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
EVELYNI felt myself floating like a ghost, untethered to my body, as if I’d never had a true form before. My surroundings were both familiar and strange. I could tell I was in the palace, but not the palace where I had once stayed. I didn’t recognize any of the maids or servants, and their uniforms were old-fashioned, different from the gray dresses I used to wear when I worked there.As I drifted, I overheard a small group of maids gossiping in the corner, just as Melanie and her friends had once done about me. But instead of the maids teasing, joking, and spouting cruelties about my position in the King’s bed, they were gossiping about someone else this time, though only marginally.They were gossiping about Cole Elrod.Though they referred to him as Prince Cole, it was clear that these women had no respect for him.“The Prince was left alone again,” one of them said, leaning in closely to let the whispers spill out. “King Theodore only brought Prince Jack with him on their huntin
EVELYNNot long after I woke up, Crystal knocked on the door and walked in. She opened the curtain and window, letting fresh air in. The room was well-lit, and combined with the scenery outside, I was reminded that I had left the old palace- the Gods Peak, several days prior.We had been traveling nonstop for the past few days when Jack decided he wanted to stop and take a rest.I had no idea where we were now since I wasn’t allowed to get out, but I could see that Jack was very cautious.The cottage we stayed in was far from villages or cities, so far that I could see no strangers around. Jack had only taken two guards and Crystal with us. Our entourage was light, more so than I was used to.Aiden had wanted to follow. He had a fierce fight with Jack about it that ended poorly. It was a painful event I didn’t want to recall. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt for me anymore.Still, I didn’t know if what I was doing now was correct. I felt uneasy, not only because of my dreams but also
EVELYNI knocked firmly on the door of Jack’s room while Crystal tried to hold me back.“Lady, please, the Master would be deeply displeased.” She begged me to stop.“Out of my way,” I growled, shoving her aside. “Open the door! I need to talk to you!” I slammed my fist against the wooden plank as if it were a sparring dummy.The door was finally opened before I had the chance to break it.Jack stood on the other side and looked at me lazily. He was wearing a loose shirt that exposed his chest.Crystal dropped her head at once, her cheeks and ears flushing. She stammered. “M-m-master. I-I’m sorry that I can’t stop Lady Evelyn.”“It’s not your fault, Crystal.” Jack said as he glanced at her and smiled softly. “Could you bring us some tea?”“S-sure, Master.” Crystal nodded. She glanced up at Jack and blushed again before skittering away.Jack yawned lightly as his gaze locked with mine.“Morning, Eva. Did you have a good sleep last night?” he asked.I ignored his question. “I need to ta
ADDISONAddison looked into the distance as she felt a chill run through her. She tightened her coat.The Gods Peak loomed ahead.The summit of the steep mountain was veiled by thick clouds. Surrounding it were virgin forests—plush, thick, and unmarred by anything else. The wind blew strongly, making eerie noises through the trees.Addison wondered if anyone could even survive under such harsh conditions up there.She glanced behind her, one arched blonde brow rising as she noticed the soldiers all looked exhausted. She couldn’t blame them though. They had traveled non-stop from Halian to the most remote land of Hescor.“Is everyone ready to climb?” she asked.“Yes,” the soldiers answered in unison.However, Addison noticed one voice missing from the collective response:Lord Albert Hart.Turning to face him, she saw his frown as he stared at the mountain. Addison’s lips curled in faint, cruel amusement. “Are you afraid, Lord Hart?” she asked, her brow arching even further. Her disda
ADDISONAddison froze.The soldier screamed as he stumbled closer, pointing a trembling finger at the rabbit’s corpse on the ground.“It’s definitely the same rabbit,” he cried, his voice cracking. “The mountain must be cursed! Haunted!”His jaw clenched, and a whisper escaped from his lips.“We’re going to die here…”Addison’s lips pressed into a thin line, the grimness in her gray eyes sharper than ever. This strange, creepy mountain was eating away at their nerves, it unsettling mysterious pushing the group to the edge.Several soldiers whispered anxiously, their panic growing contagious as the distressed soldier continued to unravel.Addison knew she had to squash this before it spiraled out of control. Fear and panic would only make things worse.“That’s enough,” she barked, her voice firm and demanding. “Ghosts don’t exist. The rabbit is just a coincidence – nothing more.”“It couldn’t be a coincidence!” the soldier shouted back, shaking his head vehemently. “There’s no way this
ADDISONHours passed by, and the sky grew dimer, but Addison Madden, Albert Hart, and the soldiers were still stuck in the same clearing.No matter how many times they tried, how many routes they attempted or turns they avoided… they always returned to the same place. They had walked exceptionally slowly, making symbols on the stones to track their passage. They had moved as quickly as possible, trying to break through whatever force was misleading them.But everything they tried was futile… and they were growing increasinly restless and exhausted with each passing effort.The mist surrounding them was suffocating, too thick and too heavy. Addison stumbled toward a trunk and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath. A dull ache began to bloom in her head.She began to wonder if this was the end.What a hilarious thing to think about, she thought bitterly, a trace of laughter in her internal tone.Such an unforeseen twist.She imagined the shame she’d bring upon her family if she
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
EVELYNMaybe I should have told you more about how everything ended—how Augus’s corpse dissipated on the wind, how the puppets regained their sanity, horrified to found themselves scattered in the dark forest with no memory of how they’d gotten there, and how we left that place and returned to Halian.I wish I could tell you everything, but I couldn’t. After killing Augus and breaking his spell, I fell into a deep coma for three days. All I can share are the fragments of what I experienced in my unconscious state.Three days of floating in a beautiful paradise beneath a perfect, round full moon. T hree days surrounded by flowers in full bloom and bathed in warm sunlight. Pups frolicked around me, laughing and playing with mischievous grins, their faces full of innocent joy. Though they didn’t seem to notice me—as if I were invisible—I shared in their carefree happiness.For a time, I almost forgot where I came from, and I wished I could stay there forever.But on the last day, I met h
EVELYN“You won’t,” Augus said with smug confidence. “Unless you want to see your lover buried in blood.” His thumb pressed against my artery in a way that made my skin crawl, and he demanded, “Return the dagger.”Cole’s stare darkened. The dagger gleamed in his hand, its blue aura enveloping him like a divine fragrance. It was at that moment that I truly felt the full force of his wizard’s blood. With Augus’s dagger in his hand, it was the perfect opportunity to destroy this vile wizard.But Cole hesitated. His gaze flickered toward me, and his jaw tightened. “You’re nothing without the dagger,” he replied sharply.Augus laughed. “Try me,” he sneered, and I felt his nail dig into my skin. “Such a beautiful neck. What a pity to lose such a lovely prize.”My heart lurched. I didn’t believe Augus had the strength to kill me—my neck was tough, and my teeth sharp—but the feeling of being gripped there, of being so utterly vulnerable, was terrifying.“And even though you have it now, you c
EVELYNEven the weakest creatures can be lethal when they strike together.Show me what you can do to the rebels of your people.Augus’s words echoed in my mind.He was driving us into a corner.The longer we were bogged down by the civilian puppets, the less chance we had to turn the tide. Exhaustion would soon cripple us, and once we could no longer land a significant blow, Augus would appear, reaping the fruit of his successful scheme. Or the exhaustion might push us to the edge of our nerves, to break through, to slaughter.I stared at the puppets swarming toward me like bloodlusters catching the scent of flesh, and my temple throbbed with the weight of my assumption.Not only did I know we would never be ready to take innocent lives to secure victory, but even if we did, Cole’s reign would buckle under the weight of the people’s fury. The low-borns already loathed the high-borns. What would they do if they learned that the King had slain his own people – those who couldn’t even h