Elijah's footsteps echoed across the room as he carried the tray of tea into Audrey's chambers and as usual he stops att he door, leaving one of the chamber maids to bring it further in. She drops the tray on the table and as she picks up the tea kettle Audrey notices the subtle trembling of her hands as she pours some tea into the two cups. From the corner of her eye she could see the Oracle watching the poor chamber maid with annoyance, as if waiting for her to drop the cup for at the rate at which she was trembling it wouldn't be long before she actually drops it. Without giving it so much as a second thought Audrey reaches forward and takes hold of both cups, the one for herself and the other for the Oracle. With a warm smile Audrey dismisses the maid who looked so relieved she saw her let out a heavy sigh before scurrying off. Audrey gently places one cup into the Oracle's hands and takes her cup. She sips from it, staring at the suddenly very interesting floor design

•BRAILER•!WARNING: CHAPTER CONTAINS SCENES OF MURDER, MENTION OF BLOOD AND MATURE CONTENT! Demeter quietly crept down the hallway, goosebumps rising beneath her skin. She felt hot with both excitement and arousal, she couldn't believe Lord Anthony had invited her to his bed chambers. She could already feel herself dripping with want, her husband had been neglecting her for the new nursing maid. He thought she knew not of it but she found out the first night she saw the maid's cheap hair ornaments on his bed. At least he had the decency to be discreet about it. Upon finding out that her husband had left her, as beautiful and as attractive as she was for a lowly maid she knew it best he did not try to come close to her. It was an insult to her standing as a woman of title, but now she was paying the price. Luckily for her he was not her mate and she did not love him otherwise the heartbreak would have been unbearable. As she knocked softly on the door, looking around to see if

•ANAISE•My heart thrashed around in my chest, my lungs rasping and my eyes swollen and red from all the tears spilled. I watched as the knights carried Ryker from the horse into the castle and a maid was sent to call the Physician. I felt my heart being ripped out of my chest as my gaze was fixed on Ryker's pained features, his eyelids screwed shut. I let out another sob, Astrid holding onto me as I cried into her chest. She soothed my hair, whispering sweet word into my ear as I clung to her. I pulled back, sniffling and swiping at my wet cheeks. "Come with me" Astrid led me to the lady's quarters in front of our rooms. She held onto me, checking my hands, face, neck, her eyes roaming my form "Are you hurt anywhere?" I shake my head as she notices the dried blood from when I was pushed down by one of the masked men. "Dried blood?" She asked, her brows squeezed in confusion. "One of the masked men pushed me and I got a few scratches" I pursed my lips, remembering how much p

The day had faded into night, the skies dark, the lit candles wearing thin and along with it Audrey's patience. I pushed myself off the bed, pacing up and down the chamber floors as I fiddled with my fingers, my gaze drifting to the door every now and then as I awaited the king. I had practically run into the castle looking for Darius so I could relay Nostradamus' message but disappointment soaked into my skin when I found he had not returned, even now he was yet to come back from wherever he had gone. I had asked around when the hour turned late but no one would answer, they just shook their head and walked off. I did not bother asking Elder Azalia, she would be of no help anyway. I wrapped my hands around myself, feeling anxiety seep into my skin and my heart weigh with worry. I felt like something was really wrong, my heart began to race with fear and my feet took me in circles. Suddenly the door was pushed open and one of my personal maids walk in, her head bowed "

ANAISEI made my way onto the open field, my gaze registering the arrows and the bullseye. True to his words Ryker was going to teach me how to use a bow and an arrow. He was doing a lot better thankfully. I was a bit skeptical at first but the elixir Astrid gave me proved to be really effective. After a few days his wound and system had been drained of all the poison, he had gotten stitches to cover up his cuts. I was concerned if he flexed too hard his stitches would break but he insisted he would be careful. The past few days had been absolute bliss. I spend majority of my day with Ryker, be it accompanying him on his walks or chatting while he ate or reading to him before he slept. It all felt so surreal and sweet. I loved our time together and it only strengthened our bond, or at least the bond I presumed we had. We had become inseparable and it was as if the tension had only gotten worse between us. Most times I found myself at the verge of kissing him and I had to pull