JASMINEAs the woman and I locked eyes, I had a strange feeling in my stomach, one that I couldn’t quite explain. While I was momentarily pleased that I had an excuse for the guards, I didn’t know these people and didn’t know their motivations.The man began to apologize to the guard. “I’m so sorry. This is my daughter, Lily. She and I got into a quarrel, so she ran away. She packed up her things and left home but as you can see, we’ve caught up to her. We’ll bring her straight home.”The guard didn’t seem convinced. In fact, he seemed downright suspicious.The man took two bags of coins from his jacket and stuffed them into the guard’s pocket as if it were nothing.Without another word, the guard turned on his heels and left.As he vanished down the street, I turned to face the couple, ready to ask why they had helped me, but before I could get the words out, the woman shushed me and shook her head.“This isn’t a safe place to talk,” she said softly, not quite a whisper but also not
JASMINEI had never imagined in a million years that I would witness magic of any kind. Even when Leila had presented the evidence of her findings in books, a part of me was still a non-believer. It was hard to trust in something I’d never seen.But now… now that I was witnessing Sylvia’s magic- the dramatic change in her appearance, the new face she’d somehow donned- I was chilled to the bone.Sylvia smiled, her teeth the same straight white rows as before, and right in front of my eyes, her face shifted to how it was before.“I know you’re in a hurry but this is going to take some time. We have to wait. Seb will investigate and craft a picture of how security is arranged around the House before you take any actions, otherwise, you’re heading to your doom. It would be foolish of you to act without restraint.”She then lowered her voice, her chin lifting slightly. “Besides… I know my son isn’t weak. I know what’s best for him-““You haven’t returned even once to see if ‘your son’ is a
JASMINEHer sentence lingered in the air and it made my stomach hurt just to think about it for so long. It was always a woman’s choice but I could tell how scary it would have been to essentially be pregnant with a stranger’s child- a stranger who happened to be a completely different species- after having to flee one’s homeland.I didn’t know Sylvia but the hurt in her voice thawed some of my sympathy.“Obviously I didn’t follow through,” she noted. “The longer I had the child in my belly, the more reluctant I was to end his life. He was a stranger to me and yet he was my blood. He may not have been conceived ideally but I struggled to let him go.”She paused for a moment and gazed off in the distance.Her words and disposition were in a firm contrast to her actions. Clearly, she cared for Cole… so why did she leave him behind and essentially pretend he didn’t exist?What had happened between then and now?I wanted to ask but there was no way to ask the question without sounding lik
JASMINEMy head began to ache from all of the information I was being given. Sylvia was a wizard, a runaway princess from a country whose ruler faked her death after killing her father? She had managed to get away from King Theodore but had managed to hide away in Hescor, where she’d been residing the entire time.I wanted to pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingertips. This was all too much, but I needed to stay strong and composed so we could move forward and figure out how to save Cole.“Why would your uncle align with Jack Elrod of all people?” I asked again with a small frown. “What’s the appeal for a foreign magic user to work with a werewolf prince?”“If I were to guess, I would say that my uncle seeks the rich sapphire source of Ozora,” Sylvia mused. “Which would surely enhance a wizard’s capabilities, so I doubt there would be more options than that. Augus Clarkin is an insane, greedy man. All he seeks is power. During the years that I was in the royal palace, Seb had g
JASMINEFor a moment, I thought I had heard the man incorrectly.There were so many variables that made no sense and many others that did.I wanted to scoff at the mere notion that Skyla Fox was kind, given all that I knew about her, and scoff even further at the idea of the King wanting anything to do with her. She was beautiful but she was hardly a prize and I’d been deducting during the Luna Selection that he wanted nothing to do with her.These were the orchestrations of Marcel and the rest of House Fox.I narrowed my eyes and shook my head in confusion.“The King is awake?” I questioned. “That’s impossible. Did you see him walking among them?”“I can’t confirm because the ones I had spoken with had never seen the King in person,” Seb explained. “All know that he is there but none have seen his face since he arrived at the House of Fox.”“And when will this engagement party happen?” Sylvia spoke up in a serious, composed voice. Her eyes held a spark that I couldn’t quite identify,
FLYNNJasmine had only been gone less than a day and I already missed her greatly. Her scent was still lingering on my coat, and it was almost as if I could physically sense her gentle touch when I recalled the moment we’d hugged and kissed. A shiver ran through me as I remembered the sweet taste of her lips against mine.I wished to kiss her now, wished to kiss her shamelessly and tell her how much I loved her, every inch of her… her ashen-blonde hair, her big sterling eyes… the gorgeous, lightly muscled figure that couldn’t leave my mind… she had me under her spell through and through.I had never expected to find a mate anytime soon. I had always thought I didn’tdeserve to be happy after the moment I ended my friend’s life.But Jasmine… sweet, beautiful Jasmine Madden, reassured me that Conner Caddel’s death wasn’t my fault, like everyone else had attempted but failed at. Miraculously, her words worked more than anyone else’s ever had. Perhaps it was her tone when she boldly ment
EVELYNOakley studied me with caution, the expression on his scarred face betraying a mix of emotions. It was rare, I was certain, to see him in such a state, and it was relieving to know I could have the upper hand for once“What are your conditions?” he asked me, his eyes holding mine for once instead of trailing over me lewdly. For a moment, he seemed almost innocent, normal, not the cruel warrior wolf I knew he was at his core.“I need to know what happened to Aiden first,” I said, chin held high. “As for the rest, I’ll keep them tucked away for later. I’ll need you to cooperate when I need it. Got that?”Oakley snorted and rolled his eyes “Quite a lofty statement, angel. How can I trust you? Besides, if Maria is really alive, I can find her on my own. Why would I need your help?”He rose from his seat and leaned over as his sharp eyes stared at me. I knew that it was just an intimidation tactic but I wasn’t about to falter, not when circumstances were so dire. No, I wouldn’t yiel
EVELYNOakley remained silent while he walked me back. He had changed his playful attitude and maintained a solemn face as if he had been deeply in his own thoughts.“What happened to Elsa?” I asked him quietly, unsure of how to speak of the ordeal. I was certain that if anyone knew what had happened in that room, it was the scarred man.Oakley hesitated and then spoke. “Elsa made the wrong decision and now… she’s approaching her doom.”I stopped dead in my tracks and studied him with a look of utter confusion. “Her doom? What does that mean?”He scoffed and came to a halt. “I can’t tell you unless you want to become the same as she is.”I blinked in surprise.He glanced behind his shoulder. “I’m sure Elsa expected it. The moment we vow our loyalty to Master, we know what will be our undoing. Our doom.”“Do you… do you mean that Elsa will die soon?” I asked, my voice breaking at the very thought.Oakley didn’t speak but his somber expression told me everything. The world felt as if it
EVELYN“Madam, please show your pass,” the guard said. His tone was clipped as he stepped into our path. His dark eyes studied us, sharp and unyielding. Beneath his professionalism, there was a flicker of annoyance and impatience, but it was clear he was just doing his job.Still, my heart quickened.I held Sylvia’s arm and lifted my veil, letting the sheer fabric slide back with a deliberate grace. I smiled softly as my gaze met the guard’s, my expression carefully crafted to appear harmless and innocent, even vulnerable – and, in a way, appealing, as Sylvia had suggested. She said that males were predicable, especially the male wolves, and that a well-timed smile by a beautiful lady could work wonders in situations like this, though I doubted it.But I still did.I’d do anything she said.Anything to get into the House of Fox and help Cole.While I played the role of a tender lady, Sylvia took a different strategy. She exhaled sharply as her features twisted into an irritated frown.
Marcel nodded dutifully, though part of him wanted to widen his eyes and shake his head.Two days. Two days until the King of Tiryn arrived. Everything was progressing so quickly, and it seemed that he was struggling to keep up. Between managing his household, his men, and his troublesome daughter… he was overwhelmed. His mind was on the verge of breaking, but he dared not to show it, not to Jack Elrod. No, he had to keep a level head if he was to succeed.“I’ll do my best,” he promised. “I’ve ordered the guards to search the entire city. I believe the girl won’t have anywhere to hide. They’ll surely catch her before dawn. Beside…” Marcel lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. “The troops are all ready, Your Highness.”Jack nodded, his dark eyes studying Marcel with an intensity that made him uneasy. After a long pause, Jack tilted his head, narrowing his eyes slightly. “You’re holding something back, Lord Fox. What is it?”Marcel hesitated, but only for a moment. There
SKYLA“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Marcel Fox growled at his daughter, his eyes flashing with anger as he slammed a cup against the wall. The fine porcelain shattered into pieces, and the sound filled the room.Skyla lowered her head and pouted. She didn’t understand why her father was so angry, but she chose not to argue. Nothing good would come of retort to her father’s scolding. Historically, when this had happened in the past, Skyla always emerged from the situation without her dignity intact.“Look at yourself, Skyla,” he snarled, his hands gesturing at her as his lip curled back in disgust. “You’re dressed like a whore. What kind of King would like a whore?”Skyla winced at the comment, her cheeks heating in embarrassment at the insult. Still, she remained silent.“How many times have I told you to behave properly?” Marcel continued, his nostrils flaring. “Have you ever given a fuck about what I’ve said at all? I told you not to act on your own. Not only is it dangerous,
SKYLACole frowned, a crease forming between his lips as he stared at Skyla in confusion.“Evelyn?” he repeated, his dark gold brows furrowing further. “What does this have to do with her? She… she was sent to Windsburn Island long ago. Why bring her up now?”Skyla’s eyes widened.What was Cole talking about? Evelyn being sent to Windsburn?She was confused because Cole didn’t seem to be joking or trying to change the subject. It seemed as if his memory had been fragmented -just like when Cole woke up and believed she had been diligently taking care of him during his illness, while she had done nothing of the sort.Was that why her father had warned her never to bring up the past in front of Cole?Panic flooded Skyla. She realized she had just made a critical mistake. She wished she could take back the words she’d let slip.Skyla pressed her lips tightly together as she watched Cole’s reaction.Cole brought his hand up, rubbing at his temples as if trying to ward off an oncoming heada
SKYLASkyla Fox and Melanie quietly walked through the corridors before they arrived at the King’s room.Stationed outside of the room was Max, the diligent guard, standing proudly in his post, ready to prevent any unauthorized entry. None had bothered yet this evening, so when he noticed Skyla and her maid, he frowned. A strong instinct in his gut urged him to keep them away – he was certain they were up to no good.As they approached, he raised a hand and stopped them. The ladies appeared irritated by the interruption.“The King is very tired,” Max said firmly, his tone carrying an authoritative edge. “What are you here for, Lady Skyla?”Melanie spoke up, shooting him an annoyed expression. Her blue eyes flashed as she scolded him, her jaw clenched. “What an idiot you are! It’s their engagement night! What could the lady possibly want? Don’t be a fool. Just open the door and let her in!”Max’s cheeks flushed as he realized the meaning behind her words. He glanced at Skyla, who wore
MELANIEThe House of Fox had never been as glamorous and cheerful as it had been tonight.The party celebrating the engagement between the Alpha King and Lady Skyla lasted late into the night, and as the moon rose high in the sky, the guests reluctantly began to leave, satisfied with the countless glasses they had drunk and the many dances they had shared.In the privacy of her bedchamber, Skyla rubbed fragrant lotion into her shin, massaging the sore muscle while her maid Melanie removed her corset.“It was so tiring to dance with so many gentlemen tonight,” she complained with a small sigh. “It felt as though the line of them would never end.”Melanie, ever the dutiful maid, fawned over her as always.“You were stunning this evening, Lady Skyla,” she complimented. “All the men were so captivated by your beauty and grace.”Skyla raised her chin, a chuckled escaping her lips. “They were, weren’t they? Not that it matters, of course. It’s a pity I didn’t get to dance more with Cole. I
OAKLEYSilence hung in the air as Oakley and Elsa stared back at Frank Crawford.Kill them both. Had they heard him correctly? He’d been so casual, so unbothered when he’d uttered the sentence that it was almost laughable.Oakley spoke first, his eyes regarding the older man with caution. “What?”Frank glared at Oakley. “You heard me. Kill them both. It seems you need to work on your hearing, lad, and your composure. I can see that look on your face, and I’m not too pleased by it.”“Do we need to consult with Master before we execute the prisoners?” Oakley asked.Frank lifted a brow. The older man found it downright unpleasant that Oakley, of all people, seemed to object to his decision. Normally, this young man was more than obedient – sometimes even easier to manipulate than Elsa. Yet today, he dared to question him. Frank found this defiance deeply irksome. He fought the urge to grimace; he refused to give Oakley the satisfaction. To Frank, this low-born man was far too insignific
ADDISONOakley walked over, an eyebrow raised as he squatted down to examine Addison. His eyes trailed over her with an air of detached assessment before his lips curled into an amused smirk.“This poor lady is going to die if you don’t remove your claws,” he remarked, glancing at Elsa.Elsa shot him a glare. “This isn’t any of your business, Oakley. Back up and stay the fuck away.”“I can’t,” Oakley said with mock regret. “The lady’s an important hostage to Mr. Crawford. If she dies, we’d both be in trouble.”Elsa rolled her eyes and scoffed. “She’s not important at all. Frank just keeps her for fun. You know it better than I do.”She turned back to Addison, but before she could make another move, Oakley grabbed her wrist. His grip was iron-strong, startlingly so for someone with a limping gait and a body marred by scars.Addison’s eyes widened as she felt the power in his hand—a strength that seemed unnatural for a man with his appearance.Elsa, too, was acutely aware of his hold. S
ADDISONThe blade of the sharp dagger gleamed under the moonlight streaming through the half window above Addison. Elsa’s teeth were gritted, and gone was the doe-eyed, innocent-looking girl who had once worked as a maid in the palace.In her place stood the face of a fierce fighter and killer.“You should die,” Elsa spat out with hatred, her brown eyes flashing with the utterance. “Every Madden deserves to die for what they’ve done.”Addison didn’t move – not out of fear but out of survival. She looked at Elsa while her hand cautiously searched behind her, trying to find anything that might be useful.Unfortunately, there was nothing to be found. The silver-lined cell was bare. All that lay behind her was sand.There was nothing in the silver-lined cell that would help her escape, not a single little thing. All that was behind her was sand. She supposed she could use her claws, but she needed to bide her time—any wrong move, and Elsa could slit her throat in an instant.It could all