(Ariel's POV)I shared glances with Raven, our amusement danced in the air and laughter threatened to spill out of our throats. Raven’s face looked bloated with all the laughter she was holding in. I could not hold it in so I covered my face with my elbow and fake-coughed into it. Raven looked amused at my antics.Emily walked off the stage after her very humiliating performance, her face was red with anger and embarrassment. She stared at me and Raven through clenched teeth.She looked so scary, her eyes shot daggers at me. I felt like she would gladly shoot me in the face if her eyes could. I was more pained that I had not witnessed her entire performance than I was scared of her malicious eyes. She was a kitten with no teeth and even if she could bite, I was not ready to back down for her. This was my life on the line here.The next contestant was called up as the rest of the ladies jeered Emily. If her face turned any more red with anger, she could as well identify as a tomato, I
(Ariel's POV)As soon as Elijah got into the private suite, I let go of the torn dress and felt it fall apart and leave me half-naked. Elijah gently set me down and sat on the armchair placed in the room, “Let's see your talent, human. It's time.” He smirked.His eyes ran through my body and I swore I saw a hint of anger when he looked at the torn pieces but he looked up and it vanished like it was never there.I pulled off the torn dress and threw it to the side. I stood there in only my panties. Swaying my hips seductively, I began to move slowly to no rhythm. I bit my lower lip and kept my eyes on Elijah as I played with my breasts.I rubbed my hand up and down my breast, cupping each one and tweaking my nipples. I bent my head and placed a kiss on each breast. Gently, I moved closer to Elijah. I turned around and shook my ass in his face, he grabbed it and tapped it lightly.Then I slowly sat down on his legs, my legs spread over his, and began to lap dance him. I moved up and dow
(Elijah's POV)I smile contentedly at Ariel's sleeping form. She never ceases to amaze me, every day she comes up with something new. I loved it and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I smiled wistfully as I watched her sleep.I enjoyed having her in my arms, her warmth and scent rubbing all over me. She was like a drug that I couldn't get enough of. I wanted to stay in bed all day with her but I had a job to do.I got up from the bed and began to dress up. It was time to announce the winners of this first round. I did not want to keep the people waiting. I draped the duvet over Ariel and made sure she was properly tucked in before I stepped out in my well-ironed brown pants and black shirt. I left a button undone on my chest revealing a bit of skin.I made sure my hair slicked back and did not tell the story of my escapade. I pulled out a black Italian shoe from my rack and polished it until it shone then I wore my wristwatch. I wore the perfumes on my desk and stretched to full length.One la
(Ariel's POV)I stirred from sleep after the light nap and looked around the suite, Elijah was nowhere to be found. I dragged my sore but lightly rested body out of the room and back to mine.I was being extra careful, I could not let anybody catch me in Elijah's suite. Once it was discovered that I was very close to Elijah, a lot of people would boycott me if not everyone. And I would automatically be disqualified without judgment.I could not let that happen, I did not prepare doggedly for this contest only to be kicked out of the show on grounds of 'shady practice’ on the first night. The livestream knew I was on a one-on-one date with Elijah but it was not stated that I could do an overnight date so I needed to get back to my room before they found out.I wondered where Elijah had gone, I reached for my phone to check the time but my eyes caught a notification instead. My question was answered when I clicked on the notification, he was in the br
(Ariel's POV)“It's time for the second phase. What are we doing for it, Raven?” I asked Raven as we took our slow and quiet stroll around the garden. Raven's hands reached out to brush the flowers.The garden was beautiful. A large expanse of land with beautiful flowers and trees forming a serene space. At least 4 different flowers adorned the garden, and the beautiful shrubs were neatly trimmed.I reached out and plucked the lavender flower, I loved the lavender color. Its color reminded me of royalty. Butterflies fluttered as I plucked a strand, and an unconscious smile formed on my lips.“Look, that golden butterfly looks so majestic when it flutters its wings.” Raven gushed.I nodded, “Yes, yes. But that does not answer the question.”“Ooh, what was the question again?” Raven asked, her eyes distracted by the butterfly. She reached out the tip of her finger for the butterfly but the butterfly didn't come to her, she pouted.My eyes gaped in exasperation, “Raven!” I called firmly.
(Ariel's POV)Panic set in the moment I could not find the glove I had carefully crafted for Elijah. I turned the room upside down, almost on the verge of tears.There was no time to knit a full glove.I stepped out of my room just for a brief moment and it went missing. I sat on the floor and thought of how someone could have gotten access into my room. I turned to my guard.“Did anyone have access to this room while I was away?” I asked him sternly.He frowned, “What do you mean, ma? I have been standing here all day. How would someone get in there or are you accusing me of incompetence?” He questioned back.I shifted on my foot uneasily, something about his defense ate at me. “No. The glove I knit for the contest is missing and it has been in the room all along but now I can't find it.” I informed him.“I have not even seen any glove, are you deliberately insinuating that I had anything to do with the missing glove?” His forehead marred with a frown.I matched his frown with a frow
(Ariel's POV)Emily stormed off annoyed when I didn't react to her taunt. I didn't spare her a glance. She was the least of my worries right now.I saw Elijah glance at me too, I wondered if he expected me to react too. Unfortunately, I paid less attention to him too. I was more worried about my gift.Anxiety crept in, I rubbed my hands together as I awaited my turn, I knew I was the last person but I was agitated. It was unlike me to be scared of a stage in this contest but I was rightfully anxious.I had played a Gamble and this Gamble could determine my stay in this competition or not. I needed to stay but I wasn't sure what the outcome would be and was anxious.What if's plagued my mind? What if I made the wrong gamble? What if I chose the wrong gift this time? What if it doesn't go as I want? What if I end up being kicked out?Where would I start from if I got kicked out? The dungeon? I shuddered at the thought.“No, I can't and won't be thrown to the dungeon,” I repeated interna
(Ariel’s POV)Raven and I got dressed and headed down the room where Emily was being held.“Elijah you can't believe that whore over me.” Emily's voice came from inside the room, I rolled my eyes and pushed the door open.All eyes turned on us. “And why can't he believe this 'whore’,” I demanded.“Because that glove was made by me, obviously.” She shot daggers at me.“Prove it.” I shrugged.“What?” She shrieked.“If you insist the glove is yours, then prove it.” I folded my hands and stared intensely at her.*I don't have to prove anything…” Her voice trailed off when she realized everyone was staring at her and waiting.“Ugh! Whatever,” She stomped her foot. “That glove is mine whether you all like it or not and if you can ask me to prove it then I can ask you to prove it's yours too, right?” She aske
(Ariel's POV)I hummed a tune as I got dressed for the day. I was excited to show my marksmanship, especially to the people who had not seen me in action ever but underestimated me. The look of shock and awe on their faces would make my day.I whistled and moved my hips to the tune I was humming while I brushed looking at myself in the mirror. I felt giddy.I spat out the spittle in my mouth and gazed at myself in the mirror. “You are amazing,” I hailed myself.“You are beautiful. You are smart. You are the brightest. See the adoration in their eyes because of your awesome talent. You are powerful.” I continued to hail myself looking directly at myself through the mirror.My cheeks high, my head straight, my face stoic, and my words firm.Truly, I felt powerful. Today was my day, it felt good to do something you excelled effortlessly at. I was looking forward to the shooting round. I may not know a lot of things but I understood weapons.I knew each gun just by looking at them, I iden
(Ariel's POV)I woke up to Elijah cleaning me up tenderly, my hands were no longer bound. He was drawing soothing lines over the rope mark, washing it with soap, and willing the marks to disappear.I sighed contentedly and leaned into him as he washed me. His hands massaged my shoulders gently, I was really sore and I let out a moan.“If you keep moaning like that, I would be tempted to take you here and now,” Elijah's husky voice whispered in my ear.I stiffened, I had enjoyed the sex, allowing myself to indulge in the passion and enjoy it but I was not ready for another one. I was too sore. So I tried to contain the moan that threatened to break out of my lips. Elijah was too gentle in washing me and it was making me feel so good.I relaxed and enjoyed his care. I felt helpless against Elijah’s childish attitude towards anger. The moment he was jealous or angry he showed it by trying to mark me and dominate me with sex. I was helpless against his behavior.But I wouldn't deny that t
(Elijah's POV)It's been a few weeks since I saw Ariel. I missed her so much. Dealing with the whole assassination thing was taking up my time. Each day I had lots of work on my desk and I hadn't been able to go see her.I missed her smile, I missed her body, I missed sex with her. I was craving her touch. Tomorrow was the day of her match but I needed to see her today.So I cleared up my desk early, pushing aside the rest of the work. The Moonstone file glared at me, calling for me to attend to it but I closed it right back and left to go see her.Thoughts of her riddled me as I walked down the hallway, my wolf was excited to see her, he whistled a happy tune in my head, and my body was excited to finally see her and have a proper conversation with her. Well, I hoped I would have a proper conversation with her.Every time we attempted to have a decent conversation, we always ended up with one of us angry. I knew it was bound to happen but I hoped it would be different. A man can hope
(Ariel's POV)The postponement of the contest also gave me ample time to recuperate. I had been worried about how I would perform in casts or with limps. It did not help that I had overheard some people talking and they said the next round would be shooting practice.I hoped my leg would be properly healed before the next contest. Shooting was my forte, my knowledge of weapons gave me an advantage and so I was looking forward to this section. I did not want anything to jeopardize my winning chances.25 days later, my leg was fully healed. I could stretch it, walk without limping, run, and put the whole pressure on that foot without wincing or hissing in pain. My leg was completely healed.“I am damn excited that my leg is completely healed now,” I told Raven, flexing my ankle, my cheeks turned up very high in a smile.“I am happy for you, mi lady.” She handed me a branch of the rose flower she had plucked and curtsied while at it, we laughed together.The echoes of our laughter resoun
(Vincent's POV)“I am here to escort Ariel back to her room,” I announced the moment I entered the office. Although my gaze was intent on Ron, I could feel Ariel roll her eyes. Her antics amused me.“Your eyes would soon fall off with the amount of time you roll them,” I told her. She muttered incoherent words under her breath and I chuckled.I did not mind riling her up every once in a while, I did not get the opportunity often.I had rushed here the moment my investigation had clicked that Ron was part of the resistance. He was connected in more ways than one with the resistance.It did not surprise me, I was wary and hesitant when Elijah suggested that he bring him in as Ariel's personal physician. I did not dissuade him but I did share my reluctance with him.But Elijah wanted someone he knew and someone that Ariel could be safe with after the near-assassination experience. I believed that nobody was worth trusting or was even safe to be with at the moment. Everybody was a damn su
“What did you say you are doing here?” I asked Ron again when the initial shock wore off.He sighed. “Elijah arranged for me to be here,” he dropped another bombshell.“Elijah arranged for you to be here?” I asked in confusion, almost shrieking. That thought felt absurd, what was Elijah thinking?“Yes, due to your injury. He said he wanted you to recuperate in a quiet and comfortable environment.” He replied.The wheels of my mind began to turn, so that was why Elijah did not let me stay back in my room or go to the infirmary for this treatment. No wonder he had insisted that I get a new primary care physician.It still did not make sense to me that he chose Ron to be my primary physician. Wasn't he always jealous of Ron? What happened? What changed?Something felt suspicious and not knowing what it was kept me agitated.“Come and sit down, so I can examine the wound.” Ron patted the small bed in his office.I hesitantly climbed the bed with difficulty refusing his help, my movement a
(Ariel's POV)Ten minutes after I'd woken up, I still lay in bed with my eyes open, I was still tired. I allowed my mind wander to the conversation I had with Vincent the night before. My eyes followed every object I could see in the room but I did not sit up.Another ten minutes later and I stretched my body finally ready to step out of the bed. I sat up and looked around, adjusting my body to the new day. I was a little disoriented.My ankle throbbed and I hissed in pain, rubbing soothing circles around it. Gently, I dragged myself off the bed and into the bathroom. I took my bath, making sure water did not touch my wound and then I gently re-dressed my wound. I popped a few pain killers to get rid of the pain I woke up with.When I was done, I headed towards Raven's room to check on her. I had been in severe pain yesterday plus Vincent and Elijah did not leave my room so I was not able to check on her.I felt bad that I had not checked on her and her wound until now so I hastened m
(Ariel's POV)As soon as Vincent walked out with a heavy face, Elijah entered his face wary, glancing between me and Vincent's back curiously.“Am I missing something?” Elijah asked, looking curious.I shook my head, “Nothing.”“Why did he leave with that expression then?”“I don't know. It's nothing.”Elijah stared at me warily and then shrugged, “It did not look like nothing to me.” He muttered very lowly, I almost did not catch on.“We found your assassin's,” Elijah informed me.I perked up, “Really, did you find out who sent them?” I asked genuinely interested in knowing who must have wanted me out of the way. I was certain the killers came for me and Raven was just unfortunate to be with me at that time.Elijah frowned, “No. I was still in the process when they killed themselves,” My face scrunched up in confusion.Elijah stared into space, his face bristled with unleashed anger, “I was interrogating them when they just began to bleed to death. Turns out, they had a pill in their
(Ariel's POV)I sat frozen and unmoving, my hand trembled lightly as I pondered on Vincent's question.“I want to know about your father.”The statement kept running in my mind even in my immobile state. I refused to acknowledge the question, what did he want with my father?I was not expecting the question, what had my near death had to do with my father? I had barely survived from the ruckus earlier and here he was questioning me about a man who had since died.It kept me on edge. Why did he ask about him all of a sudden? I thought about what we had been discussing.‘Yes, we were just discussing his reasons for appearing in the palace today.’ I thought. So how did the conversation include my father?I paid him no attention, my mouth shut, as I looked around the room instead, my eyes falling everywhere but in Vincent. I felt his gaze sharply piercing, waiting for an answer.And when I could not stand it anymore, I bent under his gaze.“What do you want with him?” I managed to ask.“I