Anthony’s POVThe air in Gotham smelled of wildflowers, herbs and mossy rocks.I tightened my hold around the woman in my arms when she stiffened, her pretty little heart thudding so much that I could feel it thrum all over her body.I drew circles over her hand with my thumb, willing her to stay, reminding her that I was behind her. I had never seen any woman so committed to running away than Elena. But I wasn't going to let anything happen to her. Neither was Michael, whose eyes had narrowed suspiciously on the scene before us.I knew almost immediately the gates reeled open that something was very wrong. Felt the ache in my chest even before I met the wide eyes of the guards and groundsmen who watched from their posts on the walls and castle grounds as we marched our walk of shame into the granite lot.“What the hell happened here? Bloody hell, talk about a walk of shame,” Michael murmured under his breath at me, and I was so happy that he was talking to me again that for a moment,
MATTHEW THE GUARD I wasn't supposed to be here. I had gone deeper into the woods, farther away from the burning fluorescent light of the palace walls like His Highness said I should.This night was very important, I could almost feel the rush of adrenaline blazing through my body.Someone in Gotham had killed the love of my life. My Sophia.No one knew what it felt like, to watch life play out from the sidelines.I had been toiling away for months, tracing back my woman’s steps to the night of the murder, and finally, finally, I had hit it big.My boots crunched loudly as I paced over the dried leaves matting the forest floor, glancing around the darkness as anxiety tightened in my gut.What the hell was taking Sir Anthony so long? My letter had been clear enough hadn't it? I'd told His Highness about my suspicions.How I figured out Alfred hadn't been alone the night Sophie was killed. He had been working with someone even more, powerful, evil. “Just you wait Sophie, after tonight,
MICHAEL’s POV“What?” My shocked rasp seemed like it had come from somewhere far away as I stared disbelievingly at the royal assassin.Her long, curly black hair was stretched into a tight bun at the top of her head and her upturned eyes washed over me briefly, before softening when she met my eyes.Who was dead? I shook my head, exhaling a static, disbelieving laugh before Elena’s cold hands pressed comfortingly around my bicep.I had seen the body what felt like hours ago, but I hadn't yet been able to scrounge the image of the corpse from my mind. The pale white skin was shredded through with claws and blades until it was a mess of ripe, tender insides.The skin of the guard’s face had been peeled back messily and his eyes gouged out, leaving only empty, bloodied sockets where they used to be.I had killed many in my lifetime, but the scene back in that cold room, with bodies hanging off the ceilings, frozen for food, had been nothing short of evil.The smell of blood and pine tha
ANTHONY’S POVThe blonde man’s chiseled face only jerked once. The quick flick of his thick blonde eyebrows shot up as if registering surprise before the impassive mask fell back over his dashingly handsome features.“And now…now she's pregnant too Michael. Carla Winehouse Reagent is fucking pregnant for me and I don't know what the FUCK I'm going to do when Elena eventually finds out,” I gushed, and the weight that had been pressing down into my shoulders seemed to lighten a bit before I watched Michael squeeze his eyes shut, pushing away from me to curse expeditiously at the universe.“Fucking fuck!” My brother’s enraged roar rent through the air as adrenaline shit through my body like a freaking current.“You got that right,” I murmured back, trying to hold in a bitter life and watching the blonde Alpha glance around the lot. It was empty. I knew because I had spun my head in a freaking circle the entire time I was speaking to him.The last thing I needed was one of the rubber-mout
CARLA WINEHOUSEIt had taken longer than I would have liked for me to suck all of the guard’s blood from where it had stuck into my fingers.That bloody guard had just pissed me the fuck off. I wasn't usually this careless, but last night’s events bounced around in my head painfully as I flung the last of the damning letters into the fireplace, watching the flames hiss and crackle as they licked at the thick white scripts.It wouldn't have mattered that I was carrying Anthony’s child if he had found those letters, no, he would have had me bound hands and feet until I gave birth and tortured me till I was skin and bones and senseless with pain.It had been a pity with the late princess…but Sophia Gotham HAD to die for me to get closer to Anthony.“Fucks sake,” I hissed when I saw my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were still bloodshot from my shifting, with red rings underneath the whites that made me slap my cheeks until it was gone.I had taken the back gates into the woods but how
ELENA’S POVThe sound of my heels clacking on the stony walkway was all I could hear over the chirping of crickets and the croaking of frogs from the small blue pond beside the garden.The moonlight illuminated the rocky path that wound into different sections, but there was still no sign of Anthony or Michael behind each one.Where the hell were they? “Goddess help them if they're late again,” I threatened no one but myself as I tapped my feet impatiently on the path and tried to ignore the creepy crawling feeling tingling the base of my neck before squinting into the darkness.The scent of something stopped me cold in my tracks and I whipped around when I thought I saw a tall silhouette in the shadows.“Anthony? Michael? Come on out and stop messing with me already,” I yelled, unable to help the soft smile that tugged at my lips when my eyes narrowed on the shadow standing still between the bronze sculptures.Freaking hell, I didn't put it past the men to try and prank me again the
Michael GothamThere was something wrong with our mate Elena. Something big enough that she had been white as a sheet, trembling in Anthony’s arms when we found her.My brother might not know it yet, but I could have sworn I'd smelled the rogue bastard’s acrid scent on her body. I'd had the chance to tell Anthony everything after his damning confession, and yet, I hadn't.I'd been too fucking chicken shit and now the snake under our noses was targeting my Elena.“Are you sure you're alright Lena? You know you can always talk to us if someone’s messing with you,” I growled, catching wide grey eyes that flickered with something I couldn't place before her face widened into a shaky smile.“I'm fine, really…I just have a headache, I think I need to lay down a bit,” She rasped, and I bit my tongue at the obvious lie, watching my brother’s face tighten with worry, his arms flexing around her curvy body as he caught her mid-swoon.“Are you sure? The baby-” Anthony hedged, but I cut him off,
ELENA WOLFEThe tinkling of the large golden chandelier above me made me groan tiredly.I threw out an arm, trying to ignore the stab of longing in my chest when only thick cotton sheets twisted between my fingers.“Good morning, Miss Elena,” A woman’s soft voice made me moan before I scrunched up my nose at the bitter taste in the back of my throat.Could a pregnant woman not have a moment of peace and quiet for herself? It seemed to me that everyone, everyone except Nancy Gotham had been fussing over me ever since the news of my pregnancy broke.I stretched lazily to my feet, grunting to the maid’s curtsey before heading over to Anthony’s washroom to splash cold water on my face and rinse out my mouth.The dark-haired woman in the mirror who stared back at me with vibrant grey eyes was breathtaking.I ran my fingers carefully through the thick curls of my black hair that fell in bangs over the side of my face.Dark lashes fluttered against high cheekbones that sloped into a firm pin
Queen Elena Gotham“Bloody hell, are they fucking trying to wake the dead?” The man’s voice in my ear growled and I tried to bite down on the laugh that bubbled up inside me.The noisy grind of saws and breaking concrete made me screw my eyes open with a satisfied yawn and my lips formed a smile at Michael’s husky voice.“Good morning my love-” Anthony growled before pressing his lips to my head, the amusement twinkling in his eyes as I blushed furiously, untangling my body from their twinned limbs.It had been almost three weeks since the war and the birth of our son, Aiden Gotham, and Carla’s daughter Yulga.Anthony and Michael had moved me fully into their grand chambers and Gotham’s rebuilding was slowly coming together, with double the size of the men and cannons we had before.“Your Highnesses! The royal mistress’ carriage is ready,” A guard’s voice boomed in the hallway and my shoulders tensed immediately as I sucked in a breath.Shit, I had almost forgotten we were supposed t
Michael GothamAdrenaline shot through my body like liquid dynamite and I knew deep inside me part of it had to be the curse working.It felt like a rift was opening in my head as my wolf shifted into place, my muscles bulging until there were plate-sized grooves in my shoulders and biceps before I charged at the flood of beasts, taking out a decent chunk of them by swinging my long sharp claws in a messy arc.“Who dares to invade Gotham?” I roared at the beast’s approaching and the frail line of guards between us with their shields up. Fuck, with most of our firepower soldiers injured I knew the string of guards would be no match for the colossal beasts that were pounding their way towards us with thick white drool dragging at the corners of their mouths.“Markov! Eyes on the gates! We need to stop that thing from getting any closer!” I thundered at the gaunt wolf who flashed his fangs in understanding, knocking down more the the beasts when they got too close.I flew at the beast a
ANTHONY GOTHAM“What the fuck was that?” Michael’s harsh voice rasped and I snapped my head up in time for a woman’s haunting scream echo through the dark woods again.The thick line of blood smeared around Michael’s jaw from the carcass he bit into looked garish with the silvery moonlight beating down on us between the thick pine trees.What the hell was any woman doing out here by this time?And why the hell did it sound so familiar? A bolt of unease rips through my gut when the woman’s screams comes again, closer...more desperate.My feet are moving before I can stop myself just as I hear Michael curse behind me before his heavy footfalls tear through the space.The sight of a large beast on top of the red-haired woman made a bellow break from my throat as I watched the Cove beast’s eyes snap up before he flashed his fangs at me and disappeared.Those eyes…shit! Alfred? “Are you okay Carla? Bloody hell, what the fuck were you thinking coming up here by this time?” I roared, cuppin
Carla WinehouseMy belly felt like a volcano pit about to erupt as I glared down at the dark-haired woman who watched me back with a stony expression on her face.“You are not allowed in my chambers, Carla Winehouse, how many times do I have to say it for it to get through to your thick skull-” Elena spat acidly, her bright grey eyes narrowing dangerously as I fought to keep the shock from showing on my face.My heart started its harsh mechanical grinding in my chest and it was all I could do to keep from leaping at her.Who the hell did she think she was?I stalked toward her slowly, waiting until I was only inches from her stupid perfect face to snap my claws around her neck, surprised when her hands shot up to squeeze my arms.“Just because you’ve been away for however long you have Elena, doesn't mean that anything’s changed in this palace,” I growled, tightening my claws around her neck before flicking her wrist away when she beat at my chest and shoved her into the wall.The rag
Michael GothamMy mouth tasted like a rat had curled up and died in it when I came to.“Michael? Can you hear me?” The rogue’s scratchy voice made me drop my fangs instinctively.Just how close was the motherfucker to me? Bloody hell if I didn't know any better I'd have sworn he had a crush on me or something!My eyes rolled around in my head before I dared to open them, the black pinhole of my vision slightly easing as I glanced around the dark room and realized I was hissing.What the hell was up with that?My veins felt like they were filled with molten lava and it was all I could do not to claw at the beautiful woman that strutted into the room only minutes after.“Could you get me more of this Markov? Please?” I whispered when he hesitated, still cradling Elena in my arms and watching his gaze flickered between the two of us before he snatched the blood bag from my hands, muttering curse words under his breath.“I'm not your fucking butler Gotham, get your own fucking blood next
ELENA GOTHAM“M-Michael?” I gasped breathlessly, inching hesitantly toward his cold face before I saw his lips twitch and I shot across the room like a freight train from hell.“Careful Elena! Heck! The baby!” Markov’s scathing hiss was quick behind me but I didn't care as I wrapped my hands around Michael’s hard body, marveling at how much bigger he had gotten.It was like he had changed overnight! “Oh my goodness! Freaking hell, you’re alive! You don't know how happy I am!” I managed to choke through the tears that were now streaming down my face.“I can see it,” Michael grunted and I pulled back to see the ghost of a smile on his face, noting how the dark circles around his eyes were gone.It felt too good to be true.“W-what herb is this? Did the nursemaids put you on some miracle moonshine or something? Heck, this feels just like one of Alaric’s experiments-” I chuckled unsurely now, my hands shaking on his chest before Michael’s hands circled mine, the sight of his black veins
ELENA GOTHAMThe soft chirping of the birds outside made a smile spread across my lips before I screwed my eyes open with a lazy yawn.The sun fell in yellow slants through the thick grey floor-length curtains and I allowed myself a contented squeal.My entire body felt pleasantly sore and I pressed my fingers to my lips as memories of Anthony and me last night flashed through my mind.I had never imagined my little seduction would work so well with a baby between us and my body throbbed as the memory of his need and longing washed over me again.I wasn't going to lose Anthony now or let that Carla wench play her silly little games in Gotham anymore.“Emily!” I screamed, yawning as I shuffled out of bed to splash cold water on my face, eyeing my straight black hair that parted around a slender oval face in the mirror.My breath caught in my throat when I saw how swollen my lips were from my husband’s kisses and heat fanned up my neck to my cheeks.The muted sounds of soldiers parading
ANTHONY GOTHAM“God I've missed you so fucking much-” I growled, groaning as pleasure shot through my body and goosebumps skittered over the bulk of my arms where I had pinned her hands against the wide wood bed frame.Elena’s porcelain face contorted in pleasure and pain as I nibbled at her lips, plunging deeper into her pussy and forcing back a shiver when she flexed around my cock.“I've missed you too Anthony…I thought…FUCK! I thought I'd never see you again-” My Queen panted, and I relished the way her breath caught in her throat when I rolled one pink rubbery nipple between my fingers, watching the way she arched her back into me.My entire body felt like it had gone up in flames and blood pounded in my ears as I plunged faster and faster between her splayed legs, allowing my eyes to squeeze shut as her moans grew louder and louder.I was almost sure the creak of the bed hitting the wall could be heard from a mile away as the sound of my balls hitting the soft round moons of her
ANTHONY GOTHAMI charged into the room faster than a freight train going off the rails when Elena’s scream tore through the palace.“What the hell?” Markov hissed, wide grey eyes swinging to face me before we both shot off.“Shit,” I hissed, my heart thumping with every step.Was Elena hurt? Was the palace under attack?! I felt my breath hitch in my throat so violently that nausea rolled through my body.Hurt and terror thrummed in my chest as I broke through the double doors, catching Elena just as she flew away from my brother’s pale body, her grey eyes wide with fear.“What the fuck is going on?” I roared, my voice harsher than I would have intended when the woman’s teary eyes met mine.“It's Michael…he…he-” Elena hiccuped, whipping her head from side to side before I caught her in my arms.I couldn't help the way my heartbeat spiked in my chest and held her in my arms reflexively. What the hell was she doing? I didn't like admitting that seeing her so heartbroken scared me, and c