The following morning, I slowly stretch my limbs, blinking against the morning light filtering through the window. My curiosity piqued, I squint my eyes at the door, trying to catch a glimpse of whoever Beatrice is speaking to. However, before I can discern their identity, she closes the door and approaches me with a bottle of pills in her hand."Good morning," I greet with a yawn, covering my mouth with my hand as I sit up."Here you go," Beatrice says, placing a pill in my palm."What's this for?" I inquire, studying the small tablet she's given me."It's plan B, and these are your birth control pills," she explains. "Take them if you don't want the king to have both our heads." She offers me a strained smile before handing over the bottle of pills.Her words send a chill down my spine, and I swallow hard, accepting the bottle of pills. I consider telling her that I don't
"Where are your clothes?" Nickolas's voice cuts through the tense silence, his grip on my arm still firm and causing a sharp pang of pain to shoot through me. Despite the discomfort, I refrain from speaking, knowing that it’s best not to say anything to make the situation worse."Ember took them," I respond truthfully, not hesitating to divulge the facts of the matter. After all, it's not as though Nickolas would take any action against her for her actions."Hmm, she did," Nickolas murmurs, more to himself than to me, his grip tightening further before he finally releases me. I massage the tender area where his fingers had dug in, silently waiting for him to speak further. To my surprise, he doesn't reprimand me or demand further explanations. Instead, he disappears momentarily, only to return with my dress—or rather, Ember's dress—in hand.My brows knit together in confusion as Nickolas offers me the garment; his ac
At night, Nickolas asks for me. Unlike yesterday, I'm not anxious about how the night will unfold. Even though I have no desire to see him, I know I have no say in it. Knocking softly, I wait for his permission before stepping into his room. I enter and find him seated by a working desk near the window, a detail I hadn't noticed before.The moonlight casts a soft glow, illuminating every feature of his handsome face as he focuses on his work. I watch as he adjusts his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and I can't help but notice how they add to his allure, even if I wish he didn’t. There's just something undeniably captivating about the way they frame his eyes, accentuating their intensity and adding a touch of sophistication to his appearance.Yet, as I observe him, a question lingers in the back of my mind: why would a lycan, with their renowned vision, need glasses in the first place? It's a curious thought, one that I can't quite shake as I con
NICKOLAS"She knows," I tell Eric, taking a sip of bourbon lounging in a brown armchair beside the crackling fireplace. The warm glow paints the living room in comforting hues.Eric leans forward, his own glass in hand. "Which 'she'?""Amelia," I respond, taking another sip, my throat tightening at her name."How does she know?"“I don’t know, but tonight she questioned me about it.”“She’s sharp. It only took her the second time to figure it out.”“Let’s hope she knows how to shut her mouth and doesn’t mess up the plan.”“I don’t think she has anyone to spill to. Nothing to worry about.”“Beatrice is her roommate. She might tell her, and as much as I trust Beatrice, I can't be sure she won't betray me for the right reasons.”“Beatrice has known you half your life. I doubt she'd ever betray y
Callum’s face is pale, drained of all color. He wets his cracked lips and utters, "My king," His voice hoarse. Attempting to sit up as I approach, he fails, thumping back into the bed. I notice the wet towel on his forehead, and a water witch by his left seems to be treating him. She bows in respect, and I wave her off.“How?” I ask, standing by the foot of his bed, finger on my nose to block the pungent smell of the healing herbs. "I pissed off a witch.""And she made you sick?" I question, raising an eyebrow."Yes.""Hmm, I didn’t know they could do that.""Me neither. I'm sorry, Your Majesty, for missing court these past two days, but as you can see, I'm actually sick.""Yes, I can see that, Lord Easterlin. I wish you a quick recovery.""Thank you, Your Majesty. Don’t worry; I'll be fine before The Bloodmoon Gala. It’s an important day for my daughter, and no witch sickness will stop me from attending."I nod, not expecting such confidence. He doesn't seem concerned, even though r
We arrive at Lord Easterlin's Estate late at night, a small group consisting of Beatrice, a few other witches, and myself. Navigating through the expansive mansion, which rivals the castle in both size and resemblance, we head towards Lord Easterlin's room. Beatrice wishes to check on him before we retire for the night.The grand master bedroom welcomes us with moonlight streaming through large windows, casting a gentle glow across the room. A king-sized bed, adorned with crisp, white linens and an array of plump pillows, commands the center. Lord Easterlin lays in the bed, looking no different from a sick human. Wow! Beatrice told me he was ill, but I didn’t believe her. I can’t believe it’s true. It explains the heavy smell of herbs in the room."Good evening, your grace," Beatrice greets Lord Easterlin, bowing her head slightly.
We arrive when the sun has fully set, and the stars begin to emerge, decorating the night sky. I walk straight to the maid’s quarters to change my clothes. Stepping out of my room once I'm done, I head to the kitchen in search of something to eat. I haven’t eaten all day, so I'm starving.“Hello,” I greet the head chef. With Beatrice still at Lord Easterlin’s estate, I wonder if I would be given any food tonight.“Your dinner is with the king,” he responds stoically.“What?” I say, shocked, wondering if I heard correctly.“Your food is…”“I heard you the first time,” I cut
AMELIAThe engine roars to life as Nickolas's Range Rover glides out of the castle gates, leaving the isolated mountain abode behind. I gaze out of the backseat window, watching the castle shrink in the distance. Our destination: Lycan City, as we referred to it, back home.Nestled in the city below, it's the home for most lycans, and today, I find myself accompanying Nickolas on his annual visit to the town. The shock from this morning still lingers after Beatrice dropped the unexpected news. However, it presents an incredible opportunity for escape. I know Nickolas may have taken measures to prevent me from getting away, but I doubt I won't be able to slip away while we explore the city.The burning question of why he insisted on my company also looms, but I refrain from asking. Past enco