AIDENI trembled slightly as I stared at Evelyn’s father. A shiver passed through me as if I stood before a ghost.Steven Caddel’s appearance had changed a lot since I’d last seen him. His tall frame, which had always been impressive, was almost skeletal beneath his clothes. His complexion was ghostly, and though his dark hair was still thick, it was long and tangled.He sported a thick dark beard and I noticed that it was wrought with streaks of gray.His eyes, however, were still stern and resolute.I opened my mouth to speak, wishing to say something, but Steven stopped me before I even had a chance.“There’s no time,” he said firmly. “I don’t know why you’re here, Aiden, but you shouldn’t be. You need to get out of this place before it’s too late.”“I can’t, sir,” I replied with a small shake of my head. “I’m here on-”The crack of a whip cut through the air and Steven winced. He glanced behind him and then replaced the hood on his head in one swift motion.“I can’t say much now,
AIDENI couldn’t find the right answer for the little girl, no matter how much she wanted it. How could I bear the tell Emma the truth? She was just a child.Thankfully, before I could muster up a reply, Charlotte returned and immediately asked her youngest child to help her make lunch.Emma protested a little but ultimately did as she was told.Little was said after that, and when Steven finally returned, the meal was ready. Or at least what constituted a meal around here.Charlotte placed a few pieces of stale bread and a bowl of soup in front of me and then took a seat on one of the armless chairs. The food didn’t smell too appetizing, but Charlotte had worked hard with what resources she had, so I accepted my portion gratefully.“Thank you,” I said, and then I caught Steven smiling at me. I rose at once, and as I did, Evelyn’s father drew me into a tight hug and patted me on the shoulder.“You look great, Aiden,” he said and my eyes started to burn at once.Years ago, before I wen
EVELYNThere was one good thing about being a lowly maid in the palace: the days were filled with a million duties, leaving no time for self-pity or idle thoughts.This had been a blessing before, especially when things between Cole and I were awful.But now that I had become Leila’s personal maid, I was free from heavy labor and had too much time to dwell on my own worries.No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about what the Beta’s younger sister had said yesterday regarding an escape plan.What if consuming these certain herbs actually worked as Leila claimed they did in stories?No heartbeat. No breathing. What if Cole really believed I was dead and stopped searching for me? Would I be able to reunite with my family?I had remembered Aiden had promised to help me leave this place, but as the King’s Guard, he might inadvertently expose me if I sought his assistance, so perhaps Leila’s plan was my only true option.If her stories could be believed.I grew so lost in
AIDENWhen Steven Caddel and I finished our talk about the goings-on in Windsburn Island, it was very late. Night had already fallen and the sky outside of the Caddel’s cottage window was a deep, dark blue. The sky was dotted with stars and the moon cast silver rays below.Though it made me sad to leave the family’s home, I knew I needed to sneak back to the castle. I was worried to jinx it, but I wondered if the servant I had changed clothes with and tied up had been found.I certainly hoped not because otherwise, I would have to make up an excuse to satisfy the official’s questions. I knew he would inquire where I’d gone and there was no way I could betray the Caddels and the miners I’d spoken to today.Steven told me that Frederick was quite literally the spokesman of the Fox family on this half-enclosed island.“To put it more bluntly, that man is practically this island’s ‘king’,” the one-proud leader of the Caddels said bitterly about the official. “He executes the orders from H
AIDENEverything happened in a flash.Charlotte and Emma were awakened by the sound of shattered glass and jumped, a fearful scream coming from the little girl’s mouth as her mother shielded her. Steven rushed over to the bed to protect his wife and daughter, meanwhile, I sprang into action.I didn’t hesitate as I lunged at the black figure and tackled him to the ground. We hit with a sudden thud, my body crying out from the force, but only for a moment.My canine teeth elongated on instinct, my nails sharpening to claws as I pinned the intruder down. He was taller and broader than I was, but that didn’t matter to me. I’d taken down men larger than him with ease, and he would be no different.“Who are you?” I snarled but the figure didn’t reply. He didn’t seem to care about answering me, opting only to thrash and attempt to push me off of him. I held firm, my claws sinking through his sleeve and into his skin. He growled in pain but uttered nothing more as he continued to buck.Just f
AIDENPain coursed through me like lightning, so intense that I nearly sank to my knees in shock. It came in waves, my vision blurring slightly as I nearly passed out, but I managed to override the pain. As the guard removed the blade, I spun around and kicked him with all of my might. He was knocked out cold.“Go!” Steven demanded again as he shook the two men holding his arms off. “Their target is you. We’ll be all right. You have to get out of here now!”I knew from the pain and the blood pouring down my shirt that my shoulder was deeply wounded. I needed to go if I didn’t want to die, but I couldn’t just leave them behind again.“Who’d take care of Evelyn if you die?” Steven questioned with a bellow. “You made a promise!”He reached my side and managed to kick away an approaching guard. “There’s a way out through the woods. Go straight there, use your surroundings to hide you. You’ll have to rely on your senses but you can do it, Aiden. Now, go, before you lose your chance!”I cle
EVELYN“This is horrific,” Leila whispered to me as the portrait painter bent to wash his brush. Her long-lashed golden-brown eyes rolled dramatically as she rubbed her shoulders and stretched her legs.I wanted to reassure her or at the very least reply, but before I had the chance, the painter quickly straightened his back and scowled at Leila.“Lady Leila, please hold your position and don't move,” he said firmly, annoyance in his tone as he returned to his canvas.Leila grimaced and then resumed her posture, a forced smile on her full lips.“Sorry,” she muttered.It had been two days since Georgina Madden’s death, and Anastasia Elrod decided the best way to cheer the ladies up and bring to an end the gloomy feeling in the palace was to invite an esteemed painter to do portraits of the ladies.The stout middle-aged painter was a man named Pierre, and though he didn’t look like much, he was the most popular and well-known portrait painter in Hescor.Apart from serving the royal fami
EVELYNMy stomach twisted into knots as I followed Addison into one of the meeting rooms. I hadn’t expected Leila to turn down the head of the Madden family’s request but I didn’t know what Addison wanted to talk about. Behind my back, I felt my hands start to sweatI hadn’t heard much about Addison before, even back when I was considered highborn. She was only five years older than me, but there was an aura about her that made her seem even more mature, older even. There was a sharpness in her eyes, a stillness in her posture.It made sense.Ruling over the entire Madden family at such a young age was quite an undertaking, and since they were in charge of the law and punishment in Hescor, it likely wasn’t an easy job. Anyone would seem cold if they were under as much pressure as she was.When we entered the room, Addison gestured forward.“Take a seat,” she instructed, and after I sat without question in the nearest chair, she elegantly lowered into the one opposite me. She didn’t sp