, I shoved it down knowing fully well that my feeble emotions meant nothing in comparison to getting revenge for my precious deceased pack.For my father who I’d watched meet a shameful end.
Kai’s POV“Alpha?” The words sounded like they’d been whispered from another dimension.“Alpha Kai, can you hear me?” The same distant, buzzing tone threatened my peace again.More incessant chattering followed, words that I couldn’t make sense of.Then it stopped, but I couldn’t go back into the state of nothingness that I’d been in after overdosing on the sleeping potion Leila delivered upon my request yesterday afternoon. The same afternoon that I’d felt like my body and brain had conspired against me, the real me—not the angry, merciless beast, no.The one that cared deeply about Cora. The one that hadn’t realized that he’d rather die than hurt her until he saw his palm imprinted on her right cheek yesterday.“Kai?” The voice sounded painfully strained this time around.“God, will he be okay?” Another voice, a shaky and breathless one.I was fully awake now, and the voices around me were beginning to fucking piss me off—I just wanted to enjoy a fucking nap and forget about the hea
Cora’s POV“Are you lot fucking kidding me?” I was blinking furiously with my mouth agape, I couldn't believe the sight before me.When Nina had come running to me where I was feeding the horses, I was wondering what happened that would’ve caused her to run so frantically. Even when I did ask, she’d only said “you have to see it for yourself” breathlessly and dragged me back to the room with her.“You’re deaf? Is that it?” I left the doorway and walked towards the guards who were hastily gathering everything I owned into a pile.They didn’t pay me any mind, they just kept packing up my things and carrying them out of the room. To say i was shocked would be an understatement, I was gobsmacked as they walked by me and two other guards remained to gather the rest.I was convinced that they had empty coconut shells for brains because there was the option of packing my belongings into one huge carry-on or box, but they decided to come in their numbers and carry them scattered? That pissed
Kai’s POVI watched the young spell caster’s hands tremble as she murmured a spell under her breath, I knew it was because she feared me but I hoped that it wouldn't interfere with the spell.“Any Idea what the problem is yet?” I asked impatiently and she locked her nervous eyes with me before shaking her head.Another No, the fourth one in the last forty minutes.“Try again!” I snapped at her and she flinched before nodding quickly and shutting her eyes to recite the spell again.The moment I walked out of Cora’s room, I’d gone on a frantic search to find Leila, overturning every room in the palace that I thought she’d be in, but there was no sign of her. I knew that if anyone could figure out what was wrong with me and how to fix it, it’d be her.When I wasn’t able to find her, my frustration easily morphed into anger and I stormed off to the training room where the spell casters under her. The second I stepped foot into the room, the spell casters present scrambled to their feet an
Kai’s POV“Nina, stay” Cora held unto her friend’s arm tightly and practically pinned her on the spot.Nina.Mystery maid’s name was Nina.“Cora, five minutes” I wanted to plead but I wasn't even sure how to, men like me never cared enough about anybody’s feelings to learn how to deliver a simple apology.“Too long, I’d kick you out the second the lies left your lips” She didn't let her eyes meet mine no matter what.“I’m not leaving until we talk, and I’m not talking with her here” I folded my arms stubbornly—in the same manner she usually did—and leaned comfortably against the walls.Cora balled her fists furiously at her sides and the frown lines on her forehead became deeper, like I’d set off a level of anger she was oblivious to having. The mystery ma—no, Nina leaned into her and whispered something in her ears that caused Cora’s tenses shoulders to visibly relax before she let go of her arm.“I’ll excuse you now, Alpha” She bowed as she walked past me and left the room.I should
Leila’s POVHe was fixing up a room for her? By himself?My mind was racing with a million questions, and not the kind that anyone could proffer answers to. Only a deity who oversaw all could help me make sense of Kai’s obsession with Cora, especially after he’d ingested a shit ton of the supposed fate-altering red rose I risked my ass to get.How the hell was he fighting it off? I mean, I knew he was strong but I thought it was just against physical warfare, not the supernatural. The mere fact that he had chosen the worst possible time to show how boundless his strength and determination could be pissed me the hell out.“I just need one more shot at Cora’s life, and this time, I won't miss the target” I looked into my scrying mirror while I waited for it to locate Cora.I barely made use of the scrying mirror to spy on my enemies within the palace because it drew an unimaginable amount of power from me to keep it connected to a magical source. It was usually a last resort when I’d ex
Leila’s POV“Is he okay? Why was he he—” my statement was cut off when I lost my balance on the shelf and fell on my ass.You’re not weak Leila, you can't afford to be.Rene gasped loudly and ran over to my side on seeing my fall, “ God, Miss, are you feeling well?”Her hands went around my back and she pulled me into a sitting position while I struggled to keep myself grounded. I was becoming weaker by the second because I hadn't even taken a minute to rest but I didn't care, I had to protect Kai by any means necessary.“You’re burning up, Miss,” Rene diagnosed after using the back of her palm to feel my forehead and neck.“I did a scrying spell,” I confessed mindlessly as my eyes fluttered weakly where I laid against a shelf.I didn't know if Rene enjoyed gasping, but she gasped loudly again on hearing that.“Alone? Scrying spells are far too demanding to be done alone,” She recited as though I hadn't taught her that in her first year under my wing.“Are you strong enough to do a si
Leila’s POV Kol? I knew I’d seen a familiar figure. The same cowardly asshole that’d made my last trip nothing worth remembering? How did such a lousy excuse for a man get into a cult as powerful as that? How could he have ensured that a closed off tunnel was opened for his secret meeting? How the hell was he sleek enough to do treacherous shit under Kai’s nose? Kol didn't even have the balls to stand in the presence of a mystical being in the body of a little girl so how could he be some brilliant mastermind? He’d really fooled me with that act. “When you're finished, pick your jaw off the floor and leave” He said in a shockingly authoritative voice. At this point, I wasn't even focused on the order he’d given, I was simply trying to recover from my initial shock upon seeing him. It shouldn't surprise me as much as it did since I was a cunning person whose survival depended on covering my tracks, but Kol hadn't just covered his tracks, he’d buried them in his cowardly persona