Novels by Nakita Dekle

BailaSara left as soon as she had come.Apparently, there was an urgent matter that required her presence.The door clicked shut behind Sara, leaving me alone with the three maids and the heavy silence that followed.My room, usually a place of solace, now felt suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in.The flickering candlelight cast elongated shadows that danced across the stone walls, turning them into silent specters bearing witness to my turmoil.I swallowed the fear in my throat.If I wanted to survive, winning the bride trials was my only option.The gowns the maids carried were a riot of colors—deep crimson, sapphire blue, emerald green, and gold that shimmered like captured sunlight.Their fabrics cascaded like waterfalls, pooling onto the cold floor, a stark contrast against the rough stone. I reached out hesitantly, my fingers brushing against the silk and velvet. The cool, smooth textures sent shivers up my spine, reminding me of the weight of the decision I

BailaThe night passed in restless fits. Every time I closed my eyes, Nolan’s face appeared, his expression dark and full of fury. His threats echoed in my mind, weaving through Salem’s prophecy, which lingered like a foreboding melody I couldn’t escape.I lay tangled in the sheets, staring at the ceiling as shadows danced across the stone walls of my room.The fire in the hearth had long burned down to embers, but the chill in the air felt sharper than ever, biting through the thin fabric of my nightgown. Salem’s words refused to leave me.I had a mate.The thought gnawed at me. I wanted to tell Sara about Salem’s prophecy, to seek her counsel, but something inside me held back. It wasn’t just doubt—it was fear.Could I trust her? Could I trust anyone?Witches didn’t have mates. The idea itself was absurd. Yet Salem’s warning had planted a seed of uncertainty that was slowly taking root. My people’s survival depended on me, and I couldn’t afford distractions, not now.Sleep slipped t

BailaThe night air was sharp, carrying a faint chill that made me pull my cloak tighter around me as Sara and I trudged back toward the castle. The streets were unusually quiet, the usual murmur of voices and clatter of hooves replaced by an eerie stillness and the shadows seemed to stretch longer than usual. I kept glancing over my shoulder, the unease from Salem’s prophecy still prickling at the edges of my mind like a splinter too deep to pull out. The words rang in my ears, fragments of their meaning slipping through my grasp no matter how hard I tried to piece them together.A lying mate. A backstabbing friend. A foe turned friend.Sara walked briskly ahead, her green dress swishing against her legs, her shoulders stiff and head bowed low. She had not uttered a word since I told her about Salem being a witch. She had not asked me how I found out or what proof I had and I had not offered an explanation either.In fact, I was relieved by her silence no matter how uncomfortable it

NolanElder Sabyni had ordered an emergency council meeting whic required my presence. Initially, I had wanted to escape the responsibility of attending the meeting but Elder Sabyni had firmly stated that the entire council would not be present for the meeting since she wanted to address delicate private matters.The air in the council chamber was stifling, heavy with the weight of unspoken concern. Elder Sabyni and Elder Marcus were the only ones present. Aaron cleared his throat from his place behid me and I knew he was just as anxious about the meeting as I was.Elder Sabyni and Elder Marcus rose to their feet when I marched in with Aaron at my side. I nodded my head in greeted and they graced me with two small smiles. While I took my seat at the round table, Aaron stood behind me, tension rolling off him in waves.“Beta Aaron,” Elder Sabyni smiled curtly. “Please do take a seat beside our king,” she stared at him, waiting for what seemed like minutes as Aaron stood unmoving.I cra

BailaSara escorted me back to my room after we watched the disqualified women leave the castle. I spent my time replaying my mother’s words in my head over and over again. The high king had yet to send out a bounty for my head and I did not know why.Maybe, he had executed Simone and Ashley in my stead and decided that they were enough retribution. If so, then their blood was on my hands. Still, even if he was not searching for me, news of the high prince’s dead should have reached Northwood by now unless the king had not announced it to his own people.But why wouldn’t he? Had the prince survived?He couldn’t have. I could see his dead eyes staring back at me that day. I had snapped his neck clean.A soft rapt came at my door, pulling me from the grim spiral of my thoughts. I startled, instinctively glancing at the window where the faint glow of twilight had long faded. The darkness outside was thick, heavy, and it dawned on me how much time had slipped away.I rushed to the door, m

BailaThe relentless thud of knuckles on my door synced effortlessly with the pounding in my head. The headache torturing me that early morning was the kind of pain that happened every time I had to battle the demon part of me.Unlike the other headaches, this one was not accompanied by the usual screaming in my head demanding that I use my powers. There was no voice lulling and calling me to maim, kill, and destroy.There was only one other demon I knew. One who was the culprit for the headache threatening to make me pass out.Nolan.My muscles screamed in protest as I sat up, and the raw sting in my throat reminded me of how much I had yelled during my argument with Nolan yesterday. He deserved every sharp word I uttered. Unfortunately, I was paying the price for my uncontrolled temper.Whoever was at the door would soon pay that price as well.The knocking continued, grating on my nerves.“I’m coming!” I croaked, throwing the blanket off and shuffling toward the door. My joints felt