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Twenty-Five

Author: Luxie
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-12 23:54:35

Diana

Rolling up my sleeves, I stood in the middle of the kitchen, ready to tackle breakfast. Today wasn’t going to be one of those quick, throw-it-together meals. I was determined to cook something hearty that would make everyone smile. I grabbed a pot and set water to boil, reaching for the basket of fresh vegetables I had seen earlier.

I made a porridge with seasoned rice, vegetables, and slow-cooked chicken broth. The inviting smell of the broth simmering was already filling the kitchen. I chopped onions, garlic, and bell peppers, sautéed them until they were golden and fragrant, then stirred them into the pot.

While the porridge simmered, I prepared sides. I roasted slices of plantains in the oven and whipped up a quick tomato and herb sauce to drizzle over the plantains, adding just the right amount of spice to the mix.

The kitchen became my haven for the morning. When everything was ready, I wiped my hands on a towel and took a moment to appreciate my work. Satisfied, I rushed
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  • Bound To My Sister's Husband   Twenty-Nine

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  • Bound To My Sister's Husband   Ninety

    DianaI paced around the house, bored and restless. I had cleaned the kitchen and rearranged the cushions on the couch, but none of it filled the emptiness that lingered inside me. The house felt like a beautiful cage.My fingers trailed along the edge of the windowsill at the front window, and I gazed out, hoping for some distraction. All I could see was the tall iron gate standing like a wall between me and the world outside. I sighed deeply, my breath fogging up the glass. I just wished Asher could come today. I missed him more than I could put into words. I missed the boys as well. Thinking about them gave me a bittersweet sensation.I wandered into the kitchen, opening the fridge door and staring at the shelves. Then I grabbed a glass of water to drink. The house felt too quiet. I wondered what was happening at the castle right now. Were the elders rallying behind Asher? Were there whispers in the halls about the coup and the traitors? I closed my eyes, picturing it all. Asher wo

  • Bound To My Sister's Husband   Eighty-Nine

    Asher I stepped into the house feeling several pounds lighter, which was the effect of being with Diana. She had such a beautiful name, and even though Lila’s name was beautiful as well, perhaps it was their personalities that made Diana’s more radiant. In a good mood, I whistled quietly and ascended the stairs. The house was quiet, and I thought the kids were asleep until I heard the unmistakable sound of sobbing. My good mood evaporated instantly, and I quickened my pace toward the children’s corner.The nanny was trying to comfort Josh, who was clutching his stuffed toy with tears streaming down his face. When Josh spotted me, he ran to me, and I scooped him up. He buried his face in my chest, his sobs intensifying.“What’s wrong, son? Why are you crying?”His cries were muffled against my chest, leaving me to turn my gaze toward the nanny.“What happened?” I asked her.She hesitated, wringing her hands nervously. “The queen scolded him, Your Majesty.”“Scolded him? Why?”She shif

  • Bound To My Sister's Husband   Eighty-Eight

    The metallic scrape of keys turning in my cell door revealed the female guard. She stepped inside without a word and pulled out a dark, hooded cloak, handing it to me. Her face remained indifferent."Turn around," she ordered.I obeyed and faced the wall as she helped me put on the cloak. She gave me gloves and ensured I was properly disguised."Follow my lead," she instructed, guiding me out of the cell.The dungeon was quiet, as most of its occupants were asleep. When we reached the exit, the guard signaled to someone outside. I heard the sound of a van’s engine idling, and soon the van door slid open. The female guard held me steady as I stepped up into the vehicle. My heart folded in my chest, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. The cloak draped over my shoulders felt suffocating, trapping the heat of my anxiety against my skin.I couldn’t trust anyone. Eddie had his followers everywhere. The guard driving must have noticed how I trembled because he assured me,"We’re on the k

  • Bound To My Sister's Husband   Eighty-Seven

    Diana My heart pounded in my chest. I had seen Asher standing before me. I didn't even need to see who it was to feel the pull of the bond. My breathing grew shallow, and I rushed to my feet.He stood outside the cell for about a minute, watching me. His presence filled the space, and yet I couldn’t read his expression. His tall frame loomed in the light, his gaze locked onto mine. He was too composed—and that frightened me even more.When the gate swung open, he stepped inside.I couldn't move. My trembling hands fell to my sides as I waited for him to speak, to act, to do something. But he remained silent.I knew that, as a king, Asher would want to please his packmates and do the right thing by getting rid of me. I had been branded an enemy, and the laws were clear—traitors were not spared. But there was something else, something deeper in his stance, in the way he hesitated, in the way his eyes flickered with an emotion I couldn’t quite place.Was he battling with himself?Slowl

  • Bound To My Sister's Husband   Eighty-Six

    Asher I paced my bedroom, allowing my thoughts consume me. The tension in the back of my neck was a dull ache, and my hands occasionally brushed over it, lingering on the spot where Diana had marked me. It was crazy how I had to adjust to her name. I paused by the large window overlooking the courtyard, staring into the expanse outside.Ever since I threw her into the dungeon, I couldn't stop thinking about her. She was pregnant. My fingers curled into fists as I leaned against the windowsill. She was pregnant, but then, was it really my child?This question cut through me, and the doubt felt like a betrayal—to myself and the bond we shared as fated mates. The truth should have been enough to silence the whispers of suspicion in my mind.That child was mine. If Lila, who didn't love me, could have my babies, how much more my fated mate?I crossed the room to a side table where a decanter of whiskey and a glass sat. I poured myself a generous amount and downed it in one gulp.The burn

  • Bound To My Sister's Husband   Eighty-Five

    DianaThey shoved me into a musty dungeon, and I stumbled forward as the heavy iron door slammed shut behind me. My wrists, raw and sore from the guards' grip, throbbed as I struggled to regain my balance.My chest tightened, and my breaths came in sharp gasps as I tried to adjust to the darkness surrounding me. The air reeked of decay and rusted metal, thick and almost choking. I scanned the space desperately, taking in the bars that caged me and the narrow window high on the wall that offered only a faint reminder of the outside world.In the silence, faint sounds reached my ears—a low murmur, a harsh cough from another cell. These were the sounds of the condemned, and now I was one of them.My legs gave way, and I sank to the cold ground, pressing my back against the wall as fear clawed at me. My mind raced, but I forced myself to focus on Asher. He had a plan. He alw

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