Hera’s POVMy reflection stared back at me and I almost punched the mirror out of frustration from how savvy and sleep-deprived my eyes had appeared. I had dark circles and eye bags showing evidently around my eyes despite how much makeup I’d dabbed around them in an attempt to conceal them.It was all Layla’s fault.She and her irritating antics had been the origin of all of my problems of late and what’d happened the night before had only significantly intensified my hatred for her such that it now had no bounds. I’d been wide awake all night as I wondered how much more I’d have to take on before I was finally rid of her for good.The time freeze that Layla had orchestrated without knowing had left every bone in my body feeling like jelly even after it’d passed. The minute I could finally move, I’d almost jumped for joy but I knew that I needed to get Layla out of my sight because I’d had enough of her mysterious bullshit to last me a long while, so I simply ordered Aaron to pick her
ETHANI could put all my faith in them and they’d multiply it in a thousand folds, and their ability to do so was one of the very few things I had complete trust in. As I watched them huff and puff with every stance they took as they trained tirelessly, I knew that they’d ensure that my mission was seamless and successful by all means.I’d never been more certain of anything than I was of their ability.Their precise blows, their firm strikes, and their undeniable agility were proof of the fact that they’d be undefeated in a battle no matter who they were up against. I’d been heavily impressed at how extremely skilled they’d become since they were introduced to heavy and intense training sessions, even their wolves heightened senses were with reckoning with because of how much it’d improved over time.With pride, I placed my hands behind me and I paced between two huge trees as I nodded in approval at their dedication and resilience despite having been at it for several hours where the
Arnold’s POV“Home sweet home” I exclaimed and sucked in a deep breath of relief as I finally arrived at the doors of my chambers.I pushed the doors open and walked in with flair as a cloud of fulfillment settled over me because of how successful the emergency trip I’d embarked on had turned out to be. I’d had little to no hope that the meeting would yield much results because it’d been set up on such short notice and we didn't have much history with the kingdom it concerned.Yet, it’d worked out amazingly, and it’d yielded much more success than I’d thought it would. The treaty I’d signed had opened a doorway for more talks on cooperative projects that would certainly make both our kingdoms worth reckoning with, and I was incredibly happy that I’d finally bagged a couple of wins despite the chaos in Crescent Valley that’d weighed down on me for weeks before the meeting.I’d asked my guards that’d gone ahead of me to ensure that my bath was ready and a fresh set of clothes were put ou
Layla’s POV“How does a person as absolutely gorgeous as yourself get even more beautiful?!” Nadia gushed as she held my hand and made me swirl for her in my dazzling pink ball gown.“Stop it! You flatter me too much, Nads” I blushed uncontrollably as I took a full swirl and turned to face her again.“Look at how beautifully those pretty pearl earrings make your eyes pop!” She clapped excitedly as though she hadn’t been the one who’d picked out everything and dressed me up.“This is all you, baby girl. You always do such an amazing job dressing me up” I told her as I curtseyed playfully to show my gratitude.“I do nothing, sweetie. You’re so beautiful so everything looks ridiculously amazing on you than it would on anyone else” She smiled widely at me as she admired my outfit and I mirrored her smile shyly.“I still think you make it all come together, but it's not fair that we don’t get to dress up together though” I’d gotten an idea and I had every intention to plant it in her head a
Castle’s POVMy breath had hitched in my throat as I watched her walk in.Her beauty was next to none I’d ever laid eyes on, and watching her walk in looking so elegant and gorgeous made my heart skip several beats. Everything about her was otherworldly, and I’d never been so drawn to a woman in my entire life.Was it those uniquely gorgeous eyes? I’d definitely kill to be at the center of their focus.She swayed her hips as she walked and I knew that I’d do anything to have my hands wrapped around them and just stare into her gorgeous eyes until I got lost in them. I was never in my right senses around her, but what the fuck did I need senses for when a woman as breathtaking as she was in my line of view?Her aura bubbled with excitement, innocence, and brilliance that I’d never picked up from any other woman. If I was told that she wasn't from our world, I’d back it up without hesitation because of how stunningly beautiful she always was.It never mattered what she was in, what she w
Arnold’s POVAgainst my will, my head bopped up and down to the rhythm of the enticing and celebratory music that was being played by the royal band. I tapped my hands against my seat joyfully as I basked in how beautifully everything had been going so far, and I was simply grateful that we could enjoy a celebratory ball after everything that’d been going wrong earlier.Oh, my heart felt full and at peace.So far, the ball had mostly consisted of different dancing groups that’d come from far and near to showcase their incredible talent and a few plays had been acted out that’d made everyone laugh out loud to their heart’s content as well.Liquor and several delicacies were flowing like milk and honey and it was evident that several people in attendance were already heavily intoxicated with the way they’d been laughing all over the place and dancing non-stop on the dance floor. It was a sight for sore eyes, but I loved my people so it always made me elated to see them having a great tim
Layla’s POVI’d never been to a ball in all my life and so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I’d arrived at the ball. Still, to my surprise I’d began to enjoy it the minute I took my seat and saw that there was a dance performance in action. It’d been a wonderful sight to see everyone happy and full of jolly as the dance group performed and I immediately got into the same joyous mood as everyone else.Bringing Nadia with me as my companion was undoubtedly the best decision I’d made that night, because her contagious laughter and her willingness to try every meal in sight had made it so much more fun. She’d cajoled me to taste anything that she ate and as long as she’d vetted it as good enough for me, I believed her and tried it out as well.None of the meals we’d shared had disappointed me, and I was glad that she’d encouraged me to give them a shot despite how uncertain I was about them because they’d seemed awfully foreign to me. Nadia’s one of a kind ability to scrutinize the most u
Arnold’s POVI’d been burdened with the responsibility of taking my father back to his chambers even though I was fucking furious and beyond confused that he’d just tried to kill the woman I was helplessly in love with. My duty as an Alpha required me to be report first to family, before any other thing so I had no choice but to stay by my father’s side.Even now, while I we were in his chambers and both struggling to subdue the wreck of emotions that plagued us, my mind replayed what’d happened and how everything had fucked with my mind up until this very moment.I’d never forget tonight, and it's for all the wrong reasons.The entire morbid scene that broke out between My father and Layla marked the abrupt end of a once joyful ball that I’d thought would finally help everyone relax and catch a break from the chaotic month we’d recorded. But I couldn't have been more wrong, instead, it seemed to have kicked off a fresh start of chaotic experiences from the look of things.And Layla, I
Layla’s POV“If you stare at that dress any longer, you’ll burn it to the ground with your gaze” Nadia nagged me as I took one last glance at my wedding dress while I stood at the bathroom door, I was obsessed with it.Beyond obsessed, It’s beauty had become an extra body part of mine.“At least we’d die watching its beautiful flames ascend to the heavens,” I smiled dreamily while still staring at it with lost eyes.“Be fucking for real?” She laughed before she grabbed a button off the dresser and threw it me, luckily I was able to dodge it and if I hadn't it’d have hit my eyes.“You’d explain to Ethan in detail why his bride is walking down the aisle with just one eye” I picked the button up and threw it at her, and it landed on her feet.“If you're not ready in the next hour, there’ll be no bride to scrutinize while she walks down the aisle, I promise you” She shot me a glare just before she took a seat on my bed, pulling her own dress in her lap to admire it.“What? An hour? Why hav
He moved away from me I’d just pushed a dagger through his heart again, there was disbelief, confusion, and pain in his eyes but he only had those emotions because he didn't understand why I’d declined his proposal.After almost spending my life with the wrong man because of guilt, I couldn't say Yes to Ethan while guilt kept eating me up for the great of our lives. I’d be as much of a monster as Arnold was if I take advantage of his feelings for me and jump into marriage when guilt had been plaguing me like it was my second shadow since the day I watched him fall to his death.He stared at me again, long and hard before he walked toward the bed and covered himself in the duvet, an air of uncertainty hovering over him as he delved into thoughts of his own. However, it was as he covered up tag I realized that I was still naked and I slowly walked toward the floor where he’d dropped my dress and picked up. I quietly pulled it over my head and held my arms around my body tightly as thou
Layla’s POVI’d known Joy several times in my life, but the joy I felt as I confirmed that Ethan was real and he’d returned to me was boundless, it felt like an unreal wave of happiness had been injected into my bloodstream and life finally felt worth living again.Like the war was over, and the battle line had been erased, it was surreal.“Are you going to keep staring at me like I'm a ghost?” Ethan laughed as he continued to massage my sore joints.“You might as well be” I reached out and cupped his cheek, yearning to remain in contact with him so he wouldn't disappear into thin air.“Well, I'm real and I'm here, forever this time around” He suddenly pulled me off the bed and onto his laps and I laughed as a yelp left my lips in surprise.“So you can stop staring at me with those alluring orbs of yours” He pulled my face toward him and kissed my forehead, not the quick kind that would pass as a peck, this one lingered like he was trying to touch my soul through physical touch.God,
Layla’s POVNo, no fucking way.It was him all along? Arnold killed my foster parents? He’d watched me mourn them knowing that he’d orchestrated everything because they rejected his advances toward me?“They were all I had, and you knew that! How dare you speak of their deaths so lightly, you monster!” I screamed my lungs out in anger not caring what he’d do to me.Much to my surprise, a smile covered his face showing that he was pleased that I was in so much pain because of what he’d done, my heart was being torn into countless shreds as I recalled that there was a time when I loved him and I considered marrying him not knowing what a sick and twisted bastard he was deep down.“You watched me grieve them, you watched me turn into a shell of myself, you watched me be bitter that I’d lost the last links to learning of my heritage,” My chest heaved like bomb was ticking within it as I spoke.“You watched me almost lose myself and you promised me that you’d find the beast that killed the
Arnold’s POVThe day had come.The night hour had just struck, and I was about to recover all I’d lost and much more.“Are you ready?” I asked Hera who’d been seated in front of her crystal spell casting bowl and brr spell book for the past hour.“Never been more ready” She smiled at me so brightly it could’ve illuminated the underground hideout if we switched off all the other lights, her motivation was endearing to say the least.“Go ahead and cast the spell then” I flashed her a smile as well but mine was subtle and filled with anticipation.She nodded eagerly before she crossed her legs before her and held her hands out over the bowl, from where I was I could see that a visual of crescent valley had appeared in the water that filled the bowl like a reflection and I watched her mouth move as she muttered words in an unknown ancient language.I wasn't very close to her and yet I could feel the enormous amount of power radiating from her as she rolled her head from side to side and t
Arnold’s POVHera looked like she was about to offload the heaviest weight that had ever been on her shoulders and I just stared at her wishing that I could look through her and draw it out of her myself, still Hera was the only person of worth I had on my side so I decided to be patient with her as opposed to the thought in my mind where I was half considering yelling at her and shaking it out of her forcefully.“How long before you actually use your words?” I finally asked impatiently after about six minutes of deafening and irritating silence had passed by.She looked as though my words had just jolted her out of her train of thoughts and she replaced the lost look on her face with her usual demeanor that oozed confidence, raw and undiluted confidence.“You’re a beast, Arnold” She said while her eyed bored into mine searching for a befitting reaction to her revelation.Unknown to her, her words would've hurt and surprised me a few months ago, but as I heard them it only felt like a
Hera’s POVWeeks had gone by and each day I felt crazier than the last being holed up in a disgusting dungeon that wasn't fit for royalty such as myself.Layla had replaced all the guards that were loyal to me during her reign with guards from Ethan’s rogue army and they all hated me so my seductive tricks didn't work on them. I was hoping that I’d be able to seduce one of them into setting me free but they looked at me with disdain each time they came to fling plates of food at me every morning and evening so I eventually gave up on that plan.Life seemed hopeless and it felt like the moon goddess had finally abandoned me and shut her ears to my prayers, nothing was working out and it seemed like I’d suffered so much to reach the peak of my dreams just to have it shattered by a teenage whore.Still, I tried to pull through.It was night now and I was trying to fall asleep by replaying my happiest memories in my mind, the beautiful and wholesome moments that I’d spent as Queen before
Layla’s POVThe entire palace was still buzzing with life in the early hours of the morning as preparations from my impromptu coronation were in full swing. I could hear the clustering and swooshing all around as I woke up in the master bedroom that I’d taken over seeing as I was about to be made the official queen of Crescent Valley.As I stretched out my arms, I heard a soft rap on the door.“Who’s there?” I called out in a sleepy voice.“It's me, Nadia” Her soothing voice responded from behind the door.“Come on in” I yawned in between the words and drew my silk pink robe tightly around my waist as she opened the doors.“Hello your highness! How does it feel to be mere hours away from a coronation at eighteen?” Nadia swayed from side to side with some dresses held tightly to her chest and I guessed that there were the selections for the event.“Uh, nervous?” I told her truthfully as I made my way toward the bathroom to freshen up.“You’ll do amazing while making waves in the ancien
Layla’s POVHera’s eyes were blazing with a deadly anger, a type of anger that the old me would've been terrified of if she saw how it radiated off of her, but it was a good thing that I’d buried the timid me in the wilderness before I returned for the throne.“You can either leave peacefully or meet a disgraceful end that whores like you should be accorded” Hera’s eyes held a venomous look that didn't scare me one bit as she threw her empty and ridiculous threats at me.“That crown, that throne, this kingdom…” I punched toward her as I spoke and I could see a hint of surprise flash through her eyes on seeing how much nerves I’d gathered.“All of it belongs to me and I’d love to watch you come at me so we’d see whose blood would end up tainting these floors” My orbs changed from golden brown to the piercing red shade I took when I transformed into a witch.“How dare you!? You! A worthless rat that should’ve been left in the gutters where you belonged! How fucking dare you address me t