Viktoria’s POVI could hear the sounds of boots walking on the marble floors of the castle corridors. I could smell the slight scent of citrus in the air that hid the other dreadful scents that clung to the palace walls from eons ago. I could see the beautiful clan flags hanging from every corner. The world I grew up in. The world I have loved since the day I was born. The world I never even thought could be such an enormous lie!“Are you all right?” Fynn’s voice broke through my memories and I smiled and nodded. I couldn’t very well tell him what I was thinking or how I was feeling. Yes, he had opened my eyes, but probably not in the way he wanted to.Viktor’s POVThe week couldn’t pass fast enough! For the first time in my very long life, it felt as if time was standing still. The same question I had been asking for days kept floating around in my thoughts as I sat in the small council meeting once again listening to my father lay down the law about the beasts. He was such a hypocri
Viktoria’s POVThe only love I knew of, and the only love that made any sense to me was my mother’s love. I never knew my father’s love. I never saw love between my parents or anyone else, for that matter. I saw a strange look pass between some vampires and their mates, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. Being in love and having a mate or husband or whatever was never really something I thought about. I worked so hard to become dhampir and not to be sent to the convent that love really wasn’t a priority for me.I never thought about having children or creating a home. All I wanted was to get into the castle and meet my father. That was all I ever thought about.Why on earth was I even thinking about this?! I would be going back home soon and if everything went well, I might get a position in the castle after all. Not that I thought it was possible after I’d been held captive by Fynn and his gang, but I could hope.“Maybe love is what is needed.” Fynn frowned, looking a little abse
Viktoria’s POVI was going home. Not tomorrow, but I knew that I was going home eventually. That made me feel slightly more at ease about spending my time here. What made me feel nervous was that my grandfather was here and had agreed to this. Why? Why was he here in the first place? Was there more to the story than what Fynn was telling me or was there more than what I was taught in school … Something was telling me that it was the second part? After everything I’d found out so far, it was probably the second part. I can’t believe that we blindly followed what we were taught all these years. Then, on the other hand, how did you not believe it, when that way of life was the only way you knew? I also realized that there were some things Fynn and his people didn’t know. Things I didn’t even know and I lived in the kingdom.Would I ever be able to find out the truth, the entire truth? Did I even want to know? If I went back there, it might be difficult to look at everyone knowing what I
Viktoria’s POVNo, I wasn’t one to run from anything in my life, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to start now. I wouldn’t run. From any of them. I would get through the next couple of days and then go home. Once I was back home, I could pretend as if none of this ever happened, couldn’t I? I was fooling myself! There was no way I would ever be able to attack a wolf ever again without thinking about his or her family, but if I could work in the castle, I wouldn’t have to worry about the wall defences or the beasts or Fynn ever again. Yes, I was trying to fool myself again. There was no way out.I was just going to have to accept my fate and live my life as best I could once I was back home.Fynn’s POVStanding outside her door, I could hear from her breathing that she was still asleep and I guess I could understand why. It had been a rough
Viktoria’s POVI hated the fact that other people’s actions put me in this uncertain position! I liked my life the way it was. I had a plan and I was happy with my plan. Now my life was probably the most uncertain it was ever going to get. I had no idea what my grandfather was planning when I returned, so much so that I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to go back. Then there was what I learned about the werewolves. I had a hard time calling them beasts! How was I going to join in an attack?! How was I ever going to fight them again, knowing that they were more human than beast?I just couldn’t deal with all of this anymore! I wanted to go home. I wanted to forget that any of this had happened.Fynn’s POVI walked into my office and was a little surprised to find that the council was already there waiting.“What’s all this?” I frowned, taking a seat behind my desk. I took the time to look each of them in their eyes and only moved on when they looked away. I had to show my strength as the A
Fynn’s POVLeaving her behind broke my wolf’s heart, but it was becoming too dangerous to have her around my pack. It was dangerous for both of us and I couldn’t take the chance that someone might harm her. I would rather live without her than have anybody hurt her. Running back home, it felt as though my soul was being ripped from my body.Viktoria’s POVStaying in the cell was protocol, or well, sort of. I mean, it wasn’t as if we had people coming back from beast camps on a daily basis. I could understand that they had to keep me there to make sure I hadn’t been turned or something. When I woke up, I could hear the gates being locked and unlocked near the entrance, but nobody walked all the way back to my cell. I knew I had to get as much rest as possible because there was a huge possibility that they would pull me out for more questioning and then
Viktoria’s POVUnfortunately, living a normal life wasn’t going to be in the cards for me. The same people who just a couple of days ago were telling me how confident they were that I was going to get a position in the castle. There were no whisperers behind my back. I felt like a total lepper! At breakfast, none of my friends from my year were there anymore, and I didn’t actually mix with any of the other age groups before our test day. I wasn’t part of the instructors’ group who had been instructors for many years. I was meant to be out working by now or to have been moved to the convent.Deciding to sit at the only empty table, which used to be our senior table, I picked up my food. I didn’t look up when a group of girls bursts out laughing and I knew they were staring at me. Nor did I pay much attention when the first bell rang to let the students know they had ten minutes to get to class. I am one
Viktoria’s POVEven though it was all done very respectfully, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly uncomfortable! I tried to distract myself by studying as much of the room as possible, but that just reminded me of the library at Fynn’s home. All I could do was grit and bear it until it was all over. I mean, if it was the only way to get me back where I belonged, I would do whatever it took. Unfortunately, I felt as if there was more behind this sudden need to make sure the wolves didn’t harm me. Fuck! They wanted to make sure I was pure so they could find me a mate! I felt frozen in place as adrenaline rushed through my veins and I closed my eyes. The male beside me told me that the exam was over and I could hear people leaving the room, but I was frozen in fear. My supervisor touched my shoulder and I opened teary eyes and looked at her with the biggest fear I had ever felt in my entire life.It was written all ov