Eden’s POV‘This is it, Eden,’ I told myself, trying to muster up the courage. The Lycan King and I were having lunch, again, and we had just finished the salad course.“You’re improving,” he said with a sly smile.“How so?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.“You chose the correct fork this time. I guess those etiquette lessons are paying off.”Right. The lessons.It was the perfect opportunity. “About that,” I said, but was interrupted by the waiter.“For today’s main dish,” he said, placing a plate in front of Zane. “We have seared salmon with a red wine demi-glaze, with roasted baby asparagus, and twice baked potatoes seasoned with herbs hand-picked from the garden.”“Wonderful,” Zane smiled as he inhaled his plate of food. I had to agree, he did smell fantastic. I waited for the waiter to leave before continuing the conversation, but Zane beat me to it.“You’re not enjoying your lessons?” he asked, sawing into his salmon. His face was earnest and he looked sincere. “Not even t
Eden’s POVI paced my room, my heartbeat quick. He couldn’t keep me here! Locked up like some sort of prized possession!I looked out the window. It was dusk, the sun low on the horizon. In the distance, I could see the gate.The gate.If I could make it to the gate, then I could climb it.I could run away.I bit my lip. I had no idea what was out there in that forest. I didn’t even really know where we were. What was the closest pack? Red Rock? Riverside? Maybe if I could get to them I could ask for help. Would they take mercy on me?My thoughts spun in my head.It was a dangerous decision, to run away, out there into those woods alone. But what choice did I have? I couldn’t just stay here, like some sort of twisted pet.So I made the decision, right then and there.If Zane wouldn’t let me go of my own free will, then I would run away.I scanned the room. What could I bring with me?Nothing. I couldn’t bring anything. If anyone saw me out in the garden, it would look too suspicious i
Zane’s POV‘Where is Eden?’ Slade whined. ‘I already told you, she’s not leaving,’ I snapped at him. I resumed my reading. But he whined louder.What was his problem? He had been like this for hours now! He was convinced that Eden would run away and we’d lose her again. Even though I had made it perfectly clear to Eden that she was NOT to leave. She wouldn’t disobey me. No one disobeyed me. I was the Lycan King!So why was Slade in a such a huff? I tried to soothe him. ‘She was just a little upset. But she knows now. She can’t leave. She’ll settle in. This is her home now,’ I told him. Then I went back to my book.I adored my study. It was my favorite place in the palace, a room all my own. The fireplace crackled, a glass of bourbon sat beside me. I was half-way through a thrilling book on the history of the Riverback Pack and their many battle conquests.But Slade! He was driving me crazy! His incessant whining was so distracting.‘She’s not GONE!’ I barked at him. He was quiet for
Eden’s POVI tore through the forest like a crazy person. I had to get away! It was a blur of branches and pine needles. I lost my footing a few times and stumbled, but I managed to catch a branch to steady myself. What the hell was I doing? Was I nuts? I had just run away from the Lycan King!The. Lycan. King.And now I was in the forest, the dangerous forest, with nowhere to go.Think, Eden, I chastised herself. It was only a matter of time before the Lycan King realized I was gone. He would come looking for me. He would send out all his warriors. He would….“EDEN!”I stopped dead in my tracks. Warriors. His warriors.The Lycan King already knew.And now he was trying to find me.Fear prickled down my neck. They were chasing me. Tracking me. They were good at this. They would find me.“EDEN!” Shit. They were close. Much closer than I had hoped for. I didn’t have much time. They’d close in on me soon. My heart pounded in my chest. What should I do? Where should I go? I start
Eden’s POV“Promise you’ll kill me quickly?” I asked the warrior, feigning defeat. I hung my head. I had to make him believe I was giving in. I reached to my hip. I felt the sharp tip of my knife. “Yes, if you stop struggling. I’ll be nice and quick.”I slid the knife to the back of my dress so he couldn’t see me take it out. I clutched the handle. Then I nodded. “I won’t resist you. Just please, make it fast and painless,” I said, pretending to be helpless.“I can make it fast,” he told me. “But I don’t know about painless.”The moon shone down between the trees, and I saw his face clearly. He was smiling. The thought of killing me excited him. He was a twisted, sick man.“On second thought, maybe I should rape you first.” He slid his hand up my thigh. I shuddered at his touch and turned my head away from him.He grabbed my jaw and snapped my head back.“Look at me, you little bitch,” he barked.My eyes found his. “Maybe you like that, huh?” I glared at him, my knife still behind m
Eden’s POVHe’s dead. The warrior is dead.I looked at the corpse, aghast. The King murdered him! He lay in a crumpled pile at the foot of the tree. I trembled. I’d never seen anyone die before. Not right in front of my eyes.I turned to the King. He was calm and collected. The moonlight splashed his face as he looked to the dead body and then back to me.I saw with my own two eyes what he was capable of! Fear ripped through me. I had disobeyed him. He just murdered someone.Oh God, he was going to kill me, too. Just like he killed that warrior.A caught a gleam in my peripheral vision. My knife. The blade shone in the moonlight. It was only a few feet away from me. Without thinking, I lunged for it. With the knife firmly in my grip, I nervously turned to face the Lycan King. I held out my knife, my hand visibly shaking as I prepared to defend myself.He saw the knife and cocked his head to the side. He smiled and calmly said, “Come now, Cookie. Put down the knife. You are very smart
Eden’s POVI awoke with a start. The sun was bright. I squinted my eyes to shield them. My head was groggy. Where was I?“FINALLY, you’re awake,” a voice said. “You’ve been unconscious for two days. Two. Whole. Days. Lazy girl. Time to get up!”Slowly, I opened my eyes and the room came into view. I was back at the palace, in my bed. The maid was puttering about, watering the flowers on my bedside table.Lilacs. Their sweet scent filled the room.I struggled to remember, as bits and pieces of that night came back to me.The warrior. Our struggle on the ground. His hand around my throat. Then the look on his face as he hurled through the air.His corpse.My knife, its blade shining in the moonlight.Blood. The Lycan King’s blood. Warm on my wrist.Fear prickled through me.He had found me. I had almost died at the hands of a back-stabbing warrior, but then the Lycan King saved me….I stabbed him! The memory washed over me. I sat up straight in bed. Fear rippled through me. I had disobe
Eden’s POV“The King is looking for you,” the maid said, barging into my room. She threw back my blankets. What? I was just about asleep! I reached for my blankets. It was the middle of the night! I was barely dressed. “Get up,” she barked at me. “You’re going to his room.”She grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me out of bed. “Can I at least get changed?” I asked. I was in my nightie! My hair was a mess. I couldn’t go see the king looking like this!She eyed me up and down. “Fine. Grab a robe,” she snapped. I slunk it over my shoulders and wrapped it tightly in front of me. She walked quickly in front of me. I had to do a little run-step to keep up.What was this all about? What could possibly be so important that he had to see me in the middle of the night?The maid knocked but then opened the door before he responded.We entered. My eyes swept the room. There was a massive four-post bed, a full couch in the corner, a desk off to the left, and a door that I assumed led to the bedro