Emily's POV“Emily.” I snapped out of my daze when I heard his stern voice. He walked closer to the bed looking worried, then I was reminded of his red eyes and fangs. The shadows, the creepy noises and the babies.“Stop!” I shouted unknowingly, stylishly moving away from him. He looks shocked, seeing me react this way.I looked at him fearfully, wondering the type of man he was to Annabelle. The lady in the white gown must be her. It's a shame that I didn't see her face.Her soft groans of discomfort when he gripped her neck, lingered in my head as I stared at him.“M-Maddy told me about it,” I finally said, lowering my gaze. I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to hide my nervousness around him.“You can always tell me anything.” He stated with his usual expressionless face. I raised my head, staring at him longer.“What if it's about Annabelle…..” I stressed my words, mumbling inaudible.His brows furrowed, and I blurted out,“No. That's not what I mean. I meant something else
Madison’s POV“You’ve been quiet, Madison. Too quiet,” Kiara’s voice cut through the stillness of my room. I looked up from where I sat, massaging my temples. It was late, and her presence irritated me more than usual. “Why are you here, Lady Kiara?” I asked, unable to hide the exhaustion in my tone. The little respect I've for her was because she's the King's mistress.She didn’t answer immediately, stepping further into the room with her arms crossed. Her presence was overbearing, her eyes sharp and scrutinizing.“You know exactly why I’m here,” she finally said, her tone sharp. “She’s becoming a problem. No, you’re becoming a problem.” I raised an eyebrow, Her accusation made me frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She stepped closer, her midnight-black hair framing her sharp features. “You’ve been too silent, too passive,” she hissed. “People are starting to talk. They’re saying she seems to be the rightful Queen. And that’s happening because you're warming up to her. That yo
Jackson's POV The Next Day. The courtroom was eerily silent, save for the muffled sobs of an old man kneeling before me. His hands were bound behind his back, his eyes red from crying. Yet his tears didn't move me. "State his crime," I said, my voice cold and dangerous, reverberating through the courtroom. Mason stepped forward hesitantly, his face grim. "He was caught selling goods at prices higher than what was agreed upon." The words sent a flash of rage through me. My fists clenched, my jaw tightening as the red haze in my mind grew darker. I stared down at the man who dared to disrupt the fragile order I had spent so long enforcing. "Feed him to the dogs. Alive!" I growled. Gasps filled the courtroom, but no one dared to speak against me. Even Mason, usually the voice of reason, looked at me with shock but said nothing. He opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off with a sharp glare. "Next!" I barked, my tone sharp and unrelenting without meeting his gaze. I felt th
Jackson's POV My senses spiraled into chaos, recalling the nightmarish memory of how I had lost control and killed her. Her lifeless face flashed in my mind like a cruel reminder, and Mason's words from earlier ran loud and clear. Am I becoming what the curse wanted me to be? The thought clawed at me. The prophecy wasn't about betrayal, was it? No, it was worse—it was about destruction. My own. Hers. I was destined to hurt her, to push her so far that she would have no choice but to end my pathetic immortal existence. My chest ached with the weight of it all. If I couldn't control myself, she would pay the price again. The fear of history repeating itself gripped me, consuming every rational thought. She will die again because of me. I backed away, trembling, as Emily walked toward me. Her steps were slow but purposeful, her steady gaze cutting through the chaos around us. Blood coated my hands and the ground beneath me, the bodies around us telling the story of my descent. Yet she
Emily's POV“Do you have any idea what the nightmare entails?”Hesitant, “N-No. But what I'm sure of is that, his initial cruelty towards you was to push you away. Thinking that was the best way to overcome his cursed existence. Addition of the prophecy, he might have misinterpreted it and his changes in feelings might be his own way of redemption. As it seems now, the more he falls for you, the more he becomes destructive. My fear is for you not to be the end of him. To understand better, imagine a kid having diabetes but loves to eat candies. He had been predicted to have a few years to live, but the candy was like his lifeline. Without it, he can't live, and with it, he was prone to die early. You're his candy, and the diabetes is the curse. Now, he's caught between pursing his love for the candy, and how to manage his disease condition.”–––My mind wandered back to the conversation I had with Madison the other night. My gaze lingered on Jack's face, his skin looked pale and his l
Emily's POV“Gosh, again. You look distracted, are you sure you wanna train today?” Mason asked, looking frustrated at my continuous failed attempts to train properly.“If I don't wanna train, what's the need of coming here in the first place?” I snapped at him, “You didn't force me to train, I came here on my own. So if you don't wanna be my instructor, you can as well say so and I'll find another soldier to train with.” I added looking pissed, picking up the wooden sword with a deep frown.Mason and Zaza exchanged glances before Zaza spoke up.“Are you okay? He only asked out of concern. You shouldn't have snapped at him like that. If at all there's something on your mind. Venting your anger on someone else isn't the solution.” he lectured. Another remark came to my mind before I realized what I was doing. I tucked the strands of my hair behind my ear, wiping the beads of sweat off my forehead.“Let's continue.” I muttered.“No, not until you tell us what's happening.”“Zaza, can y
Jackson's POVI woke up earlier today, and since then, I’ve buried myself in work, flipping through endless documents and reports that required my attention. A way to distract my mind.The scent of ink and parchment filled the air, but it did nothing to calm my restless mind. My thoughts were stuck, circling my outburst at the training arena.Her face. Her scent. Her touch.“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, slamming the report in my hand onto the desk.I couldn’t stop seeing her in my mind—the way she looked at me with no fear, even when I was at my worst. Vulnerable. I groaned, dragging my hands through my hair. I hated myself for letting her see me like that. Weak. Exposed.Josh stirred in my mind. He had been quiet since the incident, but now his voice rose with annoyance."You can’t ignore this forever," he growled. "She’s your mate.”I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling, the weight of his words settling over me. “She’s also the reason I’ll lose control, Josh
Emily's POV“May I ask why, My King?” I asked, feigning respectful tone. I had to move away from him because of the way he kept breathing, it made me realized that his wolf might be trying to take over his mind.“You don't have to, if you don't want to.” He responded, and I was upset by his response.“You know, at times I wonder the way you reason.” I snapped.“That's a direct insult.”“I don't plan on sugarcoating it either. If I ask you why, that means I wanna know the reason behind such request. You can't tell a student to study hard for exam without giving them the assurance that it was for their future. So can you….” I paused, mid-sentence, as I noticed something in his eyes shift. It wasn’t anger or indifference like I had grown used to seeing. No, this was something entirely different—something raw, wild, and unrestrained.His hands were trembling, as if he was trying to resist something. Suddenly, he strides towards me in fast paces. Before I could take a step backward, his
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