Indeed, the news Morgan had for me was wonderful, one that filled my heart with a bit of happiness I had been denied for some time: she got the King to allow me into the library!“Come on, this place is amazing!” She said full of energy, holding my hand as she hurried on. The double doors were huge, at least seven feet high and completely gilded. “The King spares no expense for what gives him pleasure.” She said and I noticed, even from the side, that Morgan's cheeks were flushed.Was she referring to something else? Like, for example, the concubines?As if she could read my thoughts, Morgan turned to me and smiled, but this time, it was more coy and shy.“Casey, when I asked the King to allow a friend into the library, he was silent, as if he was thinking of a way to deny me. But as soon as I mentioned your name, I saw the twinkle in his eyes.” Morgan took both my hands. “Maybe he doesn't go through with the plan to just make you a breeder. But take you as one of us. In fact, if you
I froze right away. That voice belonged to the first concubine, without a shadow of a doubt!For all this time I did not meet with her. I didn't know by what miracle, but she was never in the gardens when I visited with Morgan, and she never appeared in the library. Apparently, my luck ran out.“What are you doing here?” she asked, in a mocking tone that I didn't like at all. But I wouldn't answer, I wouldn't pick a fight. Johannes told me to avoid it and lately he was being a gentleman, our relationship was calmer and maybe I could get rid of that torment of bearing a child for him and then being discarded.Thinking that Zaila's life was also on the line, I had to restrain myself.“Answer me, you insolent girl!” She screamed and walked over to me, thrusting her hand into my hair and pulling it down, causing my face to lift. She was a little taller than me, so I had to look up. The expression on her face was one of superiority and an evil glint flickered in her eyes. "I do not like yo
I looked at her in disbelief. Then I started to laugh.“Oh, Nanna!” I tried to control myself, because the rocking of my body made my back hurt. “That's just male stuff. Him being the first. It has nothing to do with real feelings.”Nanna shrugged. She was very romantic, I had to admit.“Well, I'm not convinced. He takes care of you, girl. The way he looks at you…” Nanna smiled wistfully.I had my suspicions that Nanna did have a fated mate, but for some reason, things didn't work out for the two of them and she ended up alone. Not everyone has the grace to find a second chance mate.I always wanted to ask her about it, but I didn't have the courage. If I, who still hadn't found mine, was already too sad with the possibility of never finding it, imagine if I find it and something went wrong? I believe it would be worse if I had never felt the joy of having my mate.In addition to dinner, Johannes showed up early to read to me. Apparently, nothing passed his scrutiny, as he even knew w
I was in that room again, with the difference that I didn't feel like I was waiting for the King, but for Johannes.We were closer and I felt more comfortable with him. Of course, I didn't forget why he was next to me, why I wasn't either executed or sent to the mines or any other place of hard work. He wanted a son, an heir of Alpha blood.The lights weren't off like the last time, which gave me the opportunity to really look around. The room was magnificently large and beautifully decorated. Much more than the room I was staying in.The curtains that descended from the high ceiling were cream colored with gold embroidery. The top part, the skirt of the curtain, was reddish, with a fringe of gold. The bed was huge, and I already knew that. The bedding was impeccably white, fluffy, with a bedspread intricately threaded with gold, a work of art. Reddish rigs with gold fringes were all over the floor and the whole room smelled like absolutely nothing.However, I knew that Johannes was a
“Is something wrong, my dear?” Nanna asked. I squeezed the letter in my hands."He traveled." I felt Nanna's hand on my shoulder as soon as I spoke. She gave me a light squeeze."Problems?"“He just said there was an emergency and he needed to travel with some Rangers.” I sighed. Johannes and I didn't speak to each other after… After. And I felt very insecure. He must not have liked it. He left me alone, left upset and never came back to look for me. Not even our dinner, which was already part of my routine. Something I looked forward to every day.“Don't be like that, my dear.” She said and stroked my hair like she always did when I was little. "He will come back."“What if he doesn't want to talk to me anymore? I mean… We did that and he left unhappy.”“Honey, don't be like that. He wouldn't have been so patient and friendly if he didn't like you at all. As the King and your owner, he could have forced you, which he didn't.”That was both true and totally confusing. "I don't unders
I walked into the office and took a deep breath. I didn't like going there at all. It was extremely stressful for me. The fact that I had to spread my legs and let an unknown male - no matter how gentle he was - handle me down there was more than humiliating.“Rest assured, Miss Whelan. I will try to be as quick as possible.”It was really a shame that the human pregnancy tests didn't work on us. A pity, really. It would make our life a lot easier. I knew humans did blood tests too, but… It wasn't used in our world, let alone the world of the Royals. They didn't accept using practically anything from humans. Also, we would need a laboratory of our own, since if we let our blood fall on human hands, they would know about us. And humans could be greedy. I felt the discomfort of the touch and closed my eyes.“Relax… Or it will be worse.”Did he think it's easy? What the hell. I held my tongue so I didn't give a proper answer, but deep down I knew he's just doing his job and trying to do
His… his bedchamber? But wait a minute! We were in the room connected to this one, so…“Johannes, wait… But I was…” I looked behind me, as if I could see through the door which was already closed.“Yeah. I asked them to place you in the Queen’s bedchamber.” He said and I saw his Adam's apple go up and down. He was nervous.“But why?” I asked and his orange eyes gleamed at me.“We were producing the heir of the throne. Technically, there is where I should take my Queen to have intimacy for the first time.”“I am not your Queen.” I insisted. It all made no sense.Johannes licked his lips and approached me. He was too tall and I had to look up, while he put a strand of my hair behind my ear.“Would you like to be?” He asked and I froze.Johannes has been very friendly and polite and… passionate, but I didn't know to what extent this is just an act. Yes, I was falling him, but I remembered at that moment how he left the room after our first time, how he disappeared and I didn't buy the ex
“Are you okay, Casey?” Johannes asked while we ate lunch.“Huh? Sorry, I…”"Are you worried about something?" He asked again, putting down the cutlery, "Did something happen? Has Imara disturbed you again?"I know I shouldn't but my mouth was faster than my brain."Do you like her?" I asked and saw that Johannes, who had the wineglass in his hand, stopped halfway to his mouth and looked at me with a cold gaze.“I wouldn't say that the proper term would be that. Like her." He said and continued to raise the glass to his mouth.“It's just… You seem to dislike her at times, but you stick with her.” I had already started to ask, so the best thing would be to get rid of all the doubts in my heart right away.I liked Johannes, but I didn't want to keep kidding myself that he liked me too. If he liked the wicked Imara, it would be impossible for him one day to nurture more than affection for me.Johannes took a deep breath and set his glass down on the table.“Casey, I can't get rid of her y
The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of Aidan's heavy breathing. The weight of his actions settled heavily upon him, leaving him feeling hollow and empty. He glanced at Beta Keith and Gamma Phenrix and quietly muttered, "Let's go." Casey trudged through the dense forest, her swollen belly making each step an arduous task. Her exhaustion was profound as her body strained under the weight of her impending motherhood. The moon cast an ethereal glow through the thick canopy above, guiding her weary steps as she searched for a safe place to rest. For nights on end, Casey had been haunted by dreams. Visions of a place she had never seen, yet felt an undeniable connection to. Each dream held a piece of her destiny, a clue to her bloodline. And in her heart, she knew that her fate was sealed. Death loomed over her, threatening to claim her life in childbirth, just as it had taken her mother's. Desperation urged her forward, pushing her weary limbs to c
Alpha Aidan, Beta Keith, and Gamma Phenrix cautiously entered Casey's chamber, their footsteps muffled on the stone floor. The room was in order as always, but it felt barren and empty without the presence of its owner. "Casey is not in the room," Beta Keith said as the trio surveyed the chamber, their eyes scanning every corner for any sign of Casey's whereabouts. Gamma Phenrix's sharp eyes alighted on Melina's closet, and a frown pulled at his lips. "Look at Melina's closet," he whispered urgently to Alpha Aidan and Beta Keith. "It's almost empty. Something is not right. Do not tell me she packed." Alpha Aidan's brow furrowed in concern, his gaze fixated on the nearly vacant closet. "Casey must have fled, someone must have alerted her, could that be Amara?" he deduced, his voice laced with worry. "We need to find her
India's eyes bore into Casey's, brimming with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. "Amara sent me to warn you. Beta Keith discovered your secret, she tried as much as possible to keep it," India explained, her words flowing in a rush of urgency. "He investigated, questioned Amara's apprentice, and eventually, the news reached Alpha Aidan." "I still do not know what you are talking about. Please, tell me - what did the alpha find out?" "Alpha Aidan knows already that you're pregnant." Casey's breath caught in her throat as she absorbed the weight of India's revelation. Alpha Aidan's knowledge of her pregnancy filled her with a mixture of dread and disbelief. Her hands instinctively flew to her stomach, where new life was blossoming within her. How had this secret been exposed? And, she wondered, what would Alpha Aidan do now that he knew? India's next words left Casey reeling. "The alpha is furious, Casey. And when he's angry, he becomes blind to reason. He
Beta Keith entered Alpha Aidan's chamber, his breath heavy with urgency. His eyes were wide with shock as he approached the Alpha, who was seated at his desk, engrossed in a pile of paperwork. Aidan looked up, sensing the tension in the room, and raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Keith?" Aidan asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "Alpha Aidan," Keith began, his voice hesitant, "I have news. News that will shock you, I'm afraid." Aidan leaned back in his chair, suddenly wary. "Well, go on then. What is it?" "It's about Casey," Keith replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's... she's pregnant. Eight months pregnant." Aidan's eyes widened in disbelief, his mind struggling to process the information. He glanced at Amara who stood silently beside him, her mouth slowly widening up in realization. Her eyes were downcast, a mix of guilt and fear evident on her face. Aidan turned back to Keith, his voice trembling with anger. "Is this true Amara? Is
And so, as the dungeon's cruel embrace tightened around Amara, the scene descended into a dark abyss—its outcome uncertain, its consequences unfathomable. Amara's body writhed in agony as the soldiers continued their relentless assault on her battered form. Each blow intensified the pain, leaving her gasping for air and clinging to the remnants of her strength. With every strike, she felt herself inch closer to the precipice of surrender. As the torture stretched on for what felt like an eternity, Amara's voice trembled with desperation. "Please," she pleaded, her voice strained and hoarse. "I can't bear this anymore. Please, I beg you." The soldiers, their faces contorted with a mixture of sadistic pleasure and exhaustion, exchanged glances. The heat of the dungeon weighed heavily on their haggard bodies. Sweat dripped down their br
The Alpha's footfalls echoed against the marble floors as he paced back and forth, his luxurious chamber serving as the backdrop to his simmering rage. A scowl etched deep lines onto his face, a testament to the fury that coiled within him. Before him stood Amara, a figure he had once trusted with his life, now defiant and unyielding. Tension hung heavy in the air, pregnant with unspoken words and unrelenting emotions. His voice, a low growl, reverberated through the chamber as he demanded answers that seemed to elude him. "Amara, why? Why won't you disclose the reason for Casey's visit?" The Alpha's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, sending shivers down the spines of all present. Amara's unwavering gaze met his, her resolve unyielding. "Alpha Aidan," she began, her voice steady despite the charged atmosphere. "I have said it before, and I shall say it again. As a healer, I am bound by a sacred oath. The reasons behind my patients' visits are held within the sanctity of
Amara's serene hazel eyes, imbued with a quiet grace, swiftly found themselves captivated by Casey's presence. In that fleeting instant of connection, the profound surprise that washed over Amara's features was mirrored on Casey's face, her visage a canvas of unabashed astonishment. An invisible current seemed to pass between them, an unspoken plea for answers emanating from Casey's gaze. Yet, Amara could only shake her head in confusion, her own mind caught in a whirlwind of questions. "What are you doing here, Amara?" Casey's voice, barely above a whisper, carried a note of urgency. "Don't tell me you've come to bestow me with anything. Can't you see? Everyone's watching, and you know what that means." Her own bewilderment etched deeply into her expression, Amara leaned closer, her voice a mere breath escaping into the air. "Actually, no. I ha
The guard's heart pounded in his chest as he hurried out of the palace, his boots thudding against the stone path that led to the forest. The Alpha's urgent request echoed in his mind, urging him to move faster. Sweat dripped down his forehead, mingling with the beads of fear that had formed there. The forest canopy cast dappled shadows on the guard's determined face as he ran, branches whipping past him like ghosts in the wind. The urgency in his steps matched the urgency of the situation. His breath came in ragged gasps, punctuated by the symphony of nature around him. Minutes turned into eternity as he raced through the dense wood, his heart pounding like a war drum. At last, he spotted the hut nestled amidst the trees, a humble abode that held the solution to the Alpha's troubles. With a desperate hope burning in his eyes, he approached the entrance and rapped his knuckles against the worn door. Silence greeted him, the lack of response causing a ripple of uncertai
A WEEK AGO Beta O'Horan felt an overwhelming surge of eager anticipation coursing through his veins, each beat of his heart fueling his sense of duty. With a fervent nod, he etched determination into his face, fully aware that there was no alternative; they had to embark on this perilous quest if they were to save the life of His Highness. Impatiently, he implored, "We can ill afford to waste another precious moment. Pray, tell me, where can we locate this elusive wizard?" The healers exchanged urgent glances, their eyes reflecting the weight of the situation. The elder healer stepped forward, his voice trembling with urgency. "We shall exhaust every avenue available to us, Beta O'Horan," he vowed. "Our network of connections will be set in motion, for we must act swiftly. The hands of time are against us, and the destiny of the king rests in the unfathomable powers of this elusive wizard." With this renewed sense of purpose, Beta O'Horan braced himself for the treache