EVELYNI couldn’t shake the feeling that his words seemed like a threat, and despite the panic that swelled within my belly, I managed to remain calm as I awaited his response.“Well, I can’t exactly babysit my little brother,” Jack remarked with a small, near smirk. “And I have nothing to do with how his condition progresses. It seems as if it’s deteriorated quickly. Maybe he’s just too weak to hold on-”“He’s not weak,” I cut him off sharply. “You must have done something to him to keep him from healing.”Enragingly composed as ever, Jack shrugged. “Regardless, you’d better decide quickly if you still want to save that pathetic boy. Time is of the essence, it seems.”As my temper flared, I clenched my fists. “How do I know he can be saved since his condition has deteriorated so quickly? How do I know that you wouldn’t just kill him the moment I agreed to marry you?”“I never made a promise that I would save Cole,” Jack corrected me with a chuckle, crossing his arms against his chest
Addison laughed as Lord Hart finished his utterance. Her mocking laughter was harsh. It was he only sound in the room.Flynn stared at his father. Words escaped him as he tried to wrap his mind around the fact that his father had held onto such an immense, intense secret.Similarly, Leila seemed confounded. She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what their father had just revealed.“Why did you keep this from us?” the young lady asked in a small voice. The charms decorating her dark braids shimmered with sound as she leaned forward.Lord Hart sighed. He looked at his daughter but didn’t speak a word.Addison laughed again, her big gray eyes narrowing and then rolling. “Because your father is a coward.”She tilted her head, her long ash-blonde hair spilling over her shoulder. “It seems the Hart family is in no position to look down on the Maddens, since they now appear to be the most dishonest and treacherous family in Hescor.”Leila’s full dark lips curled into a snarl, and a l
“You’ve done nothing wrong! Why do you need to redeem yourself? Father, it’s not you who killed the King!”When Flynn entered the door to his father’s room, Leila was crying. She glared at their father and questioned him with a thin and wavering tone.Her light brown eyes glossy with tears. Her hands were curled into fists at her sides.Lord Hart glanced in Flynn’s direction and nodded subtly before returning his focus to his daughter.“I have to talk to Flynn about something, Lei,” he said calmly.“I’ll stay,” Leila fired back, clearly not ready to give in. Her eyes flashed, and her anger radiated from her like an aura.“No, Leila, you can’t,” Lord Hart replied firmly but not unkindly. “This is a conversation I need to have with Flynn alone.”Leila scowled. It seemed as if she would counter the order, but she cooperated finally.“Fine,” she remarked, wiping her face. On the way out of the room, she slammed the door, the sound reverberating in the large guest room.Flynn remained sile
JASMINEThe earth smelled damp and filthy. I squatted, lowering my body as much as possible, staring at the patrolling guards near the gate with great caution.“Have you seen Lady Skyla?” A guard whispered to his companion as they exited the Hall, his voice low. The pair were not much older than I but lacked the maturity as they spoke to one another. “Good Goddess… that body is impressive. And those lips of hers… I dream of them parted and ready for me to devour.”“Those curves… indescribable,” one of the guards continued. “If I were the King, I would never let that girl out of my bed, that’s for certain. I could never take my hands off her.”“He’s clearly enjoying her,” the first guard said with a sigh. “She’s been coming in and out of the Alpha King’s room constantly. I’m jealous of him.”I rolled my eyes. I wanted nothing more than to block my ears as I listened to their sickening conversation. I glanced at Seb, who was squatting beside me, watching the front gate of House Fox clos
JASMINEIt took a moment for anything to be heard through the wall, and Sylvia remained close to it, her ear pressed tightly. Her expression, even in the darkness, was one of patience and determination.Finally, a voice came through the wall, not nearly as muffled as it should have been.“My lady, we should leave.”I knew at once that the voice belonged to the beautiful, arrogant maid, whom I now recognized as Skyla’s personal maid in the palace. I believed her name was Melanie, and if I remembered correctly, she was lovely but terrible.Much like Lady Skyla Fox.“No,” Skyla said harshly. “I’m fed up with acting. How long will it be before the King wakes up?”Melanie attempted to reassure her. “Lord Marcel promised that the King would be able to attend the engagement party—”“You know, my father refused to tell me what happened exactly,” Skyla cut her off, bitterness lacing her tone. “And I’m tired of waiting. The longer I wait, the more uneasy I feel about the whole situation. You ne
The disjointed voice of Augus laughed, a gravely, almost ancient noise that sent a shiver down Sylvia’s spine.“I’m too old to remember those details,” he remarked. “How are you, Syl? Have the years been treating you well?”“I could be better,” Sylvia spoke, her sharp tongue as sharp as ever as she addressed her uncle. Despite the threat, she remained unfaltering and strong. “The years haven’t always been easy thanks to your constant attempts to hunt me down, Uncle.”She observed the dark room, seeking his familiar tall yet thin form. When she didn’t find him, she suspected that he wasn’t actually anywhere near.He must have placed an enchanted sapphire here to keep an eye on everything, Syliva thought, her mind steady as she continued to study the area. Still, she didn’t expect that he could communicate with me through the jewel… his power must have significantly improved over the years.Augus laughed again, the sound sending a chill down Sylvia’s spine.“You misuse that word, my pre
Sylvia’s heart raced in her chest as she acted quickly. She grabbed Skyla Fox by the arms, turned her around so her back faced the door, and smoothed her hair to make it appear as though she wasn’t unconscious at all.Before she could do anything further, the trio of guards barged into the room.“Lady Sky-” They froze mid-sentence, shocked at the sight of Skyla.Skyla had been in a state of undress and wore little above her waist. Much of her bare back was exposed in front of the guards.“Begging your pardon!” Sylvia gasped, disgust evident on her face as she stepped in front of Skyla to shield her from their view. “Do not look at the lady while she is vulnerable! Barging in unannounced—”.“We announced ourselves,” one of the guards tried to explain, but Sylvia cut him off sharply.“Not adequately,” she snapped, then pretended to address Skyla. “Remain silent and covered, my lady. I will ensure they leave immediately.”The guards looked flustered, quickly lowering their eyes out of em
JASMINEI fidgeted in the meeting room as I waited to see him. A maid brought water and tea to ease the exhaustion from my journey while I waited, though my nerves made it impossible to feel refreshed.I had just returned to the palace and wasted no time requesting an audience with him. But doubts began to creep in as I leaned back in the chair. I longed to see him, but I was nervous to speak with him about the King. I didn't want to add to his worries and see him hurting. Maybe I should have given myself more time to think about how to organize my words. I felt stupid acting like a love-struck fool.The door clicked open, and I was jolted upright.I quickly stood and saw Flynn. He paused at the door, staring at me. My breath caught in my chest as I met his intense gaze. I didn't know what he was thinking of. The moment seemed suspended in timeI swallowed and called him gently. "Flynn, I..."But before I could finish my sentence, he strode across the room and pulled me into his arm
EVELYN“You don’t believe us, do you?” The words left my mouth before I could stop them, sharper than I had intended. “You don’t believe in our determination.”Oakley studied me for a long moment before a grin flickered across his face, his usual cavalier attitude returning. “Let’s just say I’m afraid. Or maybe I’m tired of fighting for myself. Time to seek something else in life, isn’t it? Perhaps an exotic beauty in a foreign land. I hear some human girls have a particular taste for fluffy animals—”“Don’t change the subject,” I cut him off, glowering. “You’re not someone who scares easily.”“I wasn’t,” he admitted, inhaling deeply. “But I am now.” His smirk faded, replaced by a hardened expression. “Her husband has erased her past to give her a new life, a paradise of his own making. And I won’t be the one to destroy it.”It took me a moment to understand who he meant. Maria.“I saw her three days ago,” Oakley continued. “I imagined she’d be suffering under the hand of some lord, a
EVELYNI had never known there was a secret room attached to the Alpha’s Study, hidden behind the towering bookshelves that lined the wall opposite the long marble desk. A concealed passageway linked the two, its entrance masked by books that Cole now pushed aside. He twisted a small, inconspicuous knob, and the hidden door clicked open.I followed him inside, ducking low as we maneuvered through the narrow, dark passage. When he opened another door at the end, we stepped into a small chamber. It was even tinier than the room I had once lived in as a maid, furnished only with a round desk, a few chairs, and a cabinet against the wall.Despite its minimalism, the chamber exuded opulence. The desk was inlaid with jade, and each chair gleamed with embedded gemstones that caught even the faintest light.Clearly, this space had been intended for secret meetings—perhaps even assignations. Against one wall sat a low love seat, large enough for one person to rest comfortably. Or two, if they
EVELYNSkyla blinked.For the first time since I had stepped into her cell, she looked truly caught off guard. Her lips parted slightly as if to form words, but no sound came out.I could understand why she was so shocked. According to the traditional Hescorian law of crime and punishment, as the heir of a rebellious Great Lord, she would be sentenced to death. If not death, it would be a life-long sentence of heavy labor and exile – just like the punishment my family had received.Personally, I wanted her to suffer that fate. I had no intention of showing her mercy – mercy she neither deserved nor ever would. But as the future queen of Hescor, I couldn’t. I couldn’t let my personal hatred dictate justice. I was determined to change Hescor’s wretched, severe penal system, and I wouldn’t allow myself to become a hypocrite in the process.Collective punishment had a long history in Hescor. It’d be difficult to abolish, as many lords firmly supported it, or so I had been told.I recalled
EVELYN“So he punished him—made him kneel on the cold stone floor of the Great Hall, day and night, with the servants as witnesses. He kept him there until he was exhausted, starving, and on the verge of collapse,” Stephanie said. “And still, Jack never gave him an answer. He only said it was a girl from a dream. That was all. In the end, Father had no choice but to give up. But before he did, he tore the painting to shreds and warned Jack—if he ever dreamed of that girl again… he would find her, dig her out, and destroy her.”A shiver ran down my spine.I could almost see King Theodore’s looming figure, feel his hands closing around me, tearing me apart as he had done to that painting.I felt paralyzed by Stephanie’s words. And angry. Why was she telling me this? What did she expect from me? This had nothing to do with me, did it? It wasn’t my fault Jack had drawn a picture of me.And yet, beyond the anger, there was something else. A deep, inevitable sorrow.I didn’t know why.I tri
EVELYNI searched Stephanie’s chestnut-brown eyes with scrutiny, trying to make sense of her words. I was relieved she wasn’t lying, but I couldn’t understand why she had bothered making such a request after everything that had happened.Her expression remained composed, as if she saw no issue with her decision. But even at my most optimistic—even if Cole ever found an excuse to forgive his brother—Stephanie’s request to move Jack’s body to the Royal Crypt was absurd.Crypts held deep significance for every noble family in Hescor, and the Royal Crypt was the most sacred of them all, reserved for the royal bloodline. The people of Hescor believed it was a resting place only for revered monarchs who had contributed to the kingdom, rulers whose legacies were honored by both history and the people. Only the purest souls were meant to be laid to rest there. Of course, that was an exaggeration—one could hardly call King Theodore a saint, considering his debauched ways in his later years.As
EVELYN“Sometimes, I can’t tell if you’re supporting me or siding with those who oppose my ascension,” I muttered, lifting my head from the stack of documents to glower at Flynn. Across the room, he met my gaze steadily, unfazed.“Why don’t you go bother your King instead?” I snapped. “If anyone’s to blame for my ignorance of these documents, it’s him! If he hadn’t—” I bit off the words, heat crawling up my face as memory surged forward, unbidden and all too vivid.Cole had been unbearably possessive last night after I returned from my conversation with Aiden by the river. He had exhausted me until dawn – until the first golden rays of sunlight spilled over the horizon, peering into the room to find our bodies tangled in the damp sheets.Flynn arched a brow but returned his attention to the report in his hands. “I’ll remind him to exercise restraint,” he said coolly. “He shouldn’t wear you out when your schedule is this full.” Then, without a hint of emotion, he added, “Tell your maid
EVELYNThe royal garden was bathed in the golden hues of the afternoon sun, the crisp air carrying the mingling scents of blooming roses and freshly turned earth. I found Aiden standing near the river, his hands clasped neatly behind his back. He wasn’t alone.Leila was beside him, waving her hands animatedly as she spoke, her excitement evident. It seemed she was sharing something with him, and though Aiden nodded in response with a faint smile, his attention was clearly elsewhere. He looked distracted.Sensing my approach, Leila turned, her face lighting up. “Evelyn!” she called cheerfully. I returned her smile and quickened my steps toward them.Oh, I nearly forgot to mention—Leila was alive. Or, more accurately, she had been resurrected, along with Addison Madden and Skyla Fox.After Augus’s death, Sylvia had used the shattered sapphire, which contained the heart blood of all three, to perform a resurrection spell. And it had worked. But of course, it wasn’t as simple as it sounde
EVELYNMy coronation was set for a week after Cole officially announced that he had marked me, and that I had marked him in return. At least, that was the version he presented to the Lords and officials. If he had told them the truth—that I had marked him first—he might have sent half the council into cardiac arrest. They would have called it a disgrace to the monarchy, or worse.Naturally, many were displeased with my ascension. They resented the fact that I would wield actual power, something few queens in Hescor’s history had ever done—especially after my supposed punishment as a traitor. They also despised that my family’s name had been cleared and that my father had been reinstated to his former status.But all those objections amounted to nothing more than a few grumbles. The main attention remained fixed on the shocking revelation of Marcel Fox’s treason and rebellion. Solid evidence proved that he had been smuggling precious stones and stealing minerals from Windsburn—not to m
EVELYNWe shared kisses in the darkness. My mind was blurred by the lingering dizziness of my long unconsciousness and the feverish heat of my body.I felt overheated and out of control. I felt as though I was going to evaporate into the air, like morning dew dissolving beneath the warmth of the rising sun.“Evelyn…” Cole mumbled when my hand moved down his abs, toward the hardened part of him. He caught my fingers, lacing them with his own, stopping me. Then he pulled away slightly.I stared at him, still dazed, subconsciously yearning to close the distance again. He looked mortified, and I could see the flush on his face, but his eyes shone with a sharp spike of desire.“I should call a healer to check on you,” he said.“Why?” I murmured, titling my head almost mischievously. “Can’t you check for yourself?”I guided his hand beneath the thin fabric of my night garment, gliding his touch along the curves of my breasts. His gaze darkened, the fire within it flaring.His breath hitched