CHARLOTTE The moment I slipped into the kitchen, my gaze clashed with Taide’s. I saw him leaning against the counter with a troubled look on his face. His hands were folded across his chest and his fingers drummed against his bicep, his gaze was fixed on nothing in particular, but that didn’t make
CHARLOTTEI didn’t linger in school after my exams.I had one more paper that I had to read up for before tomorrow, and then the most stressful week of my life would finally be over.I had to say, it was much easier getting through my midterms with the piles of books and the expensive ass laptop in
CHARLOTTE“Charlotte!” Madeline screeched, charging towards me from a few feet away. “We’re finally done!”I smiled at my friend, and let her excitedly wrap her arms around me.Yeah yeah, we finally were done with our midterms and now spring break was just on the horizon.I patted her back gently and
CHARLOTTEI didn’t know King Auric had a club. But that just kicked off the long list of other things I had absolutely no clue of.Like, for example, how Sean and Taide used to be best friends—until Sean started a fling with Madeline, and Taide broke it off for good. That was interesting.Mads fell
I shrugged, and watched him take the drink, then down it in one go without flinching in the slightest. I frowned at that.I guess I was just terrible at handling my liquor.Reigh leaned forward to speak to the bartender, I assumed he was ordering more drinks. I was proven right when she returned wit
Our bodies ground against each other, and even with our clothes in place, there was this unmistakable heat that burnt from the inside of both of us. I swayed my hip against him and he matched my movements perfectly, seemingly in sync with my every motion.I didn’t understand it, the feeling or why I
CHARLOTTEMy thoughts still weren’t all in one place and the room seemed to be slightly tilted to the side, but even the buzz and warmth of alcohol couldn’t stop the feeling of fear and dread that filled my stomach at the sight of King Auric. I didn’t hear him come into the room, nor had I seen him
“Like you’re doing with my club,” the king said. We were close to the door now and as much as I wanted to just run out and get far away from whatever the fuck this was, I remained still by Taide’s side. King Auric was behind us now, but he didn’t turn around to look at us. Taide on the other hand,
CHARLOTTE I sat on the bed, trying to calm my breathing. My chest felt tight, and my hands trembled in my lap. I couldn’t stop replaying what had just happened. King Aurichad been here, in this room, and now he was gone. But the memory of his cold, cutting gaze lingered, wrapping around me like
CHARLOTTE Caeson shot to his feet as soon as the words left my mouth, startling me. He turned toward the entryway, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the empty space. After a moment, he turned back to me, a deep furrow forming between his brows. Without saying a word, he spun on his heel and strod
CHARLOTTE I watched as Taide stepped away from Sean, smoothly sidestepping him without another glance. Sean looked after him for a moment, but Taide didn’t seem to care. I caught Madeline’s eyes, and she grinned before doing a subtle little happy dance. Her excitement was almost contagious. Taid
CHARLOTTE The seamstress stepped back, letting out a satisfied hum. I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing my hands over the soft fabric of the dress I was wearing. It fit perfectly, hugging my body in all the right places. The sweetheart neckline and shoulder-less design gave it an elegance
The hell?I blinked, trying to understand. Then it hit.He was talking about yesterday, when I’d abruptly questioned him and then walked away without waiting for an answer.“You wouldn’t have participated anyway,” I said, using his analogy as I crossed my arms.“You don’t know that,” he replied.I
CHARLOTTEThe morning light streamed through the tall windows of the dining room, illuminating the grand breakfast spread that covered the long table.I could hardly believe how much food there was—it seemed like enough to feed ten people, if not more. The table was piled high with plates of fresh f
CHARLOTTEThe palace was something out of a dream.No, more than that—something out of a world I didn’t belong to.The long driveway was lined with perfectly manicured gardens, each bush and flowerbed so precise it looked as though someone had sculpted them by hand. Towering trees stood around, thei
CHARLOTTE We had our things packed and ready for the trip. Madeline’s birthday ball was this Sunday and now it was Friday already, the day of our departure. By the time we returned home it would be about a week before our junior year finals. And then, graduation. Which meant that we would be
I gave her my thanks and followed her instructions, up the stairs and down the calm, clean hallways of the care home. And like every time I came here, I couldn’t help but be struck by the difference between this care house and her old one. I was just about to walk in through the open threshold but