Novels by Jayson

APOVSong: All These Things That I've Done by The Killers"You can't be serious?!" I stared at Pavel wide-eyed, as we walked down the crowded corridor."Completely. I heard with my own ears," he deadpanned.I shook my head and let out a low whistle. "That perverted old bastard. And you're sure it was the Voda prince?"Pavel nodded, becoming irritated now having to repeat himself again.I trusted the Dhampir, but hearing one of our society's renowned monarchs was rumored to be conducting some very unseemly acts involving livestock—well it was a lot to take in.The gossip around the palace had been at an all-time high now that the majority of the families had arrived for the ball. Rose was right about the extra foot traffic being a nightmare, but in some instances, it was beneficial to us. All the whispers across courts were now consolidated into one place, allowing us in on secrets that would've taken weeks to reach us before. Not all the information was helpful to our mission, but at

RPOVSongs: Calling the Shots by Jamie B, Waterfalls Coming Out Your Mouth by Glass Animals, Faster by Orlean, Like Real People Do by HozierI bit down on an apple as I shoved my arm into the sleeve of my dress. The fruit was unseasonably large and barely fit in my mouth as I finished getting dressed. I could only assume the influx of Earth users had been using the orchard as an outlet this week rather than the gardens. When my hands were free again I took a chunk out of it and shuffled down the corridor. A few disturbed glances shot my way as I passed a group of Moroi and took another large bite.I wiped some juice off my chin with the edge of my sleeve before pushing through a small crowd. When I reached his door I knocked a few times and shoved through the opening after hearing his soft grunt in greeting. I closed the door behind me and plopped down on a stool by the window, propping my feet up on the other.Adrian's tawny hair was disheveled, his white tunic in a similar state. He

APOVSongs: Sinnerman by Nina Simone, When I'm Small by Phantogram, Dream Lover by Bobby DarinA starling trilled from the rooftop.Its chattering was accompanied by flitting footsteps. The warm temperature no doubt bringing more of them in. I inhaled a deep breath, the air was clearer now.I looked down at my feet and groaned. Not only were the borrowed boots horrendous, but they were also two sizes too big. I looked ridiculous, but the men were starting to complain about the smell. I kicked a heel against the leg of my chair, the jostling feeling of the shoe around my foot foreign to me.The other chair beside me creaked as Abe sat down. "She was still a little edgy but hopefully she will relax enough to rest soon." I nodded, already aware that she was still awake. We'd been waiting for hours already, but luckily her night was our day and she was bound to tire out eventually.When Abe had brought me to the young woman she was too panicked, unable to concentrate long enough to gather

RPOVSongs: Burning Desire by Lana Del Rey, I'm on Fire by The Staves, Bad Vibes byThe halls were dark, even the windows were black. I must have slept in. I could barely feel the floor beneath my feet as I walked down them. My head was foggy. I wasn't sure when I'd gotten out of bed or how I'd gotten here. Most likely the alcohol's fault. Then a small light captured my attention. I moved towards it, drawn to the subtle glow.As I grew closer I realized it was coming from someone's room. The door was cracked allowing a few golden beams to escape into the blackness—a budding dawn splitting open a long dark night.It was a familiar room, one I'd intruded on before.A noise escaped into the hall. Was he having a nightmare again? Did he need me to wake him?I pushed open the door, not wanting him to suffer alone.Dimitri was lying on his bed with his eyes closed, but all other signs of sleep were nowhere to be found. His brow pulled together in a tight scrunch, his mouth slightly parted w

FDPOVSongs: Blue Monday by New Order"Have fun you two."Her back turned to me as her hand lifted towards Ivashkov's shoulder. Those fingers that had just been nervously fidgeting with a stone gently curled into a loving squeeze. His face lit up, and I was suddenly aware of the bruise forming on my chest where Rose's stake had been pressed.The past several weeks I'd conditioned myself. I'd used every situation with Rose as an opportunity to fortify my Guardian training. I wasn't necessarily detached, but I was far less emotionally invested. She was my pupil in the training ring and the Princess of St. Vladimir's outside of it. That idea played in my mind over and over like a mantra keeping me in check.But seeing them together was the ultimate test of my control. Especially when the voice in the back of my mind was clawing its way towards the surface, combatting my composure and begging to break out."...there are constantly two people battling inside me and I'm afraid what will ha

APOVSongs: Every Single Night by Fionna Apple, Lola by The RaincoatsTap Tap TapThere must have been a leak somewhere in the room. Either that or it was in my head. Hard to tell.Tap TapMy hand against the table joined the rhythmic water droplets.ThudA propped book flattened onto its shelf. Funny thing. I wondered how long it had been sitting like that. Barely clinging to stand until finally the weight of it just gave in and laid it to rest. A feeling I knew well.I fixated on that thought. Curious what the title of my book would be. Would it be thick, or thin? Would it be leather-bound, or frail material with tattered thread only just keeping the pages entwined? Regardless, the images inside would be spectacular.Tap Tap TapMy fingers sped up. I felt eyes on me. Eyes that weren't there.I wanted a drink. Something to calm my thoughts. But a sip wouldn't be enough. Not anymore.Honestly, I don't mind the drinking so much when it knocks you out and keeps you quiet. Then we're spa

RPOV "There was nothing you could do, Roza." Dimitri comforted as we cuddled in bed. We'd just gotten back to the house and finished taking a shower, and Dimitri had finally Shifted back. After Galina had understood what was going to happen, I beheaded her. The Pricolici were the only remnants of Galina's empire other than the Strigoi that had been sent out at the beginning of the night. "I still feel bad. They weren't hurting anyone anymore. I had them under control." I grumbled knowing he was right. "I know, but even you don't know how long you could have kept them in control." Dimitri soothed pulling me closer to him. "It feels nice having you back in human form. If you ever go on strike like that again, I'm dropping you from the pack." I said in a serious tone. He chuckled and kissed my neck. "I'm sure you will." He mumbled as he continued to pepper kisses on my skin. "I'm serious, I will." I moaned as Dimitri's hand started circling lower. "Even your charming ways couldn't

DPOV "Does everyone know what they're doing?" Rose asked yet again. We'd been going over this plan for the past three days. After we'd gotten back the first night, we told Abe everything and let him formulate a plan while we slept. We got a good day's sleep before setting out for another night of investigation with more detailed instructions on what to look for. We arrived at the manor before the sun fully set, giving us enough time to see how many Strigoi were sent out. After the first night, we didn't take Paul. Babushka said that he'd learned enough and didn't need to go again. Personally, I think that the constant questions made surveillance difficult and the long hours we'd be gone were hard for such a young wolf. Rose had suggested that she could be paired with someone else to see if she could help notice different things than them, but I shut that idea down before it fully left her mouth. We went back to the same spot we had visited the previous nights to better notice patte

RPOV There was a phone ringing nearby and the surface I was sleeping on started shifting. I groaned softly in annoyance but immediately fell back into my dream of Dimitri and me in an amusement park. The Dimitri beside me was always smiling and, thankfully, in human form. He'd threaded his fingers through mine, and our arms swung freely between us. When I actually looked around us, the park looked dilapidated. The metal of the various rides had rust and faded and chipped paint. The ground was littered with trash and I finally noticed that no one else was here. With furrowed eyebrows, we continued through the park. As we approached the back of the park, I could hear music playing. My ears perked up as they tried to find the source of the music. Coming around the corner of a concessions building, I saw the merry-go-round spinning slowly while playing rundown, creepy-sounding music. Dimitri suddenly stopped, seemingly frozen in time. I tried pulling him closer to the ride and calling

DPOV Rose was taking a shower after training when a knock sounded on our door. I was laying right outside the bathroom door, waiting for Rose, and lifted my head. "Enter," I called out. There was a deep intake of breath outside the door before it opened. Adrian stuck his head through the doorway and looked around the room until his gaze fell upon me. His eyes widened a little, I'm assuming because I was still in wolf form, but he quickly fixed his face back to the carefree, cocky look he always seemed to wear. "What can I do for you, Lord Ivashkov?" I asked sitting up taller. Even when I was laying down I was still taller than the Moroi lord. "I wanted to make sure the air between us is clear." He replied stepping further into the room. "As long as you know that Roza's place is by my side and there's nothing you can do to change that, we'll be fine," I stated narrowing my eyes slightly. "You've nothing to worry about from me. I see the connection you two have, and I don't have t

RPOV "You can let go of her hand now," Dimitri growled as Adrian continued to hold on to my hand. "Don't worry, Big Hybrid," Adrian said releasing my hand. "I can see your Claim, you've nothing to worry about from me." Dimitri didn't look too convinced as Adrian gave him a lazy, carefree smirk before winking at me. "So, Little Hybrid, would you like to catch me up on all that's been going on around here?" He asked gesturing me over to a couch. Adrian had arrived this morning while Dimitri and I were enjoying our shower. As soon as Dimitri had dried off, he Shifted. Abe later gave a tentative knock at our door to inform us of our recently arrived guest. I sat down on one of the couches and Dimitri immediately placed himself at my feet in between myself and Adrian. Adrian looked amused at Dimitri's overprotective and jealous nature, but Dimitri continued to look the part of the jealous boyfriend. We spend the next hour filling Adrian in on what had been happening with me and my pa

DPOV I could tell that remaining in wolf form was starting to get to Rose, but I wasn't Shifting unless absolutely necessary and even then, I'd Shift back as soon as possible. We'd gathered the pack in the living room to share the information we'd collected while feeding and hoped to gather information on what had happened to Christian. "Why don't you start, Liss," Rose said gently taking Lissa's hand in hers as they sat beside each other on one couch. I lay on the floor beside Rose resting my head on her feet. "Derek stopped me on the edge of the wards. He wouldn't let me follow you guys and Rose. I was a little irritated, yes, but then I thought about what I could really do to help and decided it was better if I stayed back to help when you returned. That was until I felt the pain in my chest." Lissa paused briefly and shook her head as if to rid herself of the memory. Christian, who was sitting on the other side of Lissa, took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. She took

RPOV—Three Months LaterGetting married to Cesarevich Dimitri was surreal.Our guests had traveled from all over the world to see us legalize our love and rulership, but none of them captured my attention. The only person I focused on was my fiancé. His chocolate-brown eyes held so much passion and happiness, that my heart throbbed. I could easily spend the rest of my life gazing into them.Time seemed to slow, as we recited our vows. I was almost unable to say mine, due to all the emotion bottled within me, but I managed to endure, thanks to Cesarevich Dimitri's affectionate smile and handholding. I felt bad for talking in English—there were many Russian citizens in attendance—but when my husband-to-be gave his vows in his native language, that guilt faded away.Exchanging our rings followed, and my breath hitched. Feeling the ornate, piece of jewelry getting slid onto my finger made everything seem more surreal. My heart was somersaulting inside my chest, and I couldn't keep from sm

RPOVRhea had all her belongings transported to her father's estate, over the past month, never bothering to visit us or inquire about our wellbeing. She'd made it perfectly clear that she was no longer a part of my family, but here she was, standing in the foyer of Mazur Manor with two sets of luggage by her side—luggage that didn't seem to be hers.Lissa and Jill froze at the sight of Rhea, once she came into view. Surprise and confusion swam in their jade-green eyes. "Mother…what are you doing here?" Jill asked. She noticed the suitcases and gestured to them with a pale hand. "Why is our stuff packed? Are we supposed to be going somewhere?""Yes, darling. Both of you will be coming to live with me, in your grandfather's manor." Before her daughters could even protest, she added, "I don't want to hear it. You're not living here anymore, and that's final." Her face held the hardness of stone, while her hands were tightly clasped in front of her frilly, bright dress.Rhea was determin

February 20th, 1686RPOVEven though I'd been resuming my education for a month, it still felt strange being at Fairston Academy. Having a student's psyche seemed inconceivable—ridiculous, even. How could I bring myself to textbook reading and paper writing, when I'd experienced ordeals that were more life-changing and traumatic than other seventeen-year-olds' would ever be? I'd lost my mother. I'd nearly been murdered. I'd been raped. I was engaged to a prince.I'd outgrown an innocent life.All these thoughts flowed through my mind, as I walked with Lissa and Jill into the school's main building. Their sense of displacement was gone, and comfort filled their pale and slender bodies. Relaxation shone in their jade-green eyes, and for a moment, jealousy seized me.They were so fortunate to escape all the hurt I'd went through—to avoid all the suffering I was battling every day. Coming to school must've felt so normal and relieving to them. They must've felt like they had never left an

RPOV—One Month LaterA raindrop landed on my window.I pressed my finger to the glass that separated us, tracing its path as it clumsily slithered down. It collided with other raindrops along the way; however, that only drew it closer to its fall. Before I realized it, my finger ran out of glass to glide on, and the raindrop vanished, now replaced by its brethren that fell from the depressing sky."Wouldn't it be wonderful, if we could disappear and be forgotten as easily as raindrops?"Startled, I jerked around and found Lissa standing in the doorway of my bedchamber. I began to relax at her presence, but then I noticed that her jade-green eyes were troubled, and she wore a black dress that starkly contrasted her pale skin. Something—someone—was bothering her, and I immediately knew the cause of her distress."Can I talk to you?" my ex-stepsister asked, fidgeting with the hem of her lacy sleeve."Of course. Come sit with me." Lissa wordlessly joined me on my bed and folded her legs u

RPOVCesarevich Dimitri led me to the royal palace greenhouse. The wintry air chilled my bare skin and bones, once we were outside; however, our linked bodies generated so much warmth, that the cold no longer crossed my mind. Silence surrounded us, as we walked, yet there was no need for conversation.Simply being in each other's presence was comforting enough.When we reached the delicate, glass building, he opened the frosted door and stepped aside to allow me entrance. I smiled at his gentlemanliness and strolled into the greenhouse, immediately graced with the euphoric fragrance of flowers. Cesarevich Dimitri grabbed my hand, after he entered, and took me further into the beautiful structure.As soon as we came across one of the larger, manmade lakes, he stopped a few feet away from it and clasped our hands. His chocolate-brown eyes bore into mine so deeply; I almost lost myself in their bottomless beauty. "My dearest Roza, I have something very important to tell you," he started,

January 19th, 1686RPOVThe pale, morning sky greeted us while we waited in Red Square. Its fluffy, grey clouds released crystal-white snowflakes that fell to the earth with grace, but their beauty failed to maintain our attention. As we stood underneath the descending ice, our gazes locked on the empty stage before us. Hearts pounded incessantly and breathing seemed impossible.I gripped Father's hand with all the force I had, trying to keep my tattered emotions at bay. Even though Czar Aleksandr and Tasha were about to be vanquished, I couldn't help but picture how their executions were going to unfold. I'd never witnessed a death sentence before, and I was worried these ones were going to be awfully gruesome. Sleep had frequently abandoned me, last night, and I'd been a slave to my imagination, ever since.Hopefully, peace could save me.Surprisingly, Father wasn't bothered by my painful squeezing. I supposed he was too consumed by his emotions to notice, but I decided to loosen my