I narrow my eyes further, step forward similar to how he had last night. Zen doesn’t back away though, and soon enough were both standing face to face. My neck hurts having to look up directly at him. I’m glad these boots have heels. “Is that all the reason? Because I slept late?” I ask, surprised
Zen looks at me, and though his expression is inscrutable, I get the sense of a question. “You’re too uninterested in yourself,” I give him a grin at my spot on observation “Who knows how you’ll get hurt if left on your own? If you die, I’ll be in real knee-deep shit, so I have to make sure you’re
“Oh no.” I still in my tracks abruptly, and so does Zen, since I have an iron grip on his arm. “We can’t go to such an important meeting like this!” I turn to face him “We should’ve gotten dressed more elaborately!” He arches a brow “What for, My Lady?” Oh this poor simpleton. Though Zen looks r
“Give it a rest, Theobald.” Lukas waves a hand dismissively “Have a seat, Lord and Lady Sigmond.” Only now do I properly see the three people sitting next to him. My eyes widen for a moment as the go to the one in the middle. The ‘archivist’, whose now dressed to the nines, with his dark red hair
“Finally,” Lukas mutters with a curve of his lips “Let’s cut to the chase. How do you plan on getting rid of the curse, Sigmond?” Didn’t they speak to each other this morning? Damn, I should’ve asked about that while coming here. “I’ve read the information gathered so far,” Zen beings calmly “And
“And to introduce myself properly.” He turns to face me fully, amber eyes crinkled. His lax demeanor, his easy smiles and soothing manner of talking… it all reminds me of something, just can’t put my finger on it. “Alpha Leon Arzen, the current Alpha of the House of Arzen. The House of Arzen is l
“What’s he going to do? Tell them?” Lukas gives an incredulous laugh “Leon is the type to observe chaos from a far and enjoy it. He doesn’t like petty squabbles.” “Are they too unrefined for him?” I mutter “Definitely.” He answers anyway, and pours me a glass of wine too “Didn’t I tell you? We’ll
“You sound like you have someone in mind.” I say Lukas grins “Who better than the people who’ve already faced one of these Lycans?” Oh! Of course, since the bodies were cremated, it means someone had to kill the effected Lycans first. “They’re a tough bunch though.” Lukas puts a fist to his chin
I barely manage to find a waste bucket before everything I had for breakfast retches out. My throat burns. My vision is blurry. I dry heave every single thing in my stomach, warmth seeps out of the corners of my eyes. I can’t breathe. The smell of blood is everywhere. I sit there, holding the edges
The smell of rotting flesh is disgusting. Its muscle memory to pull the gloves over my hands, pick a scalpel off the medical tray. The body on the metal table in front of me has no head. ‘You have to take a sample of flesh, a sample of blood and take a look at the internal organs.’ Aunt Cynthia’s
How adorable. Apparently, I’m the only one who thinks so, since when I turn back around, everyone from the fourth prince and the first order to passing strangers and our coachman is looking on in disbelief. Is it so difficult to imagine Zen would get along with children? “Don’t leave your mouth ha
“My Lady, am I mistaken or is the fourth prince avoiding me?” I look up from knotting the satchel to my belt to face Zen. There’s a slight furrow in his brows, and he looks at Lukas, standing far, far from us and talking with the first order soldiers. The fourth prince has indeed, been avoiding Ze
I need to move. But even as I think that, I cant bring myself to move. He’s holding me too firmly, I think, entirely reasonable. I won’t be able to slip away like this. Even the most critical part of me can’t find that to be entirely an excuse. After last night, I doubt there’s anyone who would lik
I wake up to the sound of a door knock. My sleep hazed brain registers the sound, recognizes it, and promptly ignores it in favor of cuddling into the warmth of my bed once more. I don’t want to wake up just yet, since last night I fell asleep so late— Last night? My eyes open, blurry with sleep,
But he’s looking at me now, as if the answer might crush him, as if he’s bracing himself for it. I reach out to drape my arms over his shoulders gently, they hang down in front of his chest lightly. “Why? Because you did your job?” I ask quietly, hold his gaze “Or because you didn’t hesitate to do
“Lift your arm, please.” I say, and my voice comes out soft If we weren’t sitting so close to each other, I would’ve missed it. His shoulders tense up, the even breathing stilled into nothing. “You don’t have to do that, Dinah.” Zen finally says My brows furrow. Zen might be a warrior among warri
On the second floor hallway of the hotel, my eyes drift to the room where Zen is supposed to be. My room is just at its side. I wonder if I knock on his door right now, would he be annoyed? He did ask not to be disturbed. The image of his bloodied arm flashes in my mind. Just a moment. I just want