HarlynI thought it was a joke. Part of me thought Stefan was mocking me, even when I grabbed those papers.It wasn’t, and I hated it. I could barely stand or even understand anything that was going on around me. How could that night have been Stefan?Today, I told him the truth, that the person that night seemed to crave me, and despite me having no control, there was a feeling like they cared for me. I felt safe in their arms.How could that have been Stefan? He hated me, mocked me, and called me a wretch. I feel lost, like I'm standing between two versions of him: the one I remember when we were really young, the man that night, and then the one who was cruel and heartless.Hearing the former king’s words about how Stefan was obsessed with finding the woman from that night, which was me, just tore me apart even more.For two months, I was here. Did he hate me that much in the light he refused to even consider the possibility that it was me? A stranger I could have lived with, but S

StefanThe room falls silent when Thorin steps into the room. He looks between us all, and his eyes stop on me. I feel like he is going to attack me again.Only this time, I feel like it will be due to his own hate, not Wayne’s order.He runs to me, and I watch everyone tense, his arms wrap around my body in an embrace. I stare down at him and see the tears.“Leave.” I look around and watch everyone walk out. “Thorin, it’s okay.” I move and kneel in front of him.“I hurt Mummy.” His head falls, and he cries, my arms wrapping around him.“No, you didn’t. Your Mummy wasn’t hurt,” I argue. It was me who hurt her. I opened my mind up and pushed the pain through to her.“I’m not stupid. She felt it through the bond.” He looks at me. Well, there goes my argument. I open my mouth and close it again. Had it been Isaac, I have no doubt it would have been easier to convince him it wasn’t him.Thorin seems too smart for that.“He’s a bad man.” His words are quiet, and I stare at him.“Thorin, ho

HarlynI haven’t moved since King Stefan left. I just sat and watched as everyone packed and considered things. I spoke to Wayne after he found the bite and agreed that as soon as I accepted Stefan’s rejection, he would claim me.That has stopped the risk of Stefan just trying to bite and claim me again. When I accepted his rejection, the entire mark felt different. That burning sensation that seemed to worsen the longer I was away from Stefan suddenly stopped.Something feels different, though. When I compare how I feel now to how Stefan claimed me, it’s like two entirely different worlds.It’s a feeling I can’t shake, and now I’m wondering if I’m Wayne’s mate or not. Surely, if I was, it would feel the same.“My love, you’re biting your lip.” I glance up, hearing Wayne, and see him sitting, playing with the pups. “What’s wrong? We have some time until the ship is ready to leave.” He smiles at me.“It feels different.” My hands stroke along the new mark, and I’m unable to ignore how

StefanI watch Thorin, and he seems to be in his element training, especially having Carlton here. While Isaac and Lotta are training, Thorin seems to take it more seriously.“Did you ever lose against something?” Thorin looks at Carlton, and he nods. “Did you have a weakness they used?” Thorin questions him, and Carlton stops.“No, weaknesses have nothing to do with why people lose,” Carlton explains and goes back to training with Thorin, but I can see now Thorin has more questions.“So, was it because you felt something and had emotions?”Carlton stops again and looks at him. “No, emotions are good when it comes to battles,” Carlton explains.“No, emotions are weaknesses, and we can’t have weaknesses.” My body runs cold as I hear Thorin.“Emotions are good,” Carlton looks at him. “Imagine someone hurting the person you love; you would feel angry, right? Using that anger in a battle is good,” Carlton explains.“No, anger makes you act and not think. No emotion is better.” Thorin argu

StefanSomething made me want to find Harlyn; I know the pups are safe, but after seeing Lucy, I know Harlyn is alone. As I walk down the hall, I hear the raised voices.“You used some kind of spell, right? What did you do to the king to make you think he loves you so much that he threw away a perfectly good future queen for nothing more than a whore!” The Earl’s words echo around the hall, and I move more quickly to her room. Stepping in, I see them, his body almost pinning hers against the wall.“Do you think we’re blind? No one is, so whatever spell you used, you can just undo it and disappear forever and never return!” Moving, I drag him back, my hand throwing him against the wall.“Do not raise your voice at her again!” Moving, I push him out of the room and close the door.“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but she wouldn’t listen to reason!”“Neither would I if you spoke to me in that way! I am not under a spell. What will it take for you to finally realise that everything I said is the