[Diana]Two weeks passed.Reese was still in the hospital and was on complete bed rest and medicine. Willa had to make several trips from the palace to the hospital in a day. She wasn’t in a condition to be plotting anything evil, but still I just couldn’t stop suspecting her.I know I shouldn’t, but I felt a little bad for her. She looked tired and sleepless all the time. Dark circles patched under her eyes. Her skin was dull and for the first time in two lives I saw her not dress up and do make-up. There were times she forgot to even comb her hair.We were sitting around the dining table. She quickly finished her food and got up to go back to the hospital.“Sit down,” father ordered gruffly.“Alpha, I have completed all the work in the palace,” she said.“I have a meeting tomorrow…”She spoke before father could complete, “I know. I have already gotten your clothes and documents ready.”“The monthly budget of the palace, payment of the staff and the upcoming expenses report…”Willa
[Diana] Janus ran his tongue over his inner cheek. “I… was telling Zeph that I wanted to ask Vera to be my date for the prom,” Janus said. “What? And WHAT?” I yelled. “You don’t have to double-what me. I knew you would react like this, so I thought maybe your sunshine could be of some help because he is too good at talking. Talking to girls especially,” Janus said, sneaking glances at Vera. “Ok. Ok. I am trying to wrap my head around all this. You met my bodyguard without my knowledge when he mostly is with me when I am with you. Then you became such close friends in a few weeks and you call him by his nickname — Zeph? I bet he calls you by some nickname, too?” “Yeah, I call him Jan,” Zephyr said proudly. “See!” Janus took a deep breath and said, “look, you don’t have to be jealous, ok?” “I am not jealous! But we have been best friends for years and how is it we don’t have nicknames for each other?” I said. “That’s what you are concerned about? I literally said I wanted Vera
[Diana]I was wearing a sleeveless, backless square neck, thigh split, spaghetti strap black gown that hugged every curve of my body. A strappy high heel complimented my gown with soft curls flowing down my long hair. I pulled the gown from the split down my upper thigh.I was in the VVIP room, standing in front of the dressing table. I kept the make-up to the minimum.I put the record on, and soft sensual music started flowing into the room.There were two low knocks on the door, followed by, “I am coming in.”I shut my eyes with a soft smile and tied the red blindfold over my eyes.I heard the door open. He walked in and shut it from inside.His deep chuckles teased my erratic heartbeats. “Prepared with a blindfold? Hmm. Guess I should take off my mask comfortably.”“If you wish to win the game, you’ll have to take off your mask,” I said.“Interesting.” He said and maybe took off his mask. He walked behind me and slid his arms under my breasts and around my hips. “But… when you ar
[Diana] “How long do you plan on staring at the question paper? What’s done is done. You can’t change it unless you bribe the teachers, which is impossible after you got Fin expelled from the faculty,” Janus said, sitting beside me in the back seat of my car as Zephyr drove us back to the palace from our academy. It was my last exam. I should have felt relieved, as if I had been free from a cage, but I didn’t… “How could I get the phases of the moon wrong? It was a ten mark question. Five marks solely for drawing the phases and labeling them correctly and the other five marks on the biological effect those phases of the moon have on werewolves,” I said. “At least you got the effect right.” “No, I wrote based on my diagram, which is completely wrong and…” I grunted. “I messed up. I am going to fail. My life’s over. If I fail, I won’t be eligible for the championship.” “Stop overthinking, girl. It’s just one question. Let it go,” Janus said. “Says someone who is going to get the p
[Diana] “Do I look like a person who would enjoy visiting a vintage art gallery?” I asked Zephyr, entering the Xenon art gallery. “Sometimes we should trust the journey,” he said. “I am not a fan of quiet places,” I said. “Then you must be enjoying my company because I am never quiet.” “I like quiet people though,” I said and walked ahead of him. An indoor gothic water fountain welcomed us. There was a black marble statue of a beautiful mermaid, sitting on a huge rock, sensually curling her tail. Her fluttering hair covered her breasts. She was holding a book made from seashells in the middle of the fountain. Water magnificently sprayed out from the shell pages of that book. I looked around the art gallery. Its red walls were partially covered with paintings, portraits and pictures encased in intricately designed golden frames and some in glass box frames. There were statues carved in marbles, stones at intervals. The gallery was almost empty except for a few couples. I was
[Diana]He patiently listened to every confusion and senseless explanation of how I felt about not being able to feel anything. Honestly, at one point, I was just yammering words randomly. I just liked the feeling of sitting with him on the cold marble bench as the light from the bulbs replaced the natural light.I wanted to be heard even when all I said were random words thrown like a jigsaw puzzle. I wanted to talk without being judged or advised. I just wanted to speak my heart out.I found that hiraeth with Zephyr near that pond under the cherry blossoms.Zephyr wasn’t joking or trying to lighten the mood like he usually did. He was seriously listening to me as if I was reciting some classical philosophy that needed every ounce of his attention to be deciphered.He made me feel like it mattered, even the stupidest thing I said. Like I mattered.“Like you are trapped inside and there is no escape?” He asked.“Exactly. Maybe there’s something wrong with me,” I chuckled nervously.H
[Diana]‘A secret room? In luna’s chamber?’Vera nodded, sipping on the tea. I draped a shawl around her, rubbing her upper arms.‘It’s ok, calm down, first. It’s fine.’I tried to recall if there were any secret rooms in Xenon palace. I don’t think there were in the past. According to Vera’s account, Willa left father’s office at dawn. Vera, with Janus’ help, had successfully created a spare key for Willa’s room. So, when Willa entered her room, Vera was already there searching for the drug.Hearing Willa approach the room, she hid her presence and hid under her bed with the spare key. Willa unlocked the door and entered her room. She was enraged for some reason. She scattered the cosmetics on the dressing table. Threw and crashed the flower vases on the floor, grunting and roaring to vent out her rage.After tossing the room upside down, Willa broke into sobs. She cursed father and kept repeating, ‘I will kill you!’ She took out something from the drawer of the nightstand and hea
[Diana] ‘Do you think she suspects us?’ Vera asked. I nodded, ‘yes, she does. She was definitely constantly in contact with the head maid that is why she knew I was trying on the dresses for the prom.’ ‘What should we do now, princess?’ Vera asked. ‘You won’t do anything now.’ I walked to Vera and hugged her. ‘You have done more than enough for me. Now, I will handle this matter. Do not get involved from here on. It’s an order.’ Vera came out of the hug and looked at me with concerned eyes. ‘But princess, it can be dangerous. I don’t know why, but I don’t feel good about all this.’ ‘Because there is nothing good about anything that is about to happen. But one thing is confirmed, I am not going down without a fight this time. Not so easily. Stay alert, ok? And if you sense any danger, mind-link me or Janus immediately, ok?’ Vera nodded. ‘Take care, princess,’ Vera left. I flopped on the bed, licking my dry lips. What should I do? Should I speak with father? He must know abo