EVELYNBefore I could grow too considered by Leila’s warning about Elsa, the sky darkened further and it appeared as if a heavy rainstorm was approaching.“We’d better return inside at once,” I advised, worried about Leila getting caught in bad weather. It was my duty to keep her happy and satisfied and though we’d grown closer, I had to remember my place as a maid.So, I led her back into the palace, and per the instructions given by Mrs. Porter, we went straight back to Leila’s chamber. Just as the door to the room closed behind us, the sound of thunder rang out, and Leila rushed over to the window. She stared out in wonder and for a moment, she appeared like a young girl rather than a highborn lady.“We’re lucky we came inside when we did,” she remarked, turning to face me with a grin. Just as I smiled back, Leila crossed over to her bed and fetched a leatherbound history book from her bedside, a book she told me she’d been reading whenever she was in this room.“I’m well past the
EVELYNLeila clearly had no idea what I was speaking of and I wished I could share in her naivety. Though she was one of the most well-read people I knew, she seemed unaware of the weight her words would carry if the wrong person in this palace were to hear her declaration of travel.See, the werewolves of Hescor could never visit another continent, at least not officially.Any wolf who left Ozora to try to reach Eanica would be considered a deserter, a traitor to this continent and to this kingdom.A deserter wouldn’t survive the treacherous winds and tides of the moonlit sea unless they had a ship large enough to withstand the stormy weather. The sea was cold and unforgiving, and I had heard plenty of ghost stories about wolves who lost their lives trying to travel to Eanica.I set my feather duster down on a nearby table and approached Leila’s bed swiftly. She stared at me in alarm and tugged at one of her dark braids anxiously.“You cannot speak those words aloud,” I repeated, but
EVELYNI crashed to the ground with an awful thud and cried out as I collided with the cold marble floor. My ankle cried out in agony and I quickly shifted my position to avoid harming it further. My heart pounded like a dream and heat spread through me as I anticipated being found by Lady Anna.But to my surprise, no gasps, screams, or admonishments were heard.The room was empty, save for me and my injured ankle.I breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat away from my forehead. I was certain I was about to be caught but now that the threat of Mrs. Porter’s inevitable wrath was avoided, I gingerly touched my ankle.It was slightly swollen but as I examined it, I knew it was only a sprain at most. It was a massive relief and I breathed a sigh. A broken ankle would have raised too many suspicions and would have sent me right back to the maid’s quarters. A swollen ankle I could handle. Broken bones were hell to a maid in the palace.I glanced around the chamber. The vast room was s
EVELYNI half-expected the voices to belong to two male guards or perhaps some other man with fighting experience, but just as I got my hopes up, I realized that the speakers were clearly feminine. Part of me wanted to weep from disappointment but I kept my ears open as the woman panted across from me.Unfortunately, I recognized both of their voices at once.“It was very nice talking to you,” Jasmine Madden gushed kindly. “I appreciated getting to know you further, Lady Anna.”“Me too, Lady Jasmine,” Anna replied weakly. “It was kind of you to seek me out.”My jaw tensed and my aching body prepared to go another round with the attacker. If she could take me down, she could surely strike a fragile girl like Anna down with one swift motion. The poor girl didn’t stand a chance against this assassin, and even though I didn’t know or particularly care about her, I would protect her at all costs.Before I could make my move though, the woman who had been preparing to attack suddenly turned
EVELYNEven though every part of me hated the idea, I obediently followed Flynn down the corridor. The Beta strode quickly, and I had to lengthen my gait just to keep up with him. The effort brought me a good deal of pain, but I didn’t dare complain. The circumstances were too dire for my injuries to matter, so I shoved my feelings aside and forced a calm expression.As we descended a flight of stairs, we encountered a patrolling guard. He stared at me in shock, his eyes fixing on my bloodied uniform, but focused when Flynn demanded his attention.The Beta issued some brief orders, and the guard saluted him obediently before hustling away.To protect the privacy of the ladies, there were no guards on the third floor wherethey were accommodated. Now, after this attack, it seemed like a significant risk and oversight.As we reached the ground floor, Flynn stopped abruptly. I nearly lost my footing and bumped into him but I steadied myself before I could crash.The Beta’s expression was
EVELYNI stiffened in surprise. I knew that voice.“Lord Marcel, I believe in your fealty,” I heard Cole sigh from within. “But I do hope you read through this ledger so you can clarify the difference between the two sets of accounts to me. Please do take your time. I’m quite curious to hear your explanation.”Intrigue flooded through me but before the conversation could continue any further, Flynn knocked on the door in some sort of code.Cole called out to him from within. “Come in.”I took a deep breath and we entered the room as Marcel Fox exited. The dowager queen’s slimy brother was carrying two sets of books under his arm. His thin face was red from the argument, and he didn’t even glance at me as I walked past him.He quickly strode out before Flynn closed the door, and I saw Cole lean back in his chair. He exhaled sharply and then closed his eyes as he rubbed his temples.“I hope you bring good news, Flynn,” he said, not yet noticing me beside the Beta.“I’m afraid not, Your
EVELYNIt was said among our kind that werewolves could only be marked once. It was a sign of possession and ownership- one claiming the other and showing the rest of the world that the object of their mark was theirs and theirs alone.Of course, marking isn’t always one-sided. Mates marked each other to complete and solidify their bond. That’s what my parents had done when they found each other. But for the Alpha King… things were different.No one was allowed to mark the King, not even his Queen. The King was not meant to be possessed by anyone.However, he could mark as many she-wolves as he wanted.Cole’s words struck me like lightning and for a moment, I was completely paralyzed. The intensity of his obsidian eyes showed that he meant every word he said, and as he stared through me, I had an impulse to submit, stronger than I’d ever felt before.It was more than just desire. It was an animalistic need for him to mark me, to make me his, so that I could be relieved of any other th
EVELYNShock shuddered through me and I stifled a heavy gulp as a lump formed in my throat.Had he read my mind?How did Cole know I harbored such a foolish dream, that all I’d fantasized about since the Luna Selection was announced was my freedom?It didn’t matter. What he said was the last nail in my coffin.There would be no end to her suffering, even when he chose his Luna. There was no way out. I’d rot and die in this damned palace. A chill ran through me at the very thought and I wanted to cry, to scream, to challenge him.If he wanted to kill me, what was he waiting for?But despite my anger and devastation toward him and my situation, I felt rooted to the floor. She couldn’t move or speak, even when I was filled with such intense emotions.Maybe Cole was right. I was indeed a coward. I had been always hidden under the wings of my family like a helpless chick, always waiting for someone or something to rescue me from my ill fate. But there was no rescue coming for me.I was tra
EVELYNI love him too, I thought. I had loved him since our first kiss, since the first flutter of my heart, from the first delicate stir of butterflies in my stomach. I loved him even in the moments I hated it—when I cursed him, when I cursed myself for falling into him, for letting the intoxicating euphoria consume me.I wanted to tell him this, but my teeth clenched too tightly around my lip to speak, and the lump in my throat choked my words.“I’m a jerk, Evelyn,” Cole muttered, rubbing his face with a heavy sigh. His back remained to me, still honoring his promise. “I didn’t understand what love was. I spent my life denying I even needed it. There was a hole inside me, and I tried to fill it with anger, with hatred, with indifference. But you… you were the one who showed me what I was really craving. Even when I was terrified of being controlled by Augus, I found some twisted happiness in knowing how hard you tried to save me.”“And how do you know I wasn’t doing it for some othe
EVELYNWe spent the rest of the morning discussing potential resolutions for Augus’s future attack. Mrs. Lance kindly brought us breakfast: scrambled eggs, slices of ham, and nettle tea for Emma, who had woken briefly but fell back asleep after a few sips.Sylvia joined us shortly after checking on Lord Albert and Elsa. She said that while Lord Albert's condition was stable and he was expected to wake soon, Elsa’s state was far more complicated – and less hopeful. Her nervous system had been severely damaged by long-term manipulation of magic, and her desire to recover was minimal.“The effectiveness of healing magic depends on one’s will to live,” Sylvia had said.I found Oakley sitting beside Elsa’s bed when I went to check on her. She lay motionless, pale and unconscious, visibly more emaciated than I’d seen her last. Bruises marred her face and neck like dark, painful flowers.When Oakley heard me approach, he looked up, his face etched with a rare grave expression. I wondered if
EVELYNWhile Cole and I proceeded toward my family's room, Oakley and Sylvia turned right at the staircase, separating from us to check on Lord Albert and Elsa, who had been placed on the other side of the corridor. Sylvia offered to assist them with her healing abilities, and Oakley expressed a reluctance to get involved in any private conversations.I had expected Aiden to follow us, as he seemed as deeply concerned about my family as I was. But instead, he trailed behind Oakley. When our eyes met for a brief moment, he quickly looked away, lowering his head to avoid my silent question.It was clear he was trying to avoid me, even though I hadn’t directly asked anything. His behavior had been distant ever since he awoke from the enchantment. Silent for most of the time, and when he did speak, it was never to me. I had no idea what was going through his mind, but I didn’t have the strength to press him for answers—not when I was so consumed with the anxiety of seeing my family, and w
EVELYNThe air grew chilly as we ran through the forest in our wolf forms. It might have been the morning dew dampening my fur, or perhaps the panic surging through my veins. I forced myself to focus on the solid earth beneath my paws, trying to push away the creeping dread gnawing at the edges of my mind. If I didn’t, the fear that my little sister might already be in the wizard’s grasp would overwhelm me.We slowed as Aiden sniffed the path, tracking the path to the safehouse where my family was being sheltered. Oakley dipped his wolf head low, allowing Sylvia, who had been riding on his back, to dismount. She clutched her chest and leaned against a nearby trunk, taking a deep breath. Her face was pale from the speed of the ride. I wondered if she had ever ridden a werewolf before, even though she had lived in Hescor for so long. But judging by her retching and the greenish tint to her face, it was clear she wasn’t fond of the experience.Oakley joined Aiden, studying the trail as h
EVELYN“But if you’re wondering why Augus…” Sylvia spoke up again, but she quickly paused, frowning as if considering the words she was about to say. Then, with a deep sigh, she added, “I have no idea why you werewolves seem to carry magical blood or what Augus has discovered about it.”I looked at her, pursing my lips. The unease I felt when Augus called werewolves magical weapons lingered in my chest. I didn’t think he had just meant to sneer and degrade us as mere objects.“He found it behind the Chamber of Secrets,” I said.Sylvia’s frown deepened. “How do you know…”I turned my gaze toward the flickering firelight and explained what had happened earlier—how Augus had disguised himself as Seb and tricked us all, how Leila had brought a book with a ruse that only the King of Tiryn could read. My heart ached dully as I recounted the memory. “I think the ruse confirmed Augus’s theory, and that’s probably why he acted so boldly afterward, to prove his suspicions.”I fell silent for a
EVELYNI gazed beyond the campfire. The sky was still dark, as if every single star in the heavens had been wiped from existence, never to return. As if dawn would never come.“Apparently, not everyone in Tiryn supports their King’s ambitions,” Flynn said, tossing more dry twigs into the flames.After we’d escaped the alleyway, we had reunited with Flynn, who’d discovered the trick Augus had played to distract him. Now, hidden behind the thickets in the forest near the House of Fox—guarded by his troop and without any blue-eyed soldiers lurking to catch us off guard—we could finally rest and contemplate our situation. We perched on a pair of logs in a circle, the campfire lighting our faces.The flickering flames illuminated our eyes as we listened to Flynn’s revelation about what he’d learned. In the firelight, everyone’s faces seemed ghostly.I shifted on my perch, stretching my stiff legs when Cole spoke up.“Where’s the informer?” His hand tightened around mine, and a crease forme
EVELYNPerhaps we should keep an eye on Augus, wait for the right moment to strike—surprise him when he’s unprepared. But we were too stunned to act. Jack’s death seemed to stir something in the air around us. The draft that had once been light in the alleyway grew stronger, though, in that moment, I wondered if it was still just a draft.The sky suddenly shrouded in thick clouds, obscuring the moon entirely. A storm seemed imminent—a storm that could hardly be a natural occurrence. I wasn’t sure if it was relevant, but I recalled the time when King Theodore died, and a tempest raged for days, as if the world itself mourned the loss of a monarch.The stomping of footsteps broke the tension. I turned my gaze toward the soldiers. The puppets began marching toward us, their blank faces and eyes gleaming with a sinister flash.“He’s running,” Oakley shouted, pointing at a flicker of blue light moving swiftly in the opposite direction, away from the approaching swarm of soldiers. “Should w
EVELYN“I’m no gambler,” Cole said sharply.Augus snorted. “I’m afraid that’s a gamble you can never refuse, young King.” He stepped back a few paces, muttering a spell under his breath, and the sapphire dagger rose into the air.My body tensed as I grabbed Stephanie’s arm, bracing for the attack. My nerves were on high alert.But instead of the mindless onslaught I expected, the uncontrolled soldiers closed in around Augus, encircling him like a protective wall.Confusion twisted in my gut, but before I could make sense of it, I felt Stephanie’s body stiffen beside me. She pulled away, shrugging off my hand with startling coldness, and rose to her feet.“Stephanie—” I called out, but my words died in my throat when I saw her eyes. There was nothing left in them. Just emptiness. Just like the soldiers.I remembered Augus’s words.What makes you think I didn’t control one of you to lead you here?The realization hit me like a physical blow. Stephanie... she was under his control. A rus
EVELYNThe clouds shielding the moon finally drifted past, and as the silvery light bathed the alley, the blue crystal dagger lodged in Leila’s chest gleamed with a piercing brilliance. Leila’s eyes widened, shock and confusion flooding her features. She looked down at the dagger, watching it being pulling from her chest with an invisible force. Blood seeped through her dress, spreading out in a crimson circle.“Lei!!” Jasmine’s scream tore through the air as she rushed to Leila’s side, pulling her into her arms. Stephanie followed, her movements urgent.At the same time, Cole charged at Augus. Augus, however, was already retreating, vanishing swiftly among the soldiers. He mumbled an incantation, and with a flick of his wrist, more soldiers fell under his control, becoming mindless puppets. Cole struggled to get close, forced to fight his way through the soulless figures that filled the space between them.I gripped Sylvia’s arm, my breath shallow, my chest aching with every inhale.