For several hours after my encounter with Alden, I stay in my room and refuse to leave. This is simply because I do not know how to deal with what Alden and I did and the possibility of having Lena or Karken find out. If they knew that we slept together, they would call me a hypocrite and laugh in my face. Besides, I suspect that Lena might be furious. After all, Alden and I getting back to each other’s good graces is the exact opposite of what she wants the situation to be. When Herb and Teon come to fetch me for dinner, I refuse to go, insisting that they bring my own food to me because I do not feel too well and remain stubborn until they budge. After this, I expect that Alden might come to my room to see why I did not join him and his siblings for dinner but he did not. Perhaps because he understands why I might not want to show myself and because he also knows the kind of situation that we are now in.Throughout the night, I am unable to sleep for long and extended periods. Every
A searing pain shoots through my arm as Lena grabs a hold of me and prevents me from walking away. I let out a loud yelp which is enough to grab the attention of the lovers in the pool and stop all their splashing. “Unhand her,” Herb says beside me, walking closer to us as though he is about to defend him. “You will stay out of this if you don’t want to lose your head,” Lena says, each word laced with venom. “Don’t forget that you are nothing but a servant.” “Let me go, Lena!” I yell at her as her hold on me tightens. She is purposefully inflicting pain on me and I am not strong enough to fight her. “Listen to me very carefully. In a few hours…” she starts to say but a loud voice interrupts her and causes her to shut her mouth with quickness. “Hey!” Karken shouts as he steps out of the pool and walks toward us completely naked. “Let her go.” “Stay out of this, Karken,” she says without looking back at him. “Let her go, Lena,” he repeats, closing in on us. “You better be a
Cathy,” he says in that deep voice that causes my insides to tremble the moment he is right in front of me. His right hand caresses my cheeks and lands on my shoulder, where he begins to trace my exposed clavicle with his finger as his head draws closer to me, breathing me in. “I’d hoped you wouldn’t have washed yet. I needed to breathe you in.”“Oh,” is all I can manage to say.Alden takes my hand and starts to lead me to the pool. He does not talk or even acknowledge the presence of anybody else as he begins to take my clothes off my body.“Alden,” I say gently, grabbing his wrist before my dress falls off my body. “Your brother and his mate are here. Your servants are here.”Alden smiles at me. “I have put my seed in you and I am certain that you are with my child. I only want us to feel each other like we did yesterday and nothing can stop me; not even their presence. Let Karken and Khimaira watch if they want to. It’s time for us to return the favor they’ve given us way too many
Even before I get to the meeting hall, I already know that something is about to go wrong. It is not as if I see anything obvious, it is just the general atmosphere and my unimpeachable sixth sense telling me that things are not as they are supposed to be. Alden and I are supposed to meet to discuss the proper rites of his people when it comes to finally establishing that I am his mate. When Herb came to my room to tell me that he is ready for me, I was happy and excited to see what it is about. Now, with only a few steps from the door that leads to the hall, I start to get nervous and I do not even know why.My suspicions are confirmed when I get to the door and I hear voices coming from inside. Although I cannot make out what they are saying, the voices are loud and appear to be in the middle of a heated argument. In the few seconds, I stand outside before opening the door, the voices rise to higher volumes that terrify me and make me consider turning away and never looking back. Ho
I want to say something or step forward but I feel too weak to do either. Besides, Khimaira’s grip on my hand is both strong and comforting at the same time that I have no choice but to just stand there between her and Herb.“Herb, lead Sara to Alden’s chambers and prepare her for him,” Lena says condescendingly.“My prince, I’ll be waiting for you,” Sara says to Alden seductively and she begins to walk away. Beside me, Alden hesitates, waiting for Alden to say something but when his master who is clearly trying hard to contain his anger does not speak, he has no choice but to do as she says.“Okay, stop,” Karken says suddenly. “Nobody wants to see Alden touch that girl. Where did you even get her from?”“It doesn’t matter,” Lena says. “And there is nothing you can do about it. I wish you would all see that I am doing this for all our sakes. We cannot allow a human into this castle to have the power that comes with being Alden’s mate. She would be able to destroy us all with the snap
Charlotte ’s POVI knock on Cathy’s door one more time, louder this time. Maybe she is sleeping inside and just did not hear me knock the first time. I have been calling her for hours with no reply and honestly, every minute that passes makes me more worried. Although she has shown a little bit of progress as regards her mental health ever since she took that first hike up the mountain, Cathy still seems like a flight risk which means I am still very worried about what she might do. Cathy is not the most well-adjusted person in the world and no matter how hard she tries, I cannot erase the image of finding her on the floor, crying while her bedroom burned around her just months ago.“Cathy!” I call out to no response. “Are you in there? Open up.”I am about to turn away and go elsewhere to look for Cathy when I remember that I know where Cathy usually puts her spare key. I reach inside the lamp right at the top of Cathy’s door and fetch the key. If Cathy is not here then maybe there w
Charlotte's POVI trudge up the mountain,my hiking boots digging into the hard earth. I have been walking for hours and fatigue is beginning to set in, however I push on relentlessly with only the thought of finding Cathy on my mind. My mind has been in a state of worry since I found her cryptic note. Who is this “him” that she was going back to? And why did she feel the need to run off like some teenage girl?I do not know how much longer I have to climb or what to expect at the top of this mountain. As I climb higher, the air grows thick with fog and the trees tower above me,their branches creaking in the wind like skeletal fingers. I squint to see ahead for any sign of life. The only sounds are the leaves rustling and the distant rumble of a coming storm. I quicken my pace, my heart pounding even louder. My mind refuses to assume the worst but somewhere deep down, the gnawing thought grows. What if Cathy is in trouble? What if, God forbid, she's dead?As I approach the top of the m
Cathy's POVI walk around the garden, my purple dress a darker shade in the soft light. Alden's eyes follow me, watching me with an intensity that almost makes me feel self conscious. We were in the middle of discussing our wedding and every bit of it feels like a dream come true. I am overwhelmed at the thought of this new life I am about to begin with this strange beast man, but I am not afraid as long as he is by my side. However, a nagging thought lingers - Charlotte. My best friend, my closest friend. She would, no doubt, have discovered the note I left by now and she would be very worried. Amused but definitely worried.“What's wrong my love?” I hear Alden say from behind me. His voice still very much able to send shivers through me.“Alden I…” I am immediately cut off as Alden takes bold steps towards me. He gently cups my face, his expression turns concerned.It is amazing how just that simple touch can melt my insides and turn me to my mush. I should be used to it by now, I