Kai’s POVI felt refreshed as Levi escorted me to the dining hall after I’d taken a bath, and the faint smell of mint coming off him made me realize that he’d taken one as well.“I assumed the battle would be much longer and much bloodier than it was,” He let out a sigh of relief as he spoke.“That’d have only been the case if we didn't wipe out the witches in time, good thing I’ve had a winning streak for battles since I could throw a punch, so we’d have won either ways” I responded as we walked into the unnecessarily over decorated dining room, how did they focus on food with so many chandeliers hanging above their heads?“It’s always an honor fighting by your side” Levi smiled as he drew out two seats for us and I nodded in his direction as we both sat down.The Alpha of the village we’d rescued didn't notice my presence because he was too busy being swept off his feet by Leila’s beauty. She was leaning in and touching a pure gold bracelet on his arm, her lashes lowered seductively
Cora’s POVI felt something on me, lightly resting on my waist and it drew me out of the wholesome sleep I was enjoying. I’d have ignored it and slept anyways but after what’d transpired on the morning that those demonic snakes snuck up on me, it wasn't an option.As I lazily opened my eyes, I looked at my waist first and found strong fingers gently resting on my waist which caused my eyes to fly open and the sleep in them to subside into alertness almost immediately.Slowly, while holding still in place like the fingers would disappear if I moved an inch, my eyes traveled up the arm until they landed on Kai’s face— or the face of a person that could undoubtedly pass as his clone because of how awfully alike they looked— and my breathing picked up wickedly, my heart thumping in my throat as I tried to make sense of everything.Kai was in bed with me? We’d fallen asleep together?He looked even more handso— no, beautiful, he was beautiful while he slept with such an innocent look on hi
Leila’s POVKai’s hard, beautiful muscled chest was what I’d bumped into as I turned away from the spell casters under my command that I was addressing and for a while I forgot to breath. I just stared at the his muscles that were visible under his silk white shirt as the spell casters bowed before walking off into the field were our horses were being fed for the journey ahead.I was still in awe of the man before me when he cleared his throat loudly and I regained my senses in a flash.“Greetings, Kai” I stretched to my full height but I still looked like a midget compared to him.“You did well, yesterday, I’ll extend my gratitude further with a generous compensation” He told me and I knew exactly what it meant.As usual, he’d complement my monthly gold payments with assorted gifts in the form of expensive jewelry, the finest silk, rare magic herbs from kingdoms far and wide, and probably a raise if he’d been thoroughly impressed.“It’s my duty and utmost pleasure to serve you in any
Kai’s POVI tried to steady myself as I found my troubled ass dozing where I laid lazily at my study table and I was infuriated at myself because I knew exactly what’d triggered it, or who to be more specific, the same scene that’d been playing in my head and putting me easily to sleep for the past two days since we’d returned my place kick starting from he very scratch to torment me again.“No!” I jolted to my feet and wiped it away before I stormed out of my room like a ghost was tailing me dangerously.My footsteps thundered to reflect my frustration as I walked down the staircase that led out of the palace and let myself into the field on an eerily cold evening, and yet the heat that seared through me toward Cora was enough to warm my shivering sides.The insignificant occurrence of falling asleep in Cora’s bed had been haunting me for endless painful hours, I’d never fallen that soundly asleep with Leila’s powerful spells since I was cursed but she’d somehow managed to lure me in
Leila’s POVThere were a million thoughts running through my head as I flipped through the thick fraying pages of the dark spell book I’d stolen in battle, but the second Kai’s scent hit my nose as he fast approached my room I was dragged back to reality and I immediately hid the book in my drawer.I barely had any spare second to readjust myself and look normal before he pushed the door open and slammed my door shut behind him.He halted.Looked me over like he was trying to ascertain why I looked so nervous but he decided against it that second, choosing instead to deep his hands in his pockets and pull out the crystal necklace I’d spelled to subdue the cursed bloodthirsty beast raging within him.I rose from my dresser with my mouth agape and looked at the spot where it should've been resting only to see that it was empty, yet there was a fading scar right beneath its usual position. I didn't want to believe that his beast had overpowered him and was now standing before me to take
eila’s POVIt's been three days since I placed a deadly curse on Cora, but there were absolutely no signs that it’d worked. After twenty four hours she was supposed to have been suffering from dizzy spells that would cause her to lose her consciousness and overall perception of reality, when the forty eighth hour mark reached she was meant to have been in severe psychological pain that would tear her up from inside out as though it was physical.And on the third day— which is today— she was meant to have woken up in a pool of her own blood because she’d have been scratching herself violently all night long without knowing it, and then just before the clock hits 12 midnight to signify the start of a new day and the end of one, she’d drop dead mysteriously.However, I’d been watching her for days to see if she was manifesting any signs that she’d been cursed, but nothing of the sort had happened, instead she’d sunk her claws even deeper into Kai’s skin.I mean, why else would he be skep
Cora’s POVGod, I was so fucking pissed.Leila coming up to me and trying to act like she was some stupid mediator pissed me off so much, but why? Why should it piss me off when she was offering me a life far away from constant pain, humiliation and degradation? And all of that would’ve been taken away just in exchange for the biggest asshole I’ve ever come across? It was a damned good deal, she knew it too, and I’d only just admitted it.I admitted it to myself exactly a week and three days after our conversation that’d turned her raving mad. It’d taken me 10 fucking days to admit that I was incredibly dumb to throw away an incredible offer and pursue a route that I would most likely emerge from as a loser. Besides, I couldn't claim that I would’ve been betraying Nina because she offered to let me bring friends along too, I could’ve gotten Nina her fucking freedom but I didn't even consider.it.Hah, brilliant, the longer I stay under Kai’s rule, the dumber I get.Still, I convinced m
Kai’s POVAs I walked away from the pit I’d just pushed Cora into, I could hear my heart dropping to my stomach and leaving an aching pain in my chest. I didn't know why, but just because I was certain that it was linked to Cora, I shoved it aside and decide again figuring it out. Besides, she deserved every bit of what she was about to suffer for trying to kill me, how much more merciful could I be after sparing her life?I heard her feet hit the floor of the pit and I felt my heart sink even lower, fucking piece of shit—my damned heart, for the longest time I didn't believe that I had one, but of recent it’d been my least favorite organ to wrestle against.“Is she in?” My temporary partner’s voice tore me away from my thoughts—thankfully might I add—and back to the present.“Yeah” I responded half heartedly and she practically bounced toward the pit like a bunny returning to its hole.“It took longer than I’d have expected,” Freya’s voice was thick with an emotion I couldn't quite d
Cora’s POV“Bitch, if you don’t get back in there!” Nina caught me just before I could sneak out to Kai’s chambers. “Man, you’re such a cockblocker,” I blew a raspberry at her and rolled my eyes in annoyance before stepping back into the room. “It’s bad luck for the groom to see his bride while she’s fully dressed and you know it,” she entered right after me. Maybe If I’d snuck out the second after she left I’d have met up with Kai for a quickie and I’d be back before she could come and spew rubbish myths to keep me away from him. “That’s a myth and whoever came up with it is clearly a hater!” I sunk into my chair, fully dressed in the most stunning wedding dress I’d ever seen all my life. “I’ll let you get away with that only because it’s your wedding day,” Nina chucked a purple flower in her hair to match her chief bridesmaid’s dress. “It’s my wedding day!” I squealed so loudly that Nina had to use both palms to block her eyes while smiling at me. I still couldn’t believe it.
Kai’s POVLevi’s pain strengthened me even more, he had no idea.“In your next life, when you get an opportunity to kill your enemy, don’t be an egoistic bastard by waiting to organize a lousy ceremony first and just fucking do it!” I gave him the last piece of valuable advice he’d ever get.“C-Cora….” tears dropped down his face as he fixed his desperately pleading eyes on my woman.“You brought this on yourself, Levi. I’d never have grown to love or trust a man that could betray someone he’d sworn an oath of eternal loyalty to, it just meant that you could switch up on me someday too,” she surprised me by intertwining her fingers with my bloody ones as she spoke.“I could never ever betray you, Cora. You’re my fated true love, and it’s not too late to leave this deceitful monster and save me,” my blood began to boil all over again as I watched him plead with her.I gave him one fatal blow to the jaw and he dropped to the floor groaning.“Stop fucking talking to her, you dead meat!”
Levi’s POVIt was today.The day I’d watch Kai meet an embarrassing end just before all of his power was transferred to my deserving arms. The gods knew that I would’ve been better suited to be blessed with his boundless abilities and fate had finally turned things in my favor.“Are you prepared for the ritual?” I practically whispered as I bent towards the elderly men that were meant to perform the soul swapping ritual.They dropped their hoods at the same time and nodded in a slow synchronized movement, “As prepared as the gods permits their servants to be.”Creepily, that was also said in unison before the covered their hoods again in one swift motion and walked off towards the lifted stage where Kai’s body would be placed for the public execution. As weird and disturbing as their identical movements were, it didn’t deplete my excitement about the execution ceremony.“Welcome all,” I stood to my feet as I began to address the hundreds of people in attendance.“You have come from lan
Levi’s POVI knocked on Cora’s door again when I didn’t get a response.“It’s me Levi, are you in?” I called out.A few seconds passed and then I heard a door open that signified that she must’ve been in the bathroom when I knocked earlier.“I’ll be right there, give me a minute,” her sweet voice called out and I nodded even though she couldn’t see me.I tapped my feet on the floor as I waited for her, and then finally she pulled the door open.“You wanna come in?” she moved aside as she pulled the door open.Her hair looked a bit wet, her cheeks were glistening like they’d been oiled and she was wearing the most adorable little pink dress paired with white cute flats. Even before now, I was always eager to see what she’d wear every single day, but it was more fulfilling now because she was all mine to ogle.“Nah, there’s something I have to show you,” I grabbed her wrist and began leading her away from the room.“You mind telling me where we’re headed?” she finally asked after we’d ta
Levi’s POV“Has she gotten the bouquets?” I asked the maid that I’d sent on an errand earlier.“Yes, sir. I delivered them first thing in the morning,” she answered with a bow and I waved her off.The morning of the day we’d overpowered Kai, I remembered watching him gather flowers after he’d thought I left on a tax collecting trip. I watched him make them into a huge bouquet and I was pretty irritated that he thought flimsy flowers would fix all the damage he’d done to Cora when he regarded her as an enemy.However, it had given me a brilliant Idea.I decided that I’d send a bouquet or more to Cora’s room every morning with a heart warming note just to remind her of how precious she was to me. She never failed to thank me for it at breakfast and it made my heart swell. I loved that I’d finally gotten the chance to woo her and I knew I’d do a far better job than Kai could ever have.Speaking of that monster, Kai, I was skipping breakfast to go and see him in the dungeon, to see how muc
Cora’s POVI woke up in a pool of my own sweat.My eyes searched the room to see if the beast in my dreams had crossed into reality by some chance for an opportunity to continue torturing me, but I was lucky that that hadn't happened. The only other person in the room was Nina, not a grizzly monster.She was curled up into a ball on her mattress and she was buried so far into the duvet that I could only see her eyes and a bit of her forehead. And yes, she was crashing here because of the nightmares.The same horrid nightmares that had been recurring for a while now.After the first two nights, I’d told Nina about it because she noticed the heavy eye bags underneath my eyes and then she’d scolded me for not speaking up earlier before gathering most of her things and moving into my room.Oh, trust me, I protested. I assured her that it wouldn't happen again, but she gave me the ‘this isn't up for debate’ look and did as she pleased.Carefully, I moved off the bed and walked over to sit a
Kai’s POVI could smell her, so I knew she was near.Her scent was refreshing and intoxicating and I wished I could drown myself in it one last time, just once. I knew I looked like absolute crap but I was still eager to see her, to look at her and search her eyes for any feelings of remorse, to find out if the memories we shared meant anything to her.As much as my determination to kill Levi for betraying me was one of my driving forces for staying alive, the primary reason that I hadn't let my spirit break was because I was desperate to see Cora again.Delusions aside, I was ready to break my chains and make things right with her.I tuned my ears to the sounds of her footsteps as she neared, heels clacking on the cemented hallway she was walking down to reach the torture dungeon.One might tag me as a helpless fool, but I felt a tad excited to gaze upon her stunning face again.“You look like shit,” was the first thing that left her lipstick clad lips as she pulled the door of the d
As I walked behind her toward the dining hall, I couldn't help but admire every single detail that was in my view.Her body was clad tightly in a lovely purple dress—a color that signified royalty which was what she’d finally become now that Kai was put away— that made my insides ache as her full hips swayed in it, her legs were being carried in black heels that made her look elegant, and her hands were accessorized with pure golden bangles that matched the necklace she was wearing.The only thing that was out of place was the crystal bracelet that rested in between the golden bangles, but that didn't matter.All that mattered was that she’d dressed up for me.I remember how incredibly jealous I usually felt whenever she dressed up for Kai, especially because she was always so gorgeous and she still treated her like bird poop. I’d never make her feel that way, how could I even dare?“Have I mentioned how stunning you look tonight, Cora?” I asked as we finally stepped into the dining h
Levi’s POVKai’s face? Priceless.The mere fact that he’d been cocky enough to assume that I’d be blindly loyal to him despite how much of a monster he was made it glaringly obvious that he was nothing but a muscled idiot. So, seeing the shock on his face when he realized that I’d betrayed him was far more rewarding than I’d thought it’d be.Nothing could've prepared me for how powerful and satisfied I’d been when I saw him looking raggedy and helpless in chains.He’d brought his miserable fate upon himself and I was beyond pleased that the moon goddess had chosen me to put him in his place. I strongly believed that everything was set in stone on the very day that Kai had unintentionally exposed his weakness to me.I still recall that day like it was an hour ago.Kai had been drunk to stupor after our first major win, we’d conquered an army of almost a hundred and fifty thousand werewolves with an army of only two hundred werewolves. Kai had intentionally subdued the beast within him i