EVELYNAs the sentence escaped me, I began to doubt my plan. I didn’t want to cry, but tears sprang out against my will.I watched as Cole’s face slowly turned cold and his eyes shifted from disbelief to mockery.“So that’s the reason...” he scoffed. “You want to trade information with your body? Don’t you think you’re thinking too highly of yourself?”His voice was filled with contempt. “Was she telling me the truth?” I asked boldly.He suddenly reached out and cupped my chin, raising it up as he stared down at me.“What will you do if I tell you that it’s true?” he demanded. “Are you going to be buried with him? Do you love him so much that you’ll fall to pieces?”“Aiden is my friend,” I managed to say through my trembling.“That’s what you would do for a friend?” Cole sneered. “I didn’t know you were so loyal to friends, Evelyn. Aren't you a traitor?”Tears rolled down my cheeks, blurring my vision and twisting the image of Cole’s face.How many times would I have to bear this?Wh
COLEStriding silently along the corridor, I tried to calm down but to no avail.Sever the mate bond?Where the fuck had Evelyn learnt about this?The very fact that she wanted to fuck me only because she wanted to learn about Aiden’s condition infuriated me.What was she thinking?I had stupidly thought she had started to soften. For a moment, I even thought she was returning to the sweet girl she had used to be, back before this entire mess had started.But it turned out to be another fucking lie.She fooled me once again. She used me, which made me feel like a total idiot. I couldn’t believe she begged me to fuck because of another man.This thought was driving me crazy, making me want to kill. I wanted to rage, throw things, sink my claws into something, and shred it into ribbons, just as I had that dress of hers.She needed discipline. I should have done it earlier, back when she’d first arrived in the palace. I would lock her in my room and fuck her until she had no other though
COLEAddison took another deep breath as Flynn and I waited for her to tell her story. Her gray eyes were uncertain at first, like she didn’t want to follow my orders. Part of me didn’t want to blame her for her hesitation, given this situation with her twin sister, but the other part was the Alpha King. If my brother or his followers were somehow responsible for Jasmine’s disappearance, I couldn’t allow her to withhold information from me or Flynn for that matter. “I understand you don’t trust us, Your Majesty,” Addison said as she glanced at Flynn with a trace of mockery. “The Madden’s hands are always dirty with blood no matter what we do. But I assure you that House Madden is utterly loyal to you, Your Majesty. Because that’s our only choice.”I lifted a brow. “That seems like a poor choice of words given the context of this situation, Addison. Proceed with caution.”“I’m sorry,” she apologized quickly, holding her hands up as if to settle my rising irritation. “I said that inco
JASMINEMy head hurt more than it ever had before.It was as if my world was swirling on its axis and I had an impulse to throw up. My stomach was like a nest of snakes, each coiled around the other tightly. The pain made me wonder if I was dead, but when I opened my eyes, I knew I wasn’t.I wasn’t in a grave. I was in a carriage.It was moving fast on a rocky surface below and it shook violently as it traversed every stone.The sharp rocking of the carriage made the imaginary snakes in my belly twist together further and finally, I couldn’t hold it in further. I was about to retch, but before I could empty the contents of my poor stomach, I realized someone was in the carriage with me.They held a dagger in my direction and it glinted in the pale blue moonlight streaming in through the window.“If you dare throw up, I will slit your throat,” she said, and it took me a few moments to recognize it was Elsa.I didn’t realize it was her immediately because she looked completely different
JASMINEThe coachman laughed.“You’re right,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “But I hope you aren’t trying to go against the Master. We both know that would go poorly for all involved.“I won’t,” Elsa swore. “I wouldn’t ever do that.”The coachman nodded and glanced over at me, lowering his voice as if that would keep me from hearing him. I couldn’t be that surprised. He seemed no older than me, perhaps even younger. He likely had no idea about what the members of House Madden went through when they came of age.The training camp was brutal and intensive but it taught me how to be stealthy. My hearing was better than most, so I was able to hear every single word, no matter how low he whispered.He and Elsa might be assassins and kidnappers but I was not prey.I was a predator.“But there will be a delay if we spend too much time on her,” he said quietly. “It would save a lot of time if we just kill her.”When the coachman turned to look at me over his shoulder, I immediately evened
COLEMrs. Porter arrived shortly after my summons. “Your Majesty,” She said, offering a bow. Her pale blue eyes were filled with fear, and she trembled a little as she straightened up.“Mrs. Porter.” I said, giving her a nochalant smile and gesturing to an empty seat. “Please, tke a seat. We have much to discuss.”“Y-y-yes, Your Majesty,” she stammared obediently. “There is a maid I want to ask you about,” I said. “A young woman by the name of Elsa? I need some information on her. Can you assist me with this, Mrs. Porter?”“Elsa? Elsa Perry?” Mrs. Porter asked with a mix of nervousness and confusion in her voice. “Well... Your Majesty. She is an orphan from House Crawford’s land. She arrived but one month ago,”She retrieved a record book from the pocket of her apron and gestured with it, as if it was a satisfactory contribution to her statement.I raised an eyebrow and scanned her with a look of scrutiny.“That’s it?”Wasn’t that too vague for a proper background record of a royal ma
COLEI eyed Flynn, whose dark-skinned face was contorted into a frown of embarrassment.“Bring your sister in,” I instructed him.Leila Hart rushed into the study in an instant, and Flynn could hardly stop her. “Thank goodness! Why do they keep getting in my way? I said it was urgent.”“Leila!” Flynn muttered under his breath, trying to remind his sister of her manners, but Leila didn’t seem to care. She took a step closer to me and then narrowed her light brown eyes at me.“What is the emergency?” I asked, annoyance blazing through me.“Evelyn is missing!” Leila blurted out, her expression animating. “Well, she hasn’t been herself since this morning. I was worried about her, so I went to check on her after she retired to her room—”“She’s unwell?” I raised an eyebrow, cutting her off. “Did she ask you for retirement to her room? Or did you dismiss her?”Leila rolled those pretty eyes and spoke sharply. “Yes, she asked, and I granted her permission. And I would do it over and over aga
COLEAnger flashed through me.It was a different kind of anger than I’d felt before House Caddel’s betrayal. That anger had been heated and intense, like lava flowing down a volcano, or a forest blaze. It came with reddened vision, sweat, and bared teeth.This anger was far worse. It was ice. Frozen, gripping, stiffening. It still wanted to consume me in its wake, but it came with a numbness that was different than the other kind.As I stared back at Leila Hart, I wished to freeze her out too. I wanted to be distant, detached. I needed to be. Red anger required passion, feelings.I was tired of feelings. I was tired of worrying about my emotions and allowing them to run my life. I was the King now. There was a certain level of detachment I needed to have in order to rule Hescor.In order to rule my subjects.I clenched my fist absently as the tightness in my chest grew.“Have you finished?” I asked her sharply.Despite my harsh tone, Leila didn’t falter. She held my gaze and raised h
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
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