Emily’s POVThe ride was quiet, the air thick with unspoken words. I sat behind Jack on his horse, my arms loosely wrapped around his waist. His broad back was straight, his posture as rigid as always. The rhythmic sound of the horse's hooves against the ground provided a strange kind of comfort. I rested my chin lightly on his shoulder, my gaze lingering on the back of his neck. His scent filled my nose, and I found myself in a deep comfort.My thoughts wandered to what I had pieced together so far—about Harper’s mother and the role she played in Jack’s immortality. The idea of someone willingly binding him to this endless existence both fascinated and horrified me. And I found myself wondering what kind of man he was before he became an immortal.Was he always this guarded? This distant? Or was it the centuries of loneliness and betrayal that shaped him into what he was now?I sighed softly, my breath ghosting against his neck. He didn’t turn or acknowledge it. His aloofness was
Emily’s POVMy eyes fluttered open groggily, my head was banging. What I saw was a long wooden stool in front of me. I tried to stand up but my stomach hurts. And my legs. Together with my arms.In fact, my whole body hurts.But carefully, I managed to sit upright. I brought my hair to my shoulder, it was really dirty. I couldn't understand the color. And my clothes… my eyes looked down at my dress. It looks to be a white gown, it's original color but it was soaked with a red dried liquid. My eyes widened in shock when I thought of the possibilities that it could be my blood.My lips trembled as I glanced around. ‘Am I dead? Is this afterlife?’ I thought, my eyes scanning through the surroundings.It was a building, some parts filled with growing grasses and spirogyra. The floor was cold and cemented, I stood up carefully.Why don't I have any memories of myself?All I knew was that I just woke up from a deep slumber. Given how my body was aching this badly. “H-Hello….” I stuttered,
Emily’s POV “Thank you so much for helping,” I acknowledged, smiling at Gianna’s reflection in the mirror as she brushed my hair. She returned the smile, though her dark eyes never left my hair. “You’re welcome. But don’t mistake this for charity,” she said, her voice soft but unnerving. Our eyes met in the mirror, and I blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?” “You’ll pay for my help. Not with money, of course.” She smiled faintly, a small tilt of her head that made her look almost amused. “I’ll be taking the bead from your locket. The pearl inside is... powerful. If someone with an impure heart touches it, they go blind temporarily until they confess their crimes. And if they don’t...” She paused, her lips curling slightly. “Well, they lose their sight forever.” My mouth went dry, and I instinctively looked down at the locket resting against my chest. The thought of giving it away made my stomach twist, but I nodded. “O-Okay,” I stammered. She didn’t say anything, just
Emily’s POVI groaned as the sound of chirping birds yanked me out of sleep. My muscles ached, my back was stiff, and the scratchy blanket felt heavier than usual. The chill of the morning air seeped through the tent, and for a moment, I debated just pulling the blanket over my head.But the dream...I blinked my eyes open, staring at the tent’s fabric ceiling. Why was I dreaming about my resurrection? It had felt so real, like I was reliving that moment. I could still hear the voices, feel the weight of everything that day had meant.Events of the last few years flooded my mind, I found myself empathizing with myself for all the years of heartbreak I've endured. All because I wanted him to accept me as his mate.I shook my head, trying not to dwell deeper. I might have had the dream out of exhaustion, playing tricks on my mind. Pushing the thoughts aside, I sat up, stretching my arms. My back ached from sleeping on the makeshift bedroll Jack had insisted we use during this journey.
Emily’s POV“When the heart turns cold…”The phrase echoed in my mind as I walked back into the tent, each word settling heavily on my chest. I had been trying to understand it, but the answer seemed clearer now. To sever this bond—truly sever it—I would need to upset Jackson, to do something so unbearable that it would make him turn away.Without true love, the bond between us was meaningless. That was what the throne was trying to tell us.We were tied by fate, but he couldn’t admit how he felt without something pulling him. I entered the tent, then my eyes fell on the pearl the little girl gave me. I picked it up, running my thumb over its smooth surface, a faint smile tugging at my lips. My mind raced back to the dream, the words, and Gianna. I froze mid-thought, realization dawning like a cold wave.Gianna.My eyes narrowed, suspicion burning in my chest. I didn't remember that she introduced herself to me. I hadn’t thought much of it, but now… If not for that dream, I wouldn’
Kiara’s POVThe Next Morning.The paintbrush glided across the canvas in my hand, a streak of deep crimson smearing like fresh blood. My lips curled into a bitter smile as I traced the outline of Emily’s figure, every inch of her covered in what looked like dripping blood.“Perfect,” I muttered to myself, the satisfaction short-lived as anger clawed its way back into my chest.I clenched my jaw, thinking about yesterday. I had asked her nicely—nicely, for the first time in forever. All I did was ask if she was fine. A simple, kind gesture. And what did she do? She just nodded. Nodded! Like I didn’t deserve an answer.My grip on the brush tightened until my knuckles turned white.“That b!tch,” I spat under my breath. “All high and mighty now, isn’t she?”I sat back, glaring at the image of her I had painted, rage bubbling inside me like poison. Emily. Everything went downhill the moment she came into the picture. The pack no longer cared about me, Kiara. Me, who had always been by
Kiara’s POVI let my thoughts pace around before my gaze flickered to the mirror, and I stopped dead. I rushed to it to confirm what I saw.A pimple.What in the hell…My fingers moved to my face instinctively, and I pressed down on the stubborn blemish with all the force I could muster. A sharp sting burned across my skin, but I didn’t stop until it was gone—until it bled.I hissed in annoyance, grabbing a tissue to dab the spot. My reflection stared back at me, and I frowned harder.“It’s nothing,” I muttered, spinning toward my vanity. I grabbed my makeup and began to smear powder and foundation over my face in thick layers, covering every imperfection. My hand trembled slightly as I blended it out.“Y-You’re be-beautiful,” I stammered to my reflection, forcing a smile. “This is just temporary. Everything happening now is temporary. I’ll strike when the time comes.”I leaned closer, staring deep into my own eyes, my smile sharpening into something sly. “I’ll make sure they regret
Emily's POVI lay on the bed, staring blankly at the wooden ceiling above me, Kiara’s harsh words still ringing faintly in my ears.“Fuck off.”But oddly enough, I didn’t take her words to heart. I was used to her bitterness by now. I could handle her hatred; it wasn’t what bothered me. What I couldn’t ignore was Jackson.His behavior had been eating away at me all day. The flashes of anger, the blood… and the way his vampire side clawed at the surface, barely restrained. I had seen him gritting his teeth as if he were fighting himself, as if being near me was both his salvation and his curse.I turned to the side, burying my face in the pillow with a frustrated sigh. Exhaustion tugged at me, but my mind was relentless. Eventually, though, the weight of my thoughts lulled me into a restless sleep.I turned my head, but found myself in a darkened hall lit only by streaks of moonlight breaking through shattered windows. I jerked up immediately, I wasn't laying on the bed but on the floo
Emily’s POV“Yeah, come in,” I called out, my voice lacking its usual enthusiasm.The door creaked open, and Maddy stepped in, a warm smile on her face. I tried to return it, but it felt forced, awkward. Our last conversation had left a strange tension between us, one I wasn’t sure how to navigate.“Good day, your highness,” she said with mock seriousness, a playful lilt in her tone. I chuckled softly despite myself, shaking my head. “Don’t start.” She stayed at door, doesn't look like she was coming any closer.“So… you wanted to see me?” I affirmed with a nod. Even though I didn't trust her fully, I need her witch abilities to interpret certain things to me.“Why are you at the door? Come closer.” I urged.“Maybe it's because I feel…. guilty?” My brows furrowed in my confusion. Then she chuckled.She crossed the room quickly, and before I could react, she wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.“I missed you so much,” she murmured against my shoulder.I froze, my arms hovering m
Emily's POVI lay on the bed, staring blankly at the wooden ceiling above me, Kiara’s harsh words still ringing faintly in my ears.“Fuck off.”But oddly enough, I didn’t take her words to heart. I was used to her bitterness by now. I could handle her hatred; it wasn’t what bothered me. What I couldn’t ignore was Jackson.His behavior had been eating away at me all day. The flashes of anger, the blood… and the way his vampire side clawed at the surface, barely restrained. I had seen him gritting his teeth as if he were fighting himself, as if being near me was both his salvation and his curse.I turned to the side, burying my face in the pillow with a frustrated sigh. Exhaustion tugged at me, but my mind was relentless. Eventually, though, the weight of my thoughts lulled me into a restless sleep.I turned my head, but found myself in a darkened hall lit only by streaks of moonlight breaking through shattered windows. I jerked up immediately, I wasn't laying on the bed but on the floo
Kiara’s POVI let my thoughts pace around before my gaze flickered to the mirror, and I stopped dead. I rushed to it to confirm what I saw.A pimple.What in the hell…My fingers moved to my face instinctively, and I pressed down on the stubborn blemish with all the force I could muster. A sharp sting burned across my skin, but I didn’t stop until it was gone—until it bled.I hissed in annoyance, grabbing a tissue to dab the spot. My reflection stared back at me, and I frowned harder.“It’s nothing,” I muttered, spinning toward my vanity. I grabbed my makeup and began to smear powder and foundation over my face in thick layers, covering every imperfection. My hand trembled slightly as I blended it out.“Y-You’re be-beautiful,” I stammered to my reflection, forcing a smile. “This is just temporary. Everything happening now is temporary. I’ll strike when the time comes.”I leaned closer, staring deep into my own eyes, my smile sharpening into something sly. “I’ll make sure they regret
Kiara’s POVThe Next Morning.The paintbrush glided across the canvas in my hand, a streak of deep crimson smearing like fresh blood. My lips curled into a bitter smile as I traced the outline of Emily’s figure, every inch of her covered in what looked like dripping blood.“Perfect,” I muttered to myself, the satisfaction short-lived as anger clawed its way back into my chest.I clenched my jaw, thinking about yesterday. I had asked her nicely—nicely, for the first time in forever. All I did was ask if she was fine. A simple, kind gesture. And what did she do? She just nodded. Nodded! Like I didn’t deserve an answer.My grip on the brush tightened until my knuckles turned white.“That b!tch,” I spat under my breath. “All high and mighty now, isn’t she?”I sat back, glaring at the image of her I had painted, rage bubbling inside me like poison. Emily. Everything went downhill the moment she came into the picture. The pack no longer cared about me, Kiara. Me, who had always been by
Emily’s POV“When the heart turns cold…”The phrase echoed in my mind as I walked back into the tent, each word settling heavily on my chest. I had been trying to understand it, but the answer seemed clearer now. To sever this bond—truly sever it—I would need to upset Jackson, to do something so unbearable that it would make him turn away.Without true love, the bond between us was meaningless. That was what the throne was trying to tell us.We were tied by fate, but he couldn’t admit how he felt without something pulling him. I entered the tent, then my eyes fell on the pearl the little girl gave me. I picked it up, running my thumb over its smooth surface, a faint smile tugging at my lips. My mind raced back to the dream, the words, and Gianna. I froze mid-thought, realization dawning like a cold wave.Gianna.My eyes narrowed, suspicion burning in my chest. I didn't remember that she introduced herself to me. I hadn’t thought much of it, but now… If not for that dream, I wouldn’
Emily’s POVI groaned as the sound of chirping birds yanked me out of sleep. My muscles ached, my back was stiff, and the scratchy blanket felt heavier than usual. The chill of the morning air seeped through the tent, and for a moment, I debated just pulling the blanket over my head.But the dream...I blinked my eyes open, staring at the tent’s fabric ceiling. Why was I dreaming about my resurrection? It had felt so real, like I was reliving that moment. I could still hear the voices, feel the weight of everything that day had meant.Events of the last few years flooded my mind, I found myself empathizing with myself for all the years of heartbreak I've endured. All because I wanted him to accept me as his mate.I shook my head, trying not to dwell deeper. I might have had the dream out of exhaustion, playing tricks on my mind. Pushing the thoughts aside, I sat up, stretching my arms. My back ached from sleeping on the makeshift bedroll Jack had insisted we use during this journey.
Emily’s POV “Thank you so much for helping,” I acknowledged, smiling at Gianna’s reflection in the mirror as she brushed my hair. She returned the smile, though her dark eyes never left my hair. “You’re welcome. But don’t mistake this for charity,” she said, her voice soft but unnerving. Our eyes met in the mirror, and I blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?” “You’ll pay for my help. Not with money, of course.” She smiled faintly, a small tilt of her head that made her look almost amused. “I’ll be taking the bead from your locket. The pearl inside is... powerful. If someone with an impure heart touches it, they go blind temporarily until they confess their crimes. And if they don’t...” She paused, her lips curling slightly. “Well, they lose their sight forever.” My mouth went dry, and I instinctively looked down at the locket resting against my chest. The thought of giving it away made my stomach twist, but I nodded. “O-Okay,” I stammered. She didn’t say anything, just
Emily’s POVMy eyes fluttered open groggily, my head was banging. What I saw was a long wooden stool in front of me. I tried to stand up but my stomach hurts. And my legs. Together with my arms.In fact, my whole body hurts.But carefully, I managed to sit upright. I brought my hair to my shoulder, it was really dirty. I couldn't understand the color. And my clothes… my eyes looked down at my dress. It looks to be a white gown, it's original color but it was soaked with a red dried liquid. My eyes widened in shock when I thought of the possibilities that it could be my blood.My lips trembled as I glanced around. ‘Am I dead? Is this afterlife?’ I thought, my eyes scanning through the surroundings.It was a building, some parts filled with growing grasses and spirogyra. The floor was cold and cemented, I stood up carefully.Why don't I have any memories of myself?All I knew was that I just woke up from a deep slumber. Given how my body was aching this badly. “H-Hello….” I stuttered,
Emily’s POVThe ride was quiet, the air thick with unspoken words. I sat behind Jack on his horse, my arms loosely wrapped around his waist. His broad back was straight, his posture as rigid as always. The rhythmic sound of the horse's hooves against the ground provided a strange kind of comfort. I rested my chin lightly on his shoulder, my gaze lingering on the back of his neck. His scent filled my nose, and I found myself in a deep comfort.My thoughts wandered to what I had pieced together so far—about Harper’s mother and the role she played in Jack’s immortality. The idea of someone willingly binding him to this endless existence both fascinated and horrified me. And I found myself wondering what kind of man he was before he became an immortal.Was he always this guarded? This distant? Or was it the centuries of loneliness and betrayal that shaped him into what he was now?I sighed softly, my breath ghosting against his neck. He didn’t turn or acknowledge it. His aloofness was