In Alden’s study, he shows me a large book containing the history of his people. He tells me it was written 2500 years ago and as I sit next to his table and flip through it, he devours me with his tongue underneath my dress. At breakfast, while I eat pancakes and drink orange juice, he grazes my nipples with his teeth and fingers my entrance roughly. At lunch, he carries me all the way to the garden and takes me in the pool with the water splashing around us. At dinner, he pushes all the food off the table and chokes me as he penetrates me until the legs of the table threaten to give in to our weights.“I have been waiting for you for far too long,” he says as he releases into me. “You are more special than any woman I’ve ever met.” If I wasn’t so busy trying to catch my breath, I too would tell him that I have never met anyone like him and that I have also been waiting for someone like him. In fact, every second of this still feels like a dream.We are in Alden’s chambers. He’d brou
I peel my eyes open and the piercing light immediately slices through my consciousness like a knife. I try to clench shut my eyes again but the intensity only increases, and soon I am left with a splitting headache. I lay there motionless, feeling the luxuriously soft sheets contour to my body. The only sound of air is my struggling breaths. When I manage to loosen the shackles of the sheets with my right foot, I open my eyes one more time, blinking involuntarily in order to adjust to the changing brightness before me. I keep taking long pools off air, telling myself that everything is going to be all right and I don't need to panic. It's the breathing exercise that stuck with me since college.I am in a dark, eerie room with gothic features that is so strange, it feels like I'm dreaming. Torches burn at the corners of the room to reveal countless artifacts, each casting an eerie glow around the room. My skin crawls with fear as I look at the walls and spot a distorted painting of a d
I gasp for air, my chest heaving with the laborious effort of drawing breath. Hot air leaves my mouth as a loud whistle and my vision blurs until the monster is only a shadowy figure in front of me. A spark of rage ignites in my chest and I point right at him with a fiery accusation. He takes multiple steps back, confusion evident in his expression, but I barely notice it lost as I am in the throes of a full-blown panic attack.“You need to try to calm her down, she doesn't seem rational ,” he says to the three miniature monsters and closes the door behind him with a dull thud as he leaves the room. I want to run after him and demand to know why he is keeping me here, but I can't seem to move. My body is aching and I feel so exhausted all of a sudden.Herb cautiously approaches me, fear and caution warring in his eyes as he takes slow steps towards me. It's as if time has stopped and I have no will left to resist; I watch silently as Herb, one of the miniature monsters, reaches out a
My heart nearly stops beating as Alden speaks to me. A chill of terror runs through my veins. I am a fortress of unanswered questions. What does he mean I am his? What does he mean he is going to make me remember all that we shared? And what does he mean he won’t let me leave?A deranged laughter bubbles up my throat as I challenge him. “You cannot be serious, right?” I hope to keep an air of amusement so that maybe, just maybe he will let me leave unharmed. But no, this man is not joking.He stands twice my size and with one grip, he can break me into pieces, but deep down I have a feeling that he won't hurt me. This thought is ridiculous, because he is a monster, but despite that obvious fact, I am certain that I am not in danger when he is around. There’s no way I can outfight him and win so all I have are my wits and persuasiveness. “Tell me this is all a joke,” I beg, knowing that it's futile.“Do I look, to you, like a person who is likely to entertain the idea of joke?” he says
We reach the pool and I don't even bother to check if it's safe to swim-all I see is the clean, bubbling water before me, beckoning me in. Without thought or hesitation, I begin to undress myself before the startled servants. My movements are almost automatic as if my muscles are acting of their own accord. When I'm completely naked, I step forward and dip a toe into the water--a test of assurance that soon becomes a full-body plunge into the depths.A shiver runs down my spine as Alden's commanding voice echoes through the garden. "Leave us," he says. I jerk my head in his direction, and see him lounging like a lion on a bench, a tree to his right. I feel exposed, so I hug my arms across my chest tightly.As commanded, the servants slowly retreat from the garden, leaving us alone. I remain rooted to the same spot – perched with my arms across my chest, foot still half submerged in the pool–as Alden watches me from his perch like he holds dominion over all of creation. He is a beast b
When I query Herb about Alden's whereabouts, his vague answer sends a shiver of dread down my spine. I haven't laid eyes on Alden since he submerged me in the pool and although it has been only a few hours, it feels like days have gone by. His parting words reverberate in my mind and I've been having strange visions since then, making it impossible to stop thinking about him. He is a monster, but I desire him. We have this unexplained connection that brings us to each other, the link that I can't really explain.From the garden, Alden let me find my way back to the room without calling for assistance. “You wouldn’t leave me,” he said with an eerie conviction that left me captivated and uncomfortable at the same time. As I made my way to the room, my legs felt heavy as if some invisible force was trying to hold me back from fleeing.I can feel the walls of this room press down upon me as if they are closing in around me. It's almost as if a familiar comfort is trying to surround me and
“How on Earth did I end up here?” I inch closer to him, feeling the distance between us shrink. “I remember leaving my home in search of the mysterious creature that lived atop the mountain, and I remember running up the path. But nothing beyond that is clear.”“Well,” Alden declared, striding towards me. I could feel my legs quivering beneath me. “It was purely by chance that you stumbled upon this castle and I admitted you in. We felt an instant connection and eventually it became undeniable. We couldn't resist any longer and we made love multiple times.”A lump forms in my throat and I shift awkwardly on my feet. Alden must see how much his words affect me because he has a wicked smile on his face and just continues looking at me as though he wants me to try to speak. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of seeing me squirm, so I suppress the lump in my throat and stand up straight. "Go on," I say with a forced level of confidence.“After a while, you expressed an intention to go
“Unexpected quest?” I press. Alden ignores me, running around the room in a frantic flurry, gathering books, reinforcing locks and looking really disturbed. “Alden! Talk to me!” I grab his attention, and he stops in his tracks, facing me with a face contorted with worry.I expect him to say something and explain the situation, yet he changes his mind and calls out for Herb instead. “No! Please don't leave me here alone. I don't want to be stuck in my room again,” I plead, but my desperate plea goes unheard. Herb saunters into the room and narrows his eyes at the glowing orb. His face reveals that he needs no explanation for what is about to happen next.“Please accompany Cathy to her room and make sure she stays there,” Alden says.“Am I a prisoner here?” I hiss through clenched teeth, my fury bubbling like a boiling cauldron. He cannot be serious and I am not planning to move, so I fold my arms over my chest and continue to stare at him.“It is for your own safety, you have to trust
Eleanor's POVEleanor stood at the edge of the path leading to her childhood home. The house looked exactly as she remembered it. It was as if time had stood still here, but Eleanor knew that everything had changed, especially her.She took a deep breath, her heart pounding heavily in her chest, each step forward feeling heavier than the last. As she approached the house, all the memories came flooding back. All those moments seemed distant now, like they belonged to another life.Eleanor hesitated at the foot of the steps leading up to the front door. Her hand trembled as she reached out. It felt surreal, standing here after everything she had been through. Would they recognize her? Would they believe the story she had to tell? She wondered if they had moved on, if they had accepted her disappearance, or if they had kept hoping for her return.She now regretted turning down Charlotte's offer to come with her, her presence would have helped her nerves. She shook her head, trying to d
Alden held me close as we made our way inside the castle. The walls of the castle seemed to close in around us as we rushed through the corridors, each step a struggle as I fought to keep myself together.“Just a little further,” Alden whispered, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. “We’re almost there.”Teon and Herb flanked us, their faces etched with concern as they helped guide me down the hall. Eleanor and Charlotte followed closely behind, whispering words of encouragement.We reached the small room just off the main hall, where a large bed had been hastily prepared. I barely registered the soft sheets and the warmth of the fire as Alden helped me onto the bed, his hands never leaving mine. The room was filled with the scent of herbs and flowers.Khimaira bustled in closely behind, her demeanor calm and composed. She took one look at me and nodded, as if she’d seen this a thousand times before. “Let’s get you comfortable,” she said gently, her hands working quickly.Th
I stood at that altar, lost in Alden's eyes. The world faded away and the only thing I felt was the warmth of his hand on my cheek. But then, a mocking cough from somewhere around us pulled us back to reality. We turned our heads slightly to see Lorin standing a few feet away, a hint of amusement in his eyes. Alden, ignoring my protests, had decided that he would officiate the wedding. “Shall we begin?” Lorin asked, his voice steady, as he proceeded to stand between us. This was really happening. I took a deep breath, calming my nerves. Alden's hand dropped from my cheeks, but he didn't move away. Instead, he took my hand in his, his touch reassuring. It was as though he knew exactly how I felt and I was grateful for that. The garden was silent and it felt like the only sound I could hear was my heart pounding rapidly in my chest. As Lorin began to speak, his voice carried a solemnity that settled over us all. “This union is more than a marriage,” Lorin began, his words measured.
The sun rays filtered in through the large window, casting a soft glow over the room. Charlotte and Eleanor flanked my sides, adjusting and readjusting different parts of my dress. We were gathered in front of a large mirror in the largest room in Alden's castle. I could hardly believe this day had come- my wedding day. It had been three months since the chaos with Lachlan and Lena. Three months since we returned home and had settled into a peaceful routine. But even with the calm, I still found it hard not to look over my shoulders. The weight of the past months still clung heavily to me. “I can't believe it's really happening,” I say gently, almost to myself. “I'm getting married in a few hours.”Charlotte, who had been focused on arranging my hair in the right bun, paused and smiled at me gently. “Neither can I,” she admitted, her voice soft but steady. “It all still feels like a really long dream.”We both turned our attention to Eleanor, who was fussing with the lace of my gown
Cathy's POV Lachlan's fortress was a hive of activity as we prepared to leave. The halls which were once cold and silent, buzzed with the clatter and murmur of voices. It felt strange indeed. Alden had wanted some time for me to recover fully before we left. His arm was wrapped firmly around me, supporting me as we walked through the halls. This place had been home to me for weeks now, but I had never freely walked these halls. We were waiting for the final preparations before leaving, and in the meantime, Alden had called for a meeting with Lorin. We were the last to arrive, as Karken, Eleanor and Charlotte sat around a large polished table in the hall. Lorin, dressed in black robes, stood afar off. The air was thick with tension and I could sense that the moment was heavy with unspoken weight. “Lorin,” Alden began, his face set determinedly. “I believe you have honored our agreement.”Lorin inclined his head in agreement, stepping out of the shadows. “Indeed,” He took another wa
Lorin's departure left a heavy silence in the air. There was a wave of unanswered questions running through my mind and I could not shake my feeling of unease. I was happy to be conscious and reunited with the ones I loved dearly. However, given the events of the last couple weeks, I couldn't be comfortable in my happiness. Paranoia. That was the word. I was expecting something ominous to happen, some bad news or enemy to pop up out of nowhere. Alden returned to my side, his face etched with a mixture of relief and something else i couldn't quite decipher. He took my hand in his once again and I felt a tremor run through me. His presence beside me was a reassuring comfort. Perhaps I was overthinking. Perhaps all I needed was just answers. Maybe, just maybe, our happily ever after had come. “What happened?” I rasped, looking intently at him. “How are you here? Where's Lachlan?” I did not mean for the questions to tumble out in a rush, but I was overwhelmed. Alden squeezed my hand, h
Cathy's POVI hear chaos in my surroundings from my unconscious state. The clatter pulling me back to reality from a dream I was having about me and Alden and our baby. It was a girl. A beautiful chubby little girl running around the garden to our delight. It was a dream I did not want to wake up from. There was a sudden burst of white light and I could feel warmth radiating through my body. The garden and Alden and the child had all vanished and I was left standing alone surrounded by nothing. I stood confused in this state for a moment before hearing a faint voice calling my name. The voice was unmistakably Charlotte's. My eyelids flutter open, the harsh light of the room making me squint. My head throbbed with a dull ache. I try to adjust my vision to my surroundings, the events of my last moments before passing out come flooding back. Panic claw at me as I remember our failed escape attempt. Eleanor. What had happened to her?As my vision unblurs itself fully, I am in utter shoc
The journey north was long and filled with tension. Every rustle of the leaves sent a jolt of panic through Alden, reminding him that they could all be walking into a trap. But he pushed on, fueled by the need to reach Cathy. Finally, they reached the northern fortress. The sun was setting, its rays casting long skeletal shadows on the fortress gates. There was an unsettling quiet in the air as they trooped in through the gates. There were no guards patrolling the gates. It was as though they had heard of Lachlan's defeat and had deserted the fortress. Lorin, seemingly unfazed by the atmosphere, led them through the fortress gates and into the castle. No one spoke, the only sound was the echo of their footsteps on the cold stone floor. It was clear that they were all feeling the weight of the tension that hung heavy in the air. They finally reached a large chamber at the end of a long passageway. Lorin pushed the heavy door of the chamber, letting them all in. The air inside was
Alden stared at Lorin, his mind reeling. The sorcerer's words had caused a heavy silence to hang in the air. His actions were no doubt justifiable but they had only his word to support his claims. “Enough about ancient grudges, Beast King,” Lorin rasped, regaining his composure. “I believe you have more pressing concerns.” He added, staring intently at Alden, his yellow eyes gleaming in the torchlit meeting hall. “The whereabouts of your queen, no doubt?”Alden's ears perked up as he shifted in his seat. His gaze flickered to Charlotte, whose knuckles had turned white as she firmly gripped her seat.“She lives,” Lorin said, his voice taking on a strange sympathy. “For now.”Charlotte gasped, her grip tightening on the chair. The words “for now” dripped with an ominous weight. “What do you mean ‘for now?” She demanded, her eyes widening. Lorin finally shifted his gaze from Alden to her, a flicker of something akin to pity crossing his face. “Her life is…in grave danger.” He said slow