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
EVELYNAfter an evening of fitful crying, locked in Cole’s chamber, I had a terrible dream about him.It was more than a dream.It was a nightmare.My parents were on an execution platform somewhere in Windsburn. The sky was dull, a strange bluish-gray, and the only sound that could be heard was the crash of the waves surrounding the island. They were dressed in the same thin, ragged clothes as the last dream, only this time, they were far more tattered and covered with bits of blood. Their faces were bruised but their expressions were blank and empty.The executioner was holding a long broadsword, ready to behead them. His face was fierce but solemn, as if he knew what had to be done but took little pleasure in it. Beside the executioner was Cole, sitting on a throne that resembled the one from the day of the trial. His night-dark eyes seemed endless, a pair of black pools staring at the executioner and those about to be executed. The Alpha King’s hand was raised, prepared to give
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.