EVELYNCrystal sputtered at the sudden action, her breathing growing sparse while her chest heaved. I applied enough pressure to be uncomfortable but not enough to truly injure her. At most, my hold would enact some bruising or otherwise.“I don’t know what to do,” the young girl whispered, and she avoided making contact with my eyes.“You know what to do,” I countered calmly, hand applying a bit more pressure as I stared past the veil into her terrified eyes. “Or at least you better. If not, you’re going to die. I promise it.”I wasn’t the kind of person to make such demands and inflict pain. For the past year, I’d lived as meek Evelyn Caddel, a maid in the royal palace known for sharing the same bed as the Alpha King.But as I gazed at Crystal, my hand wrapped around her throat, my eyes narrowed and focused, I realized I wasn’t Evelyn. I was Eva. I was ruthless, brave, and powerful, and I wouldn’t accept any of Crystal’s vague statements.Just as I pondered my next move and the next
EVELYNPanic flooded through me and I wanted to run away but I found my body unable to move. My head swam with dizziness as my heart pounded in my chest.I wondered if I was on the verge of passing out. I tried to concentrate on staying awake, my claws sinking further into my thigh. The effort was painful, but I needed to be coherent enough to understand what was going on.The strange man’s thumb pressed against my lower lip, prying my mouth open. I felt the edge of a bowl against my lip. Before I could think straight, cold liquid poured into my mouth. I felt horror, but I was unable to make a sound or movement.What was he giving me? Was I being drugged yet again?Or worse…My stomach revolted at once and I was on the verge of throwing up when I tasted the bitterness of the potion. It twisted into knots and my mouth flooded with saliva. I nearly retched all over myself from sheer disgust, but I managed to hold it in, knowing that it would only make this terrible and dangerous situati
EVELYNElsa didn’t answer me at first. Her brown eyes fell to the ground, and she seemed a million miles away, as if lost in memory.“Since you’re not unconscious and you’re actively able to speak to me, you must have heard my real name. Is that what you’re asking about?”I nodded.Elsa paused and after a deep breath, she turned to face me, her expression grave but almost concerned as her eyes trailed over me.“My last name is Crawford,” she confirmed. “My father was one of the nephews of the former Lord Crawford.”Before she continued, she lit a lamplight, and when it lit up, I could see that her pretty face appeared paler than usual.“I shared the same happy life as you once had,” she mentioned. “Wealthy and carefree. Back then I had been so stupid and naive. I had thought my happiness would last forever… until that day came.”Then she fell into silence, her shoulders sinking as she hung her head a little.I fought the urge to throw my arms around my former friend. While it was true
JASMINEAs the sun bore down on my face, I yawned in the royal palace’s expansive garden. My eye struggled a little in the impressively bright light and I winced before blocking the sun out with my hand.My wound had healed quickly with the help of the royal healer, and now that it was better, I was allowed to stroll in the garden to get some fresh air. It was a relief after lying in bed for two days, and after taking a bath, I felt better than I had.Still, I didn’t particularly enjoy strolling in the garden, especially on a chilly morning like this, and I was dressed too thinly for the weather. The cold breeze brushed against my bare shoulders, making me shiver despite the brutal sun. But there was a reason I walked there every so often, a reason I would never admit to anyone in the world: I wanted to meet Flynn.The loyal Beta Flynn had only stayed in my room for less than a day because he was too busy. As soon as he deemed me healed and out of immediate danger, he left for other b
JASMINE“Would you take a walk with me along the river?” Flynn asked softly, offering me a soft but casual expression.I paused but only for a moment before I nodded in response. “Sure. I would love to.”It wasn’t a lie. I had never found the royal palace and the garden so pleasant to stay in. There was so much drama, so much tension within the palace walls, given the Luna Selection and the overbearing eyes of the Alpha King’s stepmother.Anastasia had made the palace feel unsafe and unwelcoming. Had I not been expected to stay here and complete the competition at my sister Addison’s urging, I would have dropped out of the Selection entirely, leaving all of this pageantry and weirdness aside.But something was keeping me here, other than the research about Jack Elrod’s mysterious return, magic, and everything else.I wasn’t ready to admit it, but I couldn’t deny my attraction to Flynn. His coat had a soothing scent, almost herby. It was nice to smell, and I tried not to make my sniffs
JASMINEFlynn looked visibly relieved when I opened my eyes. His gaze softened and his sharp jaw unclenched.“Jasmine,” he sighed. I didn’t know if he could tell I’d allowed him to save me, but to my surprise, the Beta merely pulled me up off the grass and hugged me tightly.His scent enveloped me.“Are you alright?” he asked as he pulled me away, his eyes falling to my side. “How is your wound? Was it ripped open again? Do I need to find a healer? Or get you-”“I’m alright,” I assured him softly, an appreciative and sympathetic smile on my lips as I gazed up at him. My heart raced in my chest and for a moment, everything else faded away. It was only us, locked in this moment together and I didn’t know if there was anywhere else I would have rather been.Flynn Hart was a kind man, kinder than I’d ever thought possible.“Why did you suddenly dive under the water?” he asked me with furrowed brows, his tone laced with concern. “That was really dangerous. The water could have pulled you u
JASMINE“What does final moment mean?” I asked as concern ran through me. My eyebrows came together and I glanced at Flynn as if he already knew the answer. I wasn’t certain of what his sister had told him before I’d arrived, but when his dark, hypnotic eyes met mine, I knew that he knew just as much as I did.His strong arms were crossed against his chest, and when I noted the subtle curve of his muscle, I remembered his touch when he’d rescued me, as well as the hug he’d given when he’d gotten us to land. I felt my cheeks heat a little as I thought about it.I felt a little like a girl with a crush and I forced myself to harden my heart. I wasn’t the kind of woman who swooned- I was a trained assassin. I didn’t melt. I didn’t waver.For so long, I had kept my heart locked away, not giving it any attention or care. It was dangerous back when I was in Ebon Eyes to have a relationship. We were advised against such distractions.Still… the warmth of Flynn Hart’s tall, strong body, the s
EVELYNWhen morning came, I was still staring at the ceiling. My eyes felt sore from staying up, but I couldn’t sleep, no matter how much I wanted to.How could I sleep after what happened last night?I had known long ago that Elsa was holding things back and there was a reason for that, even if she wanted to help me. But I didn’t know what it was. Maybe it touched the core of Jack’s plan or perhaps there was something more to it.I knew Elsa was right. The only way I could figure out my own plan was to pretend to be obedient to Jack. I knew too little about this place and him—his abilities, weaknesses, and intentions. I wasn’t sure who this man I’d once been engaged to truly was and that was a terrifying sentiment.Besides, he now had my family in his hands.A sense of helplessness washed over me. Fate never seemed to tire of playing with me. I had a great many regrets, but there was no point in dwelling on them now. I couldn’t look back. I couldn’t afford to. All I could do was look
EVELYN“Are you suggesting that I abandon you?” I whispered.Jasmine’s gaze locked with mine. The intensity in her eyes was undeniable, her determination sharp as steel. “I’m suggesting that we put the King’s safety first,” she said.“But—”Before I could protest further, Leila cut in. “Jasmine is right.” She seemed entirely convinced by her plan now, placing a hand on my arm. “You and Cole have to leave. That’s why we’re here—to rescue the King. Isn’t that what we want more than anything?”I couldn’t argue. Though it stung to think of retreating, I knew the gravity of the situation. Jasmine’s words struck deep. As if sensing my hesitation, she added, “Don’t think of it as abandonment. What’s on your shoulders is far heavier than ours. Remember our oath? The King’s life is the heart of Hescor. His reign is the promise of Ozora’s future.”Finally, I exhaled. “Okay. But how will this work?” I asked. “Jack Elrod isn’t easily fooled.”“He’s not,” Jasmine agreed, a faint sense of relief in
EVELYNThe air in the room thickened, pressing down on us as the weight of the revelation sank in. Leila blinked rapidly, her gaze darting between the runes and the others, struggling to process the enormity of what we were seeing. Even though she had been the first to suggest that Hescor might be connected to magic, the discovery that the ancient runes of Tiryn—the Kingdom of Wizardry—had ties to werewolves left her just as stunned as the rest of us.“Why would the pattern symbolize a werewolf?" Leila demanded before anyone else could speak. Her face was tight with alarm, her unease palpable. "Explain it to me!”Seb’s face remained unreadable, his features etched with a mix of exhaustion and resignation. He shook his head slowly, his voice flat. “I don't know,” he muttered, a bitter edge creeping into his tone. “The runes are an ancient language created by the first King of Tiryn. Only the kings can understand them. The wizards of Tiryn believed they held the deepest, most dangerous
EVELYN“What… what is this?” I asked Leila, my brow furrowing as I pointed to the symbol on the page. I strained to pull it out from my memories, but my mind felt clouded – overwhelmed by too many events, too many raw emotions. The sleepless nights had left me dizzy, my thoughts fragmented. It was as if I were reaching for something just beyond my grasp, a fleeting thread of clarity that refused to materialize.Leila studied the symbol for a moment before shaking her head. “I’ve seen the same pattern in other parts of the book, but I’m not sure what it means.” She flipped through the pages, showing me the other instances of the same design. “It could just be a random mark left by the book’s owner, something to remind themselves of something important.”“I don’t think it’s random,” Stephanie interjected. She moved closer to the book, her finger tracing the intricate pattern. “It’s far too detailed to be just a meaningless doodle. Do the pages with this symbol have anything in common?”
EVELYNI placed the kettle on the stove and began rummaging through the kitchen cabinets until I finally found some tea. After grabbing a couple of mugs, I dropped the fragrant tea bags into them, then waited for the water to heat.The kitchen remained quiet, with only the gentle hiss of the boiling kettle breaking the stillness. I was relieved that Stephanie hadn’t followed me. It gave me a rare moment to think.I glanced over at her – sitting absentmindedly by the table, her gaze lost somewhere outside the window. Stephanie’s appearance hadn’t changed much, but the weight of her experiences and suffering was etched in her eyes. Those once bright and confident eyes now looked evasive, as though hiding something deeper.Leila’s words echoed in my mind:She believes her brother was deceived by the wizards and wants to convince him to stop the bloodshed.It wasn’t that I disbelieved Stephanie, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were not so simple. She was intelligent, and by n
EVELYNThe night seemed to slip away unnoticed.When I glanced out the window, the first pale light of dawn crept over the horizon, the sun rising slowly in the east.The house was quiet once again. Leila, Jasmine, and Stephanie had retired to their rooms, while Seb—still unconscious from the overdose of medicine Leila had given him to ensure he wouldn’t cause trouble before sunrise—lay motionless.As the others slept, I sat at the edge of Cole’s bed, absently running my fingers through his thick, golden hair. Sleep eluded me after the conversation with Leila and Jasmine. Though their arrival should have brought me some sense of relief, the burden in my heart only grew heavier as I processed everything they’d shared.I had thought that if I could just find a way to bring Cole back to Halian, things might start to improve. But Leila had warned that Halian was no longer safe. Attacks were imminent, and Jack Elrod’s plan had already begun to unfold.As Leila and Jasmine explained, war se
EVELYN“Think about Sylvia! She wouldn’t want you to do this!” I struggled against the rope binding my wrist, trying to convince him to abandon his plan. But the man paid no heed. He walked toward Cole and stopped by the bed.He reached for something, but his hand froze midair as a rap echoed from the door.Both of us went still.There was a single, sharp sound, and then silence, as though it were nothing more than a shared figment of our overstrained nerves.The man shot me a glance before cautiously stepping toward the door. His movements were slow and deliberate, meant to make no sound. He gripped the handle, cracked the door open just a sliver, and peered outside.From where I was bound, I couldn’t see anything beyond the door, but something must have caught his eye. He opened it further and stepped outside.It was then that a shadow swooped in, knocking him to the ground.The poor night vision of humans gave him a disadvantage. The man scrambled to his feet, only to be grabbed by
EVELYNI looked up.Through the mist swirling around me, I saw Cole. His hand was outstretched, his eager gaze fixed on me. His chest was broken and bleeding, and he looked lonely and desperate, his dark eyes vast and pleading as they met mine.“Eva...”His voice reached me, pulling me back to the memory of two years ago. The day he’d pleaded, and I had retreated, shaking my head.I’d looked at him with fear and hatred.I’d said no.Every time I thought back to that moment, I believed I would handle it better if it happened again—that I’d calmly fix the confusion and the misunderstandings between my family and Cole.But I had been wrong.I felt glued to the ground, paralyzed. I opened my mouth, but only a harsh cry came out. Sadness and despair gripped me as guilt weighed on my heart like iron.“I… I can’t...” I whispered as I stared down at Conner’s lifeless body, the blood on my hands. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, nothing was fixable. My family, my mate—none of
EVELYNI narrowed my eyes and focus on the paragraph. It was written in a completely different style from the rest of the announcement, looking more like a hasty draft—almost as if a careless scribe had used scrap paper to jot it down.And the paragraph, baffling in its oddness, turned out to be a poem, which the girl read aloud.The once pretty orange has begun its decay, yet the sapphire still gleams. The rotting orange could be saved for a worthy trade: The stone with the deep blue beam. If you still hold the fruit you cherish so dearlyCome and make the trade: Choose not to accept what’s written so clearly -The sapphire with shatter, and the fruit will fade.As the girl finished reading, the people around her erupted in laughter. The sound of their mirth filled the air, an overwhelming chorus that tightened my throat.A man jeered. “Even my teenage son could write a better poem than this. What a laughable mess.”A woman beside him giggled. “The scribe should be fired for sur
EVELYNWhen I woke, it was already morning. The sky outside the window was overcast, but its dull brightness made it clear that it was well past sunrise. I sprang to my feet and placed my hand on Cole’s forehead, checking his temperature. His skin was no longer feverish.I inspected his wound and replaced the damp towel. The bleeding had stopped, and though the swollen flesh was healing, it was slow progress.But that barely gave me any relief.I brushed away the damp strands of hair from his forehead, wiped his face with clean towels, then placed my palm against his cheek, whispering his name. But he didn’t answer. His eyes remained closed, unmoving. He was still unconscious.The wildness had faded from him, but his sanity had yet to return. I didn’t know if it was the lingering effect of the aphrodisiac or if it’s because his mind was being controlled, suppressed.If nothing changed, he would eventually become nothing more than a walking corpse.I shook my head, pushing back the t