“The last hunter,” Hendrick said, standing in front of her.
She was taken aback by Hendrick’s presence, somewhat intimidated by it - much like she felt with her mate. Still, she faced him, determined to maintain her composure even with how uncomfortable and out of place she felt.
Why was she meeting Hendrick instead of her mate? His presence was nothing like she’d ever experienced. The way he spoke and his mannerisms left her feeling very uneasy.
“I’ve got a name, you know. I’m sick of being called wolf, hunter, or whatever. I have a name.”
Hanging her hands on her waist, Emory held his deep blue gaze.
“What is it?” he asked as he circled around her before returning to stand in front of her.
“Emory,” she said.
“Ah, yes.” He nodded, his eyes widening in recognition. “The last Chavére.” He added much to her surprise. “Colin and everyone else leave us,” he ordered.
Emory watched Sabine and the group leave, then turned back
Emory took a step forward, her eyes locked onto Rahl. As she ascended the platform, an electric energy enveloped her, making the air crackle with an otherworldly power. Rahl extended a hand, signalling for Emory to join him. “Kane is a-” “You’re not about to spill that secret without my say-so, are you?” Kane’s growl echoed from below. “She needs to know,” Rahl insisted, his piercing gaze locking with Kane’s. Emory couldn’t help but admire the contrasting dynamics between the two. Kane, despite his intimidating exterior, had a rugged charm that intrigued Emory. Rahl, on the other hand, exuded a refined confidence that drew her in. As their silent conflict played out, Emory realized she had questions that needed answers—about Kane, Rahl, and the Dracans. “I’ll reveal it when the time is right, but not now. She needs to awaken and triumph in this tournament. You can’t postpone it indefinitely,” Kane stated, climbing the short steps to the platform. “We might need to schedule it for
The smell of gardenias welcomed her as Dante led her into a private bourgeois estate. It was surrounded by thick stone walls, with an army of guards patrolling the grounds. Although the area was isolated from the main tower, it was guarded with equal ferocity. As they approached the towering grand fortress, Emory wondered if this was the king’s court. The guards bowing to Dante when they passed further confirmed her suspicions, making her even more eager to enter. Imagining it may cause Lady Moore to burst into flames made her smile. A pair of guards flanking the double ornate oak door stepped forward to open the doors as they approached. Then Dante turned to her and gestured with an outstretched hand for her to enter. A snarl slipped unintentionally out of Emory’s mouth as he stared at her. “Don’t worry,” he assured her. “I won’t bite,” he joked. “If I do, it’ll only be a little.” When he leaned in, her breath caught as she stayed perfectly s
They followed the army of guards out of Dante’s estate to the tower, up the stairs and through the winding corridors of the castle. A set of heavy steel doors greeted them when they reached the top. It creaked open slightly, revealing a dark chamber, and Emory peered inside anxiously. As the guard in charge of the others turned to face Emory and Sabine, he frowned. “Lady Sabine, only the hunter was-” “Call me Emory or nothing at all, but never use that word again.” Emory’s words rang out with fiery emphasis. “I’ll be right here, Emory.” Sabine squeezed her hand and stepped back. Running her fingers through her damp red hair, Emory took a deep breath before entering. Whatever this was, she dreaded it because it made her stomach churn and her heart race. As soon as she crossed the threshold, the doors creaked shut and the room lit up. She squinted, straining her eyes to pick up the finer points of the room. Her eyes were drawn to the int
“Dante,” Hendrick grunted before slipping out through the door below the throne.Watching him leave, Emory almost gasped at how much he resembled Dante from behind. Anyway, she was glad he left. It didn’t exactly make her feel better to be alone with Dante, but the lack of an equally intimidating audience made her slightly less wary.“I must give you props. You handled Lady Moore beautifully. You have truly proven your mettle when it comes to managing difficult people, which makes me certain you will be an excellent sovereign.”As the compliment enveloped her like a warm hug, she nearly gushed. After a few minutes of allowing herself to enjoy the feeling, she returned to her usual Stoic composure.“I guess I’d better tell you now that I don’t want to be queen. You’re being incredibly presumptuous by assuming that. You didn’t even ask me what I wanted.”Having to live in this tower wo
“How did it go?” Sabine asked as they followed the guards back towards the king’s tower.“I’m not sure,” Emory replied.At that point, she wasn’t even thinking about the council, but Dante’s response to what she’d asked for.Emory slowed down as they approached the gardenia-scented courtyard. At the centre was a grand fountain with a marble statue of a woman reaching out with an offering of water–that wasn’t there before. Curious at the bizarre sight, Emory wondered what triggered the sudden appearance.The memory of Dante’s request brought a sigh to her lips. Giving Dante what he wanted was the only way to free her family. It was her fault they were captured; she had to pay the price. Even so, she didn’t understand why Dante was so determined to destroy Morrian. Was this his desperate attempt to stop Aworyn from scourging the Lycans?Unless she figured this out fast, Mor
With her eyes closed, she breathed in the soothing scent of the lavender steam. All the tension and anxieties of the day slowly melted away. Ah, the power of a hot bath—it was like a hug for her muscles!She let her mind wander, allowing herself to simply be in the moment, thinking of nothing in particular.The last twenty-four hours had been such chaos and this was the only time she’d had to think about anything all day. A tiny shaft of moonlight shone through a crack in the curtain, illuminating a single rose petal on the edge of the tub.Unbidden, Trey popped into her head, and she hissed. All this was his fault, and she was still mad at him. After her bath, she had to come up with a backup plan in case things did not work out with Dante’s plan. Another yawn followed as the steaming water lulled her to sleep.Emory.Aworyn’s voice echoed as if she was right next to her. She had to admit that putting her in a tour
There was almost nothing underneath the beige gown she had on, except for the knife strapped to her right upper thigh. With a subtle tug, she let the thin fabric caress her skin, the light colour accentuating her golden tan. The straps of the dress crossed across her chest and fell down her shoulders to drape over her back like a cape. With her crimson hair in a neat ponytail, her neck and arms were on full display.Taking in the surrounding forest around the castle walls, she licked her lips and tasted the strawberry gloss Sabine had stained them with. With her bare feet digging into the sand, she observed the flock of women clad in red hooded robes and golden slashes around her and Sabine.“Did Dante explain how the ceremony works?” Sabine asked her.Emory looked up at the full moon shining brightly in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the forest, then at the group of women again.“What’s there to tell? At least it’s not
Dante and his men sped through the forest, his senses on high alert. Every crackle of a twig, every rustle of leaves, and every whisper of the wind filled the air. He knew someone would try to obstruct the ceremony, so he sent Emory off with the flock and followed quietly behind. Keeping up with her was easy. That sweet, sensual Edlrin scent of bleak sunflower with a hint of jasmine was hard to miss. He knew their connection would only intensify after they joined. When he saw Emory and the flock standing in the middle of the Magnolia path surrounded by rogues, his beast growled: a reaction that made him quiver with delight. A burning feral hunger twinkled in Emory’s eyes as she battled one, while Sabine faced two. He watched his mate for a moment, then turned to the rogue whose scent stood out like red on white. “Kael,” Crixus growled next to him. It was Kael, a loyal sentinel who had always served faithfully in the past, and Dante couldn’t understand