Nerezza's Point of View
I walked in before Farren. Came face to face with a gawking crowd. As all their eyes turned to me, I schooled my face into neutrality. Made them all believe that I was above them. Better in every way. The room was silent whilst I walked in.
Scanning the room, I came up short. Reggie was there with Beatrice. Even Harold was deeper into the ballroom. But Reginald was nowhere to be seen. As always, he would make a late entrance. Yet, that small comfort wasn't enough for my shriveling heart.
Between Priamos calling and Reginald and I having a small fallout, it felt like my soul was on fire. Burning into ash faster than I could put it out. But I had to keep a straight face. Pleasantly smile when I needed to. Murmur some encouragement when it was appropriate and above all, I still had to maintain my dominant air. This was Farren's day and if one person spoke out of turn, they would face my wrath tenfold.
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Reggie's Point of ViewNerezza had crossed a line. From concubine to the next prospective queen. The little whore was climbing up the ranks faster than I could get rid of her. A peasant roaming around in the halls of a palace. How pathetic. To make matters worse, everyone now thought the royal family was sponsoring a low-life girl from a broken background. The sister-in-law of a cheap slut.Our reputation was tarnished. Trashed. There was no coming back from this. Not whilst they still paraded around inside these halls.Taking my mother's place beside my father wasn't an option for the bitch. Not when I had something to do about it. Her little views of how a kingdom should be run were warped. Too expansive. A kingdom needed a strong and ruthless leader. Not some backward system concerning rights. For decades, the rich became richer whilst the poor dissolved into nothingness. It was just the way things ran. It was a perfect system
Nerezza's Point of ViewThe party had gone better than I had first thought. After our little affectionate display, the crowd had dispersed with one glare from Reginald. None of them spoke of the incident for the rest of the night. Only smiled and laughed when appropriate.But even with the public display, no one treated me differently. Hell, not even Reginald. We kept a respectable distance from each other. Exchanged heated glances. And that was the end of it. There was still a standard to uphold. Even if the entire ballroom could hear him say how much he loved me. How I was his secret to be loved in the dark.His revelation had brought goosebumps to my arms. So much for not stealing Farren's light for the evening. Not that the girl seemed to mind. She had a gorgeous dark-skinned girl on her arm. Both looked happy with the other's company. They often danced together when the music grew more upbeat. Giggled at some ladies when they threw
Nerezza's Point of ViewAs promised, when I woke up I dove into what I could find on Reggie. Phaedra had sparked a flame in my heart I had missed for a long time. A love for her people that I couldn't describe. She had left her home to try and find a better life for her people. Left the ones she loved behind in pursuit of a better alternative than what she already had. It was admirable. Thing of honor. Another foreign word in a place like this.I dug deep into everything Reggie had done over the last couple of years. Especially the year his mother had passed and the king was at his lowest. From all the property he owned to all the land under his control. Which should have been none, according to my current knowledge. All power was supposed to be handed back to Reginald once he was fit to rule again.But there were several discrepancies in the books. Several entries didn't make sense or fit in anywhere.The day wore on and I
Nerezza's Point of View Five Years Later Reginald never got better. Instead, with time he had gotten worse. Became frail beyond comparison. We all knew he was on his death bed. Taking his last breaths. To say my heart was broken would be an understatement. Shattered into oblivion. The reality of losing him set in now. Clattered inside my hollow frame. Prince Reginald was now ruling over all of us. More like a cunt was hiding behind a sweet façade. I was adrift in the ocean with sharks trailing my blood. There was no place for a harem of a dead king. We would be cast to the side. Left to bleed out and have others feast on our flesh. He had made his disdain for me clearer over the last years. Even shunned Farren and Phaedra openly. Once his father was gone, we would no doubt soon follow. Be left on the street like beggars after he took us for everything. Unless I clawed myself to power once mor
Nerezza's Point of ViewFarren was at the dining room table when I got back to our chambers. A massive selection was splayed out in front of her. Mostly sweet. That hasn't changed since the day I met her. Everything containing sugar was open to consumption. Although, her petite body had never changed. I gave credit to her strong werewolf genes for that.Sadly, I had pulled on the shorter stick when it came to that. Plump and curvacious, I had never known any other body besides this one.Her head bobbed up from the paper in her hand. Her soft smile spread across her lips at me. Until she noticed what I was wearing. Brows furrowed together. "You look like you have seen your mate at the gate." She joked, referencing Priamos. I blanched even more and set down the small clutch I had taken with me.The ladies could be damned for the day. My absence wouldn't even be noticed. Not until they wanted to insult me later on. At least now they
Alastair's Point of ViewNerezza was a vision in that coat of hers. In that silky soft emerald dress she wore. From the curve of her hips to the way her eyebrows cocked up, showing her irritation. To us, she was an open book, even if she wanted to remain closed. Her head kept looking in every direction. Making sure that no one was around. At this hour, no one would be. This ruined the fun slightly. Having an audience always meant for a better performance.Amadeus fidgetted beside me, unable to control his urge to have her. Tried desperately to coral himself in. I kept smiling at her. Kept waiting for her to come closer. For her to let us ravage her. She was at Ciaran's party that night so there was no doubt in my mind that she was more fire than water. It hadn't occurred to her yet but with our guidance, it would. Stiffly, she would lean her weight from foot to foot. Nervously, her fingers coiled around each other. Those green eyes took in eve
Nerezza's Point of ViewSneaking back into the palace was more difficult than I had previously thought. Somehow the guards had doubled. Closed in almost every corner of the grounds. Being on the outside, it was even more difficult to predict where they might be. Where I should enter. If they caught me, they would certainly report it to Reggie. And I wasn't in the mood for his bullshit tonight. Nor did I want him to ever use my mates against me when the time came to take his throne.The revelation of what I had just done didn't help my cause much either. My mind was a frazzled mess. From how hard I came to having to leave them behind. I hadn't thought that I would actually be upset when I left them. But something in my heart tugged and pulled and groaned. Maybe it was my wolf or maybe it was just the happy memories of Priamos and I together haunting me.Either way, I wouldn't let another of my mates interfere with my life. Disrupt it. I
Lysander's Point of ViewMother was in the kitchen again. Cooked all of my dad's favorite meals. Along with my own. Pastries and bread. Singing a lullaby she had sung to me since the day I was born. Her head bobbed up and down as she mixed what I could only assume was soda bread. Every inch of the counter space was filled. Flour was strewn everywhere.She always did this when something bothered her. Like the weather or how G. R. R. Martin hasn't released the rest of some series she loved. Food had always been a comfort to her. But to the rest of our household, it only spelled disaster for the rest of the day.I tried my best to stay as quiet as possible when I entered the kitchen. Stole one of the already baked loaves off of her counter. But this woman had always had a sixth sense. Knew exactly when I was causing shit.Ma whirled on me, eyes wide and a wooden spoon raised. I backed up slightly. Caught red-handed with the lo
Alvara's Point of ViewEveryone was waiting. Everything was ready. Perfect. The best day of my life. But I couldn't help the sudden surge of nerves. What if the cake fell off the table? What if Ciaran had forgotten the rings? So many things could go wrong so fast. It was an endless cycle of what would be worse.Someone showing up in white or the brides' maids tripping halfway down the aisle. "Can you stop fidgeting? Geez. You look perfect!" Teagan exclaimed. Downed the last bit of champagne in her glass. I frowned at her. Looked toward Adelia to back me up. She only shrugged. Smiled and stood.Her long blue dress swayed against the tiles. Heels clicked as she moved closer. Wrapping her arms around my shoulders, we stared into the large mirror together. "You do look perfect. And you are marrying the loves of your life. Nothing can ruin today. I promise." She tried to comfort me. It wasn't working. My large A-line dress did the best it could at hiding the fact that I was pregnant. Nea
Nerezza's Point of ViewFarren had changed the estate exponentially. Enhanced it to the point where I was uncertain if we had come to the right place. No longer were the walls a dull black fence. In their place stood a large hedge with flowers sprouting in every direction. Security posted at the white frosted gates. White gravel leading into the place. It was exactly the type of wonderland I had thought her capable of constructing. A mansion fit for a fairy queen.I could feel my jaw slipping open. Feel awe creep up on me. She had accomplished so much in just over two weeks' time. Knew where her strengths were and used them to the best of her abilities. It was astonishing. We stopped in front of the gates. Were greeted by guards I knew the faces of. Couldn't place them immediately until one spoke up. "Miss Nerezza! Farren wasn't expecting you to be back so soon!" The man exclaimed. Held open his arms for a hug. I looked back at my mates. Noticed their frowns. But the gesture finally
Nerezza's Point of ViewWe had gathered everyone in the open space in front of the house. Gave them all blankets. Scavenged some clothes in all the surrounding houses and dressed the youngest of the children. Not all of the garments fit properly but it was enough to stave off the cold. Protect their innocence. Especially seeing as they had been through so much already.Conan was still passed out in the blanket Priamos had taken him away in. Milla sat close to him. Hugged his legs to her. Whimpered whenever one of my mates would get too close or linger too long. Her clear distrust of anyone was to be expected but I had never imagined someone of her age would already possess such hatred for other people.Alastair had turned back into his wolf form. Scouted for any remaining men in the surrounding area. He made his second lap around the premises before I stopped him. Held my hand on the patch of white he had on his forehead. The dark brown wolf nuzzled my hand. Looked me in the eyes."Go
Nerezza's Point of ViewThe brute had no time to recover. Or dodge. Only time to twist before Zaven lunged at him. This gave me an opening. Enough time to slip past the brawling bodies. Snarls and yips echoed into the hall. Slithered down my spine.I pushed them all away. Focussed on finding my son again. The chaos coming from downstairs was enough to bring me to my knees. The fighting had spilled inside. Men peppered the house with bullets. But none came up. Saw me at the top and shot but never pursued. "Conan!" I called down. Felt fear ripping at my heart again. If he was down there, the odds of him making it out alive were slipping away by the second. "I am in here!" The boy called dutifully. His voice came from behind me. From the door I had seen the brute enter. Slipping inside, I closed it. Pushed the closest thing I could find in front of it. Which was a doll house. Large enough that a toddler could climb in and disappear. The roof of the house was a bit worn but brand new t
Nerezza's Point of ViewThe second floor of the house wasn't nearly as run down as the first floor. Held much more luxury. Paintings of people long since passed. Pieces of art. The floors were of high-quality stone. Made me feel almost guilty for walking all over them with my dirty feet. Children's toys were also scattered about. Littered the landing of the stairs. Along with the modern living room beyond. Off to the right, there was a kitchen. Neat. Clean. State of the art. Glass front cupboards lit up by lights on the inside. It almost rivaled my own."This way." The elderly lady whispered. Touched my arm briefly in passing. She lead us down a short hall. Past two other rooms with their doors tightly shut. A bathroom light was on at the far end, just beyond the third room. This was where the lady slowed down. Stopped in front of. The door had a name on it in colorful lettering. Conan.I felt my heart skip a beat. Until voices drifted into my ears. Amadeus hadn't followed us up. H
Nerezza's Point of ViewWe moved toward the light. Split up into our respective groups as we progressed. Our paws made less noise in the snow. Or maybe I couldn't hear them anymore above the pounding of my own heart. Either way, Amadeus and I remained behind the rest. Lagged a bit.From our current vantage point, I could make out two trucks closest to us. Neither looked to be filled with children, which was a slight relief. Until I realized where most of them were. In a hole, unable to ever return to their hopeful parents.Under Reginald's rule, several hundred children had vanished, seemingly, into thin air. I had a part to play in that monstrosity of negligence. Had always swept it under the rug so that he focussed on what I had wanted first. Now I came to regret it. Knew that those children had most likely been peers of Conan's later on. Priamos lead the way for Lysander's team. Curled his head left. The assassins and the heir padded off in that direction. Settled in somewhere out
Nerezza's Point of ViewConan might be in a dark and freezing hole somewhere. Trapped by other children's corpses. His soul unable to return to the goddess by proper burial. Every instinct in my body screamed at me to run to that village. Scream at the top of my lungs until my son answered. But it was out of the question.I would get killed before I even made it inside the first circle of houses. Bunkers. Whatever they used to store these neglected children in. Anger mixed in with my despair. Coated my heart in a sickly black slime.They had to pay. Whether Conan was alive or dead, they had to face the consequences of their actions. Humans had long since forgotten there were monsters lurking in the dark. Had forgotten that firelight never scared us away. We would have to hunt all of them down. Every last one. Devour them.Because they had taken my son from me. The last ray of hope I had left in this life. No amount of tears would fill the hole he had left inside of me. I braced mysel
Nerezza's Point of ViewPriamos, the twins, and Lysander set out at first light. Four men innocently walking around in the jungle wouldn't spark much interest in the enemies we had more to the north. They had taken hunting bows with them. Arrows. Face coverings. No one would suspect them to be anything but four men trying to find food in this frozen wasteland.Zaven had set out to look for more firewood for the day. Or so he had claimed but I had a feeling there was something else brewing on his mind. Whatever it might have been was irrelevant. Trivial. We could deal with all the emotional fallout of the group once Conan was safely back within our reach."Have you ever fought someone before?" Kalliked asked. Shook out his black hair from some snow that had fallen on him. The snow made his caramel skin look lighter than it was. Made him seem less threatening and more clumsy. But it also made the white tattoos surrounding his neck stand out.Shaking off some of the same snowfall, I nodd
Nerezza's Point of ViewWe had drifted off to sleep. Comforted by the various warm bodies, I couldn't help myself. Felt more loved at that moment than I ever had before. It was a revelation to know that after so long, you were indeed loved and cherished. By the very men you had wronged time and time again.The goddess had known exactly who to give me. Even if I had failed to see that at the beginning. At least I was grateful now. If not for the cold then for their warmth.A persistent knocking drove me out of my slumber. I looked toward the door. Noticed the knocking turned into a frantic beat. This made me wiggle my way out of the mess of bodies. Some of them were even snuggled together. Like Lysander holding Priamos. Zaven holding Alastair. Slipping out of bed, I stared down at them. Felt my heart swell.After everything we had been through, they still remained. Devoted themselves to my happiness. To finding Conan. A few more hours of rest couldn't do anything to them but improve th