There was jewelry, too—gold arm bands and matching gold necklaces, large dangly earrings, a gold circlet to be worn around the head, beaded anklets.I supposed that Lycan women did adorn themselves after all. And the stuff was pretty, I had to admit.When he pulled out a large pile of panties next,
RavenEmber pulled back her hood, revealing that she was a woman—and a beautiful one at that, with caramel skin, golden hair, and striking blue eyes.“I’ll be helping you wash,” she said, already ushering the men out of the bathroom.I still felt my face heat, even with just the two of us in here. “
Blushing, I quickly averted my gaze. I was no stranger to the hierarchical differences in the entertainment industry, of course; this was no different than the dynamic between the high-end models and the unpaid interns at one of the big fashion shows.I had ever been the biggest fan of that dynamic,
Raven“I have matters to deal with,” Neil said, striding over to the door. “Give her a tour of the castle. And don’t let her out of your sight.”Before anyone could answer, he was gone.I swirled my spoon around my bowl, toying with the stew inside. It was hearty and delicious, way better than I exp
It was hard to reconcile that difference between the terrifying prince I’d seen on TV and the man they were talking about now.But before I could say anything, Eric added curtly, “That’s why you do not deserve him. You’ll just drag him down sooner or later. He should have a strong and healthy mate,
Raven“Pervert!”Smacking Neil’s hand away, I grabbed the fur blanket off my bed and quickly covered myself, my cheeks flushing red at the intrusion.Neil, however, seemed utterly unfazed. He turned on his heel and yanked the shutters open, allowing the first rays of dawn—along with a cold breeze th
“I don’t give a shit what Lycan women would and would not do!” I squealed, leaping out of the way again. “I’m not cutting them, and that’s final.”“Damn frivolous Werewolves… Just cut them,” Neil insisted, still coming after me on those long legs of his. “They are just fingernails.”“No!” I backed i
RavenI collapsed again the moment I crossed the finish line. My legs literally gave out from under me; I physically couldn’t keep going.Eric and Neil walked up to me, Eric’s eyes wide as saucers. “You did it,” Eric said, almost as if he didn’t believe it. “You really did it.”My body trembled as I
Hannah rolled her eyes and stepped back. I didn’t lower my knife. “And that’s exactly why you are weak,” she said. “A tragedy like that would make a strong queen, not weaken her. If you were worthy, you would have used that pain to grow stronger. Instead, all it has done is make you look pathetic.”
Raven For the second time since I had met Hannah, she had a blade pressed to my throat. And if the infuriating curl to her lips was any indication, she was loving this little power imbalance. But I had learned from our last encounter, and I was prepared. “You seem to enjoy holding a knife to my
But as quickly as it had come, it was gone, and his gaze returned to the floor. I quickly realized I had been lingering longer than the other fiancées and everyone’s eyes had turned to me. My face heated, and I quickly scurried away, joining the other two women off to the side. The ceremony ended
Raven The throne room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, despite the fact that Lycans filled every available space. Buttery yellow sunlight spilled through the large stained glass windows, casting patterns of deep reds and golds across the stone floors. I had only been in this room during t
He didn’t reply, but I felt his fingers press a little more firmly against my waist, pulling me just a fraction closer as he led me through another spin. The music shifted, the tempo quickening, and I was glad for it. It let me focus on matching his movements rather than the confusing swirl of emoti
Raven Neil led me toward the dance floor, which had cleared of people during the fight. The music began to play the moment we set foot in the center of the circle, a lively and upbeat tune that thrummed up through the soles of my feet. Someone in the crowd whistled as Neil tugged me closer, and
Ember gestured toward the ring, where Neil and his opponent were still sparring relentlessly. “In Lycan tradition, the ultimate victor of fights like these will choose whoever cheered the loudest to dance with after the fight… and maybe even take home.” Ember’s lip curled a little at that last bit.
Raven As the victor challenged Neil, the whole village square seemed to freeze. Conversations dropped off, laughter died down, and suddenly, all eyes turned to Neil, who was still standing quietly beside me. His expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his gaze. I couldn’t tell if he
At that, Ember’s gaze darkened, and I could sense the resentment bubbling just below the surface. She shook her head and took another big gulp of her ale. It was strange, seeing her be so open about something like this. After all, Ember was the last person I’d expect to be open about… well, much o