WINTER.The concept of day and night fascinates me. It’s a miracle how it was dark a few hours ago and now the sky is purging light the next hour.Nikolai spent the night in the office, I know because I was up all night. He didn’t even come back once to check on me. I put my feet on the ground and take long strides towards the dressing table to take a look at myself in the mirror. My hair is a complete mess. It’s the third time he’s doing this, spending the night in the office, going out in the morning and coming back late at night, only to sleep in the office again. He says he’s busy but its starting to seem like he’s avoiding me. I run my fingers through my hair, who wouldn’t avoid this? I look like an electrocuted porcupine but I feel even worse.I don’t know what I’m supposed to do around here. Nikolai is not saying anything about our mating ceremony and I can’t play the ro

“What are you doing here?” Nikolai asks creasing his brows together in suspicion. He knows I wasn’t invited but I also know he’s not going to kick me out. “I couldn’t resist attending a party thrown by the king.” I tell him and he snorts. “It’s not a party, it’s a feast and since when can you not refuse parties? You didn’t show up for the auction.” He shoots accusingly and I press my lips into a thin line.“I said parties not a gathering where rich cocky people come to flaunt their money.” He smiles and taps me on the shoulder before walking past me. I see him grab a cocktail before disappearing into the crowd. He looks calmer than I expected. This place is packed but it’s hard to tell because of how big it is. I almost forgot how many slaves exist in this kingdom. There’s thousands. The palace staff are going to have their hands full today. I don’t see the red eyed woman anywhere. I bet she’s in the kitchen yelling at all the maids. I’m tempted to find my way there to go and he

WINTER.When she is done crying her eyes out, I wipe her face and tell her that it’s okay but I realize that I don’t even know her name is and I certainly don’t know what to do to make it okay. “I don’t have a place to stay.” She suddenly says and I don’t know what to tell her. I don’t know what plans Nikolai has install for them and I don’t want to raise her hopes. “It’s okay.” I say again. “You don’t have to stay!” Nikolai yells suddenly and everyone turns to face him. What the hell is he saying.“Is he asking us go leave?” one of them asks and I wish I had an answer. I have no idea what he’s saying. I’m about to ask what he means when an angry old lady beats me to it. “I want you to be free.” Nikolai answers her and I think I’m even more confused. What does he mean by he wants them to be free? He already freed them. When the old lady starts to speak, what Nikolai meant starts to become clearer. He thinks he’s making them stay. Little does he know that he lost the power to in

WINTER.“Are you okay?” “Of course, I am. You don’t need to worry about me, you have a war to prepare for.” Nikolai looks me up and down and kisses the top of my head before returning to his office. He’s not even mentioning the wedding and it hurts. It really hurts.I work my way to the back of the house and I hear a female voice or a male voice, I can’t tell. We don’t usually have maids at this part of the house so who is out there?“Who is there?” I call out cautiously. I’ve been learning a little self defense during my spare time but I don’t even know who I’m up against and with my skills, I’m sure six toddlers can take me up. The guards put a lot of effort into teaching me but I’m just un-teachable and my bones are like butter. I take two steps forward but I don’t see anyone, I’m sure I heard a voice. I’m looking behind me every three seconds because I don’t want anyone to sneak up on me. I’m barely any good when I’m ready, when I’m not interested practically dead meet. With th

I couldn’t concentrate, I couldn’t think, I couldn’t do anything right. I knew I had to find Winter, she’s the only person that can the get mind back on track. I know aunt Hyacinth told me to find her with a clear mind but I need to find her to have a clear mind. I’ve checked on the brunette twice since the doctor left, she looked perfectly okay, at least I think so. I really don’t care if she’s okay or not, I just need her sane and alive. The doctor said it was going to take a while for her to wake up, looks like she’s not as tough as she looks. She was out there just one night and she almost died. How did someone like that end up as a spy? I catch a whiff of Winter's scent before I see her and I quickly tuck myself behind a wall. I have no idea why I’m hiding, guilt is not a good look on me. She’s tiptoeing down the stairs, does she feel guilty too or is she just being careful not to wake anybody? I don’t know which but what I do know is that she looks sexy as hell in the gown