*Ainslee*“What in the world are you talking about, you foul-mouthed hussy?” Bertha’s hands are on her hips as she lifts onto her tiptoes to try to look me in the eye. I’m petite, but she’s even shorter than me.I knew the moment I walked into this garden that there was wolfsbane growing here. I thought I smelled it in the so-called solution, but I definitely smelled it when I walked outside. Now that I am close enough to the herb garden, I can see it with my own eyes, and I am livid.How many people has this bitch killed with that shit—and why?“Bertha, watch the name calling,” the prince tells her.She wheels around, her eyes wide, and looks to him for help. “Me? Did you hear what she just said to me? This little bitch thinks she can come into my herb garden and accuse me of doing something to hurt the shifters I care for on a daily basis. With all due respect, Your Majesty, I will not stand back and let some newcomer talk like that to me. All these new people coming in here, thinki

*Rafe*The dungeon stinks of urine, mildew, and wet stone. Not to mention old blood that has seeped into the floors and will never come up. I avoid coming down here whenever possible because it wreaks of death and decay, and nothing remotely pleasant ever happens here.Likewise, I don’t like to send people here. I’ve found some people prefer this sort of duty more than I do, so ever since King Axel put me in charge of prisoners a few years back, I’ve delegated as much of their care to Kris as possible. This is where that bastard really shines. He can get someone to confess their deepest darkest secrets without even breaking a sweat.When I’m finished with Jerim in the feeders’ quarters, and we’re quite certain everything that has been contaminated has been thrown out, I make my way down here. My boots thump along the stone floor as I follow the dim lights toward the sound of crying.I summoned Kris as soon as I found out what was going on. I didn’t tell him who it was that discovered

*Rafe*I don’t stay in Ainslee’s room for the night. I could. She’s sound asleep when we finish, but I decide it’s not the best idea. I’d rushed through dinner to get to her. The last thing I need is for rumors to start that we’re fucking. If people know that, it puts her in more danger.So I go back to my room and take a shower. The last thing I want to do is wash her scent from me, but it’s necessary. Finding it best to keep the water cold so I don’t get hard just thinking about her, I rush through. Then, I get dressed and go to my office.I got next to nothing done earlier today when all I could think about was her. Now, I see the same paperwork on my desk and imagine it will stay untouched until tomorrow, too. She’s consuming all of my thoughts, and now that I’ve had her, I know that I will take her again and again every time she allows me to.She’s a drug. I’ve had a little taste and am intoxicated. Recovery is out of the question. I’ll be addicted to her until the day I die.And

*Rafe*Waking the king in the middle of the night is never a decision to be taken lightly. Standing in the throne room, waiting for him to make his appearance in the light of day, my mind wanders back over the conversation we had the night before. I’m still not sure if I should’ve woken him or not, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the moment, and I can’t take it back now.Kris is keeping his distance from me, standing about four feet to my right instead of the customary one foot. On his other side, Zeke is rocking back and forth, uneasy. I had a brief conversation with him this morning to let him know what went down, and I can’t blame him for being antsy. He said then that he didn’t see how there was a solution to this problem where I could declare myself the winner, and I have to agree with him.The more I think about it, the more I know that the game is nearly over, and I am the loser. Not just me, but Ainslee as well. It’s so unfair, all of it. I knew there was a chance

*Ainslee*“B-Begin?” Angus Black squeaks, his eyes bulging out of his fat face.“Yes. Kris, if you would, take the accountants to go over the books, that would be appreciated. Mayor Black, if you so much as twitch, I will have Kris put you to the rack in the castle dungeon, do you understand?” King Axel’s voice is flat, unyielding.Though I am hopelessly in love with Rafe and despair at the realization someday I’ll be married to King Axel, for this one moment, I am proud. Proud to be the king’s fiancee. Proud of the man standing next to me.Angus Black looks as though he’s pissed himself. I sniff the air. Maybe he has. “O-Of course, your Majesty.”Half the men who came in with us peel away from the wall and follow Kris in a hunt through the mayor’s office. Food the Blacks provided had to be shoved aside as record after red-marked record slaps down on the table.King Axel doesn’t even bother to look at them. Instead, he holds Angus Black’s gaze until the balding, bloated bastard hangs