RavenI must be crazy, I thought as I ran those laps.Outwardly, I complained nonstop about the punishment. I made sure to throw Eric and Neil and even occasionally Castor whatever insults would come to mind as I passed them on the track.But on the inside…I couldn’t stop thinking about the way his
“Where are you going?”I was halfway across the courtyard when the sound of Neil’s voice stopped me in my tracks. I turned to see him leaning against a pillar, shirtless as if he’d just been on patrol or something—like that first day we met.“The forest,” I said, pulling my shoulders back. “To gathe
Raven“It smells awful in here.” I tugged against Neil’s grip on my hand, digging my heels into the dirt. My nose wrinkled at the scent of something I couldn’t quite place—whatever it was, it smelled like death. And rotten eggs.“Stop struggling,” Neil growled, clearly annoyed with me. “It’s just a
The pilot, though…“Maybe there are alligators, too,” Neil continued, taking another step closer. There was a tiny smirk tugging at his lips, and the torches made him look even more impish. “Or perhaps piranhas.”“Stop—”“Hm. Or maybe there are sirens beneath the water who will drag you under and fe
Raven“I have no interest in you whatsoever.”Those words should have been a relief. In their own way, they were a promise—a promise that, once this whole ordeal was over, we would break our bond and I would return home unscathed with nothing tying me to the barbaric Lycan world.And yet… I couldn’t
I blinked at that, then recalled last night—the play fighting in the hot springs. Had Ember heard about that? But Neil hadn’t been hurt, or so it seemed.“We were just—”“You insist on pampering yourself like a princess,” Ember continued, firing another arrow into the dummy. “Prince Neil finally got
RavenNeil’s blue eyes were glazed over with alcohol as they lazily trailed toward me.For a moment, he did nothing—just flicked his gaze across me, lingering momentarily on the plate in my hands before moving to my legs, my chest, my hair.I flushed deeply, too frozen to move. Neil was being touche
Neil harrumphed. “So I have heard. Ridiculous.”“Ridiculous?” I spat out. “What’s even more ridiculous is having a woman who loves you and sleeping with another. That’s ridiculous. And selfish. And…” I paused, but not long enough to consider the word that I spat out next. “Savage.”Just as they had
As I stared at his retreating form, his shoulders rigid, I felt frustration bubble up inside of me. I knew that what we did last night was a mistake, but he was acting like a moody teenager. “Start at the beginning of the course,” he said, plopping down on the stump and folding his arms. I opene
Raven The morning sun cast long shadows across the training yard as I swung the wooden sword in a wide arc, sweat dripping down my forehead. My muscles screamed in protest from a morning spent training, but I gritted my teeth and continued the routine Ember had drilled into me. Block, parry, str
I just knew I wanted him. Even if we were outside a dingy tavern in the middle of the night, inches from being spotted, I didn’t care. Wanting my mate was the most natural thing in the world. A soft moan escaped me as I shut my eyes, feeling his warmth press into me. The heat between my thighs pul
Raven The sudden press of Neil’s lips against mine felt like a lightning strike, electricity coursing through my body. For a second, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think—I could only feel the searing warmth of Neil’s mouth on mine and the roughness of his grip around my wrists. But just as quickly
He gave a short nod, apparently satisfied. A few moments later, the guards returned with drinks. Castor and Eric were in the midst of recounting the battle, ale sloshing out of mugs as they gestured wildly. “And then Neil dove right into the heart of the fight,” Castor was saying. “One rogue after
Raven The tavern was dimly lit and packed, the air smelling thickly of alcohol and smoke. It seemed the entire village was there tonight, celebrating the warriors returning safely. We made our way to a table in the corner, our cloaks up to shield our faces despite the crowded atmosphere. The gua
Ember remained silent, studying me with an amused glint in her eyes. “But at least here,” I muttered, swinging again and managing to force her to step back, “Lycan women are honest about their intentions. You don’t pretend to be best friends while plotting behind someone’s back.” As I took anoth
Raven The morning sun had barely crested over the castle walls when Ember and I made our way to the training yard. I’d hardly slept at all last night, tossing and turning after my little late night run-in with Hannah. Ember was still watching me out of the corners of her eyes, clearly waiting for
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.”