Esme's POV I woke up really early today so I could supervise and ensure that everything's ready for the party. After which I went to Ethan's room, he had woken up early as well and he was impressed when I showed him everything. Rachel woke up soon after and was surprised to see the both of us up so early. We simply gave excuses which she seemed to believe, she tried to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast but Ethan stopped her and told her that breakfast was already ready. She was stunned but Ethan didn't give her a chance to ask questions, he took her to the dining room, which was huge but barely used since Ethan liked having his food in the comfort of his room and eating alone on this huge dining table would be awkward so I usually had my food in my room as well. The table was filled with food, all which were covered, most of which were her favorites. Ethan told Rachel that we would all be eating together on the table today and she was very happy, probably thinking Ethan was do
Esme's POV I finally arrived at his room and managed to close the door behind me. I directed him to his bed and laid him down as carefully as I could. I sat down on the side of the bed to catch my breath. I should go take a bath and change, it's getting quite late. I need to rest early since there'll be lots of work to do tomorrow following the party and I don't want to leave it all to Rachel. I tried to stand up but was yanked back down as Ethan held onto my hand tightly. I tried to remove his hand from mine but his words made me pause. "Don't go, please stay with me." He whispered. He's drunk and probably has no idea what he's saying right now. I'll have fun teasing him tomorrow when I remind him of what he just said. He'll probably deny it or just outright ignore me but I'll still get a kick out of it. "I can't stay. I have to go to my own room and prepare for tomorrow." I answered and resumed trying to loosen his grip around my wrist. He shifted on the bed before sitting up
Esme's POV He pulled away from me and began taking off his clothes while I watched him, my heart racing. As soon as his shirt came off, I saw his muscled chest and I couldn't resist so I reached up and touched his skin, tracing my fingers over his soft skin, slowly caressing his scars as well. My mind was once again filled with unanswered questions. Just what happened to him? What could they have done to him to break him so much? To destroy his sense of emotion. I'm pretty sure it had to have been much more than physical torture. Although I can't take the pain or the memories away, I still want to know. I want to be one with him in every aspect of the word. My attention is seized once more when he grabs my hand and slips it into his pants. I try to flinch away when I feel his hard cock pulsing but he holds my hand in place, making me blush nervously. "You're distracted, Esme. I take words very seriously. When you give yourself to me, I expect every part of you, your body, mind and
Esme's POV I woke up in Ethan's arms and somehow, it felt like a dream. In an instant, I recalled everything that happened the previous day and I blushed upon remembering everything we did. I already crossed the devil's line and now there's no turning back, I just hope that this will only improve my relationship with Ethan. My body feels relaxed and a lot lighter, though I can't ignore the ache between my legs when I try to move them. He really went all out, I just hope I'll be able to walk properly today. If anyone figures it out then I'll probably die of embarrassment. It's pretty early and the sun is almost up so I should try to get things done. Ethan is still asleep but he looks so peaceful and handsome. I take a moment to stare at him in admiration, the beating of his heart and the rising and falling of his chest as he takes every breath is beautiful to watch. I'm tempted to touch him but I resist, knowing that he's a light sleeper so he might wake up if I do. I carefully mo
Esme's POV The hours ticked off slowly but the time for practice eventually came. I waited patiently in the garden for about an hour but he didn't come. So he really is avoiding me. "Or maybe he's busy." Solar interjected. "You and I know that's not true. If he's truly busy, he could have at least sent someone to let me know so I wouldn't waste time waiting for him." I concluded. I waited a few more minutes until I was finally at my limit. Just when I was about to leave, thinking he wouldn't show up, he finally came. "What took you so long? I've been waiting for over an hour." I berated him, completely pissed. "I was busy." He said, not bothering to even apologize. I stared him down but he didn't even blink. "Are you ready to train or not?" He asked and I groaned getting into position. "I don't think I'll be able to learn any new attack forms today, my legs are a little unstable." I stated and he held an unreadable expression. "Then you attack and I'll defend." He said and I
Ethan's POV It's been two weeks. Two fucking weeks since I last saw Esme in the garden and it feels like a part of me has gone away. I haven't been able to concentrate fully on anything as the thoughts of her keep flashing into my mind, especially memories from the night we shared together. Ren has been restless within me since the time she ran off from the garden, he claims that Esme's wolf, Solar won't speak with him because I hurt Esme. I've done various activities, running, hunting but nothing seems to be able to calm him down. He seems to have lost his zeal for everything and just wants us to go see Esme and apologize. But I can't, I'm not in the wrong here so why should I apologise? Ren is the cause of all of this in the first place, this is why I hardly let him take control. He always tends to make decisions without thinking about the consequences in the long run. He knows my stand when it comes to carnal relationships, especially with females but he still went ahead to sedu
Esme's POV 'It was indeed a marvelous thing, the girl who he had despised, Scartia managed to melt the icy heart of the prince. Their love was able to make it through the test of time and they lived happily ever after……' I closed the book forcefully and tossed it to the side. It feels like I'm being mocked right now. The book I had just read, Fate's Design was certainly one of a kind. It felt like a practical joke. The story of an ordinary but mistreated girl, Scartia and an ice hearted prince with a dark past. It was very similar to my situation with Ethan, only that our story seems to be a lot more complicated with no solution in sight. We're certainly going to have a much more different ending than the book. The words 'happily ever after' have become one that haunts me because I'm certain I'll never experience it. I've spent two weeks away from Ethan and it's been agonizing, especially since he's the only thing on my mind. I would never have guessed that staying away from him w
Esme's POV Life has been wonderful thus far. Ethan and I have finally settled our differences and we've become closer than ever. He even shares his plans with me and asks for advice about certain things before making a decision. It's really nice to be relied on. My sex life has also been amazing. I'm having to compensate for his years of celibacy because we have sex often and usually more than once at a time, his stamina is off the charts. But I can't complain though because I enjoy every bit of it, he always puts my satisfaction above everything else and I could have never asked for a better mate. When life is rosy, we often lose track of time. Looking at the calendar right now, I almost can't believe the one year period is almost up. I have less than a week before the stipulated time of our bet expires and though I'm confident that Ethan feels the same way as me, I still have my doubts. I believe that life becomes a little bit easier if we always remind the people we care about
Esme's POV"Uh…. How do we get down? Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't recall there being a rope in the bag." I said."There isn't. There has to be some kind of way through it since there isn't a way around it. I'll take a look." He said and moved away and though I wanted to stop him, I resisted the urge."It's just as I thought." I suddenly heard him blurt out."Did you find something?" I asked as I made my way to the spot which he was crouched over."There's a rope ladder here. It's been set securely in place and seems to go all the way down." He mentioned it to me and I touched the ladder, confirming how sturdy it was. I didn't know if to consider this a good thing.A prepared ladder just sitting around waiting here for us might not be a good sign, I don't even know what we should expect."Who could have put it here?" I asked briskly."I don't know and I don't think we should be worrying about that at the moment. We'll have to get down and keep our guard up since there's so much
Esme's POV Tanika. Alpha Waylen. Nightwalker Pack. These words kept swirling in my head. The things she had just said, none of them made any sense. I have no business with Tanika and the Night Walker Pack. Besides, Tanika is dead, Ethan said he killed her himself. Even if she survived by some miracle, what on earth would she be doing in the Forbidden Zone? She couldn't possibly be the one standing in front of me, this has to be a trick. I need to get this girl, whoever she is to leave me alone and I have to find Axel so we can get out of this hole as soon as possible. "That's not possible, you're lying." I blurted. "Arlene, why would you say that?" She asked and tried to touch my face but I dodged her advances. "Don't call me that and stay away from me. I need to get out of here, I have to find Axel." I said and limped away, trying to go as far away as I could from her but her next words paused me in my tracks. "Don't you want to know the truth? The truth of your existence? Don
Esme's POV "Uh…. How do we get down? Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't recall there being a rope in the bag." I said. "There isn't. There has to be some kind of way through it since there isn't a way around it. I'll take a look." He said and moved away and though I wanted to stop him, I resisted the urge. "It's just as I thought." I suddenly heard him blurt out. "Did you find something?" I asked as I made my way to the spot which he was crouched over. "There's a rope ladder here. It's been set securely in place and seems to go all the way down." He mentioned it to me and I touched the ladder, confirming how sturdy it was. I didn't know if to consider this a good thing. A prepared ladder just sitting around waiting here for us might not be a good sign, I don't even know what we should expect. "Who could have put it here?" I asked briskly. "I don't know and I don't think we should be worrying about that at the moment. We'll have to get down and keep our guard up since there's s
Esme's POVA wonderful aroma tickled my senses, causing me to turn sideways but my eyes forced open when a sharp pain from my leg hit me.I groaned and tossed the blanket wrapped around me to the side before rising a bit, carefully sitting up. I feel really groggy and my body isn't even cooperating. I scratched at my eyes and yawned, stretching a bit. The delicious smell came again and I looked around to see Axel, he was sitting by the fire and seemed to be cooking something."You're finally awake, good morning." He greeted me with a smile while I replied accordingly."Good morning.""How do you feel?" He asked and I paused for a bit, trying to find the best way to describe how I felt."Honestly, I don't feel good at all. My leg still hurts, though not as bad as yesterday, it's painful but bearable. I feel tired, my throat's a bit dry and the nausea's back again. I feel bloated and my boobs hurt, they're swollen." I surmised."That's a good sign." He sighed."What?""You're only exper
Esme's POV"What?!" I blurted weakly."If I'm ever going to have a chance to finish the mission, I can't lose a leg. Please there has to be some other way." I pleaded, my eyes watering.The thought of my leg being cut off, coupled with the pain, wasn't something I wanted to imagine."There's only one other way I can think of but it's not guaranteed. If it doesn't work, the poison will still be able to get to your heart and kill you." He suggested"Just try it at least, please." I begged and he took a deep breath. He brought out a pair of pants and tore it into long strips before tying one very tightly at the start of the swelling and he did the same at the end, towards my foot."What are you going to do?" I couldn't help but ask. "I'm going to try to see if I can get the poison to flow out with your blood, that's why I tied up your leg, so it wouldn't be able to spread. I'll cut open the swelling and we can let the blood flow out. I'll cauterize the wound right after but it's going to
Esme's POVMy scream rented the air as soon as my eyes darted to the ground. Leafy vines had wrapped around my legs and were moving up my body fast.The vines moved smoothly on their own, surrounding my body and holding me tightly in place. What kind of plant is this? And how can it move so fluidly on its own? It seems to be intelligent as well, going for my legs first.Axel rushed over and his eyes widened when he saw my current dilemma."Esme!" He called out worriedly before pausing. He took a few steps back, creating a good distance between us.If he gets too close, the vines might ensnare him as well and we'll both be in trouble."Please stop struggling, these are carnivorous vines. If you move too much, it might try to harm you." He warned and I paused, my heart beating wildly in my chest.A leafy and thorn filled vine creeped over to me and wrapped around my body, shredding my clothes. Wait a minute, it seems like it's trying to gain access to my skin. After having escaped deat
Esme's POV "Wow. It's so phantasmagoric. Looking through this boundary, the Forbidden Zone seems so beautiful but it's the deadliest place in existence." Axel commented. "I agree with you completely, it's so beautiful but we have to be careful. You remember what Irma said, looks are often deceiving." I reminded him. I moved behind him and opened the backpack, placing the traveler's stone in it. "Let's go." I beckoned and we both walked through the boundary and into the Forbidden Zone. The place was massive, spanning for miles but also really beautiful with huge trees, clear skies and nice vegetation. The air felt cool and relaxing, the songs of beautiful birds filled the air and butterflies littered the place, flying around the low grasses. This place feels like it was created right out of a dream, it looks like paradise. "The view is awesome and I've never seen trees like these before, the flowers are pretty." I blurted. "Trees like these are rather rare, they grow naturally i
Esme's POV"What? What do you mean by that?" I asked, still not putting my knife away."I knew you were coming, long before you even came up with the plan. I wouldn't be a seer if I didn't know this, would I?" She asked softly.Damn it. I had royally underestimated this woman and I had completely forgotten the fact that she was clairvoyant.But if she knew I was coming, is it possible that this is a trap? Is that perhaps why Rachel had not reacted when Axel and I passed by? Does she already know as well? I wouldn't be surprised now if several guards burst through that door any minute.This is all just so hard to deal with."Cast your fears away, dear. Rachel doesn't know a thing." She said as if reading my mind."Why should I believe a single word you say? You're Rachel's friend after all. You could be trying to trick me." I countered."Yes, but I wouldn't gain anything from that, would I? By the time I arrived, I already knew the plans that Rachel had for you. I knew she was going to
Esme's POVI put on the guard's clothes and braided my hair into a ponytail before wrapping the braided part round and round in a circular pattern, holding it in place with a bobby pin and putting on a cap to cover it.I looked in the mirror and was satisfied with how I looked so I left."I'm done." I alerted and he paused to take a good look at me. I could see a smile stretching the edge of his lips."Is my disguise convincing enough or am I missing something?" I asked in a fret."No, you aren't missing anything. Your disguise is pretty convincing. I'm rather surprised how good you look even in men's clothes." He said and I didn't have time to decide if he was either flirting or just teasing."Alright, let's go." I urged and we both headed for the door. But I quickly made a stop at my bedside table to grab the fruit knife just in case I might really need it.He went out first and when he told me the coast was clear, I followed.He locked the door from the outside but left the key in