Nerezza's Point of View
"You can't just cut their wages again! It is inhumane to do this! I raised it for a reason!" I exclaimed from across the table. Reggie scrunched his face up in disgust. Looked towards Reginald for support. But the king just placed his hands beneath his chin. Stared at the prince as if he wasn't going to fight this battle for his son.
"We are running extremely high costs at the moment. Cutting their wages is the logical thing to do." Reggie argued back. Phaedra grit her teeth beside me. I felt her leg bounce up and down. A sign that she was irritated with him. Getting angrier by the second. I understood. Wanted nothing more than to rip out his throat myself. The arrogant bastard.
Our workers needed their pay more than we needed luxury. They depended on the money to feed their families. Provide for their children. I had raised the wages by more than 25% after one of the maids had stolen from me. Cried that she c
Nerezza's Point of View They had been following me ever since I left the palace. I could feel their gazes settling on me. Feel them strip the layers of fine clothes from my body. As if fighting with Reginald hadn’t been degrading enough, I now had to deal with men who couldn’t mind their own business. Most likely, they were sent by Reggie. To follow and assess. Or to kill. Whichever he had decided today in that fuck up of a meeting. The odds were leaning in favor of killing me. Whatever way he had decided, I couldn't have them trace my steps all the way back to my house. It would not just expose my resting place but my mates within. If Reggie got hold of the fact that I had two mates in Makatza, I was sure he would use it against me. Contort them to follow his whims. Would Bellamy jump in to save his friends?
Lysander’s Point of ViewShe was a storm made flesh. Fury coursing through her veins. Flames licked up the edges of her eyes. I could see her fierce determination.But telling me she had two other mates where she was headed? Not a snowball’s chance in hell. It was just another way of getting rid of me for some reason. From the horrified look on her face when she realized I was her mate, I knew she would go to extreme lengths to keep me away. No one has ever had more than one mate. Much less three.The goddess wouldn’t damn me in such a cruel way.We walked for what felt like ages. Winded through buildings. Streets. Alleys. Until we reached the edge of the west side of town. The good side. The one my parents had refused to live in, even with all of their money. Money doesn’t bring happiness, that’s what my mother had always said.Looking at the large houses now, with their manicured lawns
Nerezza’s Point of ViewHe had seen right through me. Noticed the flash of pain in my eyes and dug in his heels. Slammed into me like a ton of bricks. No remorse. Just curiosity. I had wanted nothing more than to run and hide. The girl I used to be screamed at me to no longer be in his presence. To move away. Distance myself.I had given in to that girl. Fled faster than I thought my two legs would be able to. Threw the spoon down and locked my door the moment I got inside. Alastair and Amadeus looked shocked at my revelation. Surprised that I felt something as stupid as fear. Because to them, I had been nothing but cold and calculated since they showed up on my door just two days ago.Now, they would look at me differently. Notice the cracks in my armor. The flaws in my design. I hated it. Hated knowing that just with a few words, Lysander could press me over the edge. And we had just met. Had just noticed the air being sucked fr
Nerezza's Point of ViewI woke up to several missed calls from Farren. Texts from Phaedra all but screaming at me where I was. Rolling onto my stomach, I let the phone drop into the pillows. Groaned when the cool pillow beside me touched my face.They were worried. Didn't elaborate further on the matter. But from all the messages, I knew that they were searching for me. Knew that I was somewhere but hadn't come to look at the house I had told them about nearly three years ago.Rolling back, I unlocked my phone. Dialed Farren. She answered immediately. Her voice high pitched and strained. "Where the fuck are you?" She asked in a harsh whisper. I groaned again. Bit my lip before telling her off. Telling her that she wasn't my mother. But I was close to being hers."I am at the house. Shit went sideways-" I took away the phone to look at the time. Noticed it was five in the morning. "yesterday. So I slept here with Amadeus, Alastair
Nerezza's Point of ViewI had given in to their demands. In return, they had given in to mine. Bellamy and his men would be there within the day. Secure the pack and make sure that no royal guards may enter. There was something Phaedra wasn't telling me about Sand Storm. Something that Reggie wanted but couldn't get without invading.But I put that uneasy thought to bed. Focussed rather on the task at hand. Getting ready for my first date in a long time. I had to stop at the palace. Get myself ready. Once I was done, I would meet the pair at the most luxurious of the malls. What they had planned illuded me completely. Breakfast and a movie felt too normal.Bowling was too bland.The two of them had something else up their sleeves. Refused to tell me until we were there. They were scared I might back out if I knew beforehand. Somehow, they knew me already.The guards greeted me as I stepped through the gates. Noticed
Nerezza's Point of viewThe ice rink was cold. Deathly so. If I had gone with the dress instead of the jumpsuit, I knew I would have had a massive problem. At least it wasn't bowling or a movie. Something to physically do that took away the rest of my thoughts.Not that I have ever skated before in my life. Even walking in heels would sometimes prove difficult for my balance. Yet, here we were. Both Amadeus and Alastair looked like kids in a candy store. Watched as people darted by. Practiced their flips and twirls. Some of them looked more graceful than others.Posters lined the walls, depicting people in several different positions. Flyers hung on parts of the glass, telling everyone about ice skating lessons. About becoming a champion ice skater and where to sign up."I have never done this," I murmured below the loudspeakers blaring music. There was a coach on the ice as well. I could signal him out from the rest by the lack
Lysander's Point of ViewLeaving her there was hell. Sneaking out and not letting her know was even worse. I knew she would take it badly from what we had spoken about last night. Would most likely want to castrate me for leaving without saying anything. But I had a job. People to support. Just like she had. And there was no doubt in my mind that I would have missed another day if she had asked nicely. Or if she had asked menacingly. Any way. Hell, even a smile would have been enough to keep me at her side.Work was a bitch. Slow. Boring. New programs to design and manage. The team leader knew next to nothing of what he was doing there in the first place. All of it grew to a crawl once I thought of her. Lying in her bed. Most likely wondering where I was and what I was doing. Black curls splayed on the pillow, catching in the morning sun.Those emerald eyes lined with tears at my absence.It was enough to drive me mad. Make
Nerezza's Point of ViewReginald hadn't been lying when he said there would be guards everywhere. From the fence surrounding the palace to them roaming outside in the garden. They were on high alert. Carried guns on their shoulders and never spoke to each other.Which only increased my frustration more. He had sided with Reggie about lowering the wages of common folk. Now he locked me in this palace after he had told me to go after my mates. His actions confused and contradicted themselves. Made me believe that it wasn't just his body dying but his brain as well.Farren and Phaedra bore the brunt of my anger. Had taken to their rooms instead of being in my presence. I could hear Phaedra typing away. Farren hummed to herself as she sculpted things with her clay. Because of our close bond, Reginald had banned them from going out as well. Both had to cancel important meetings until further notice.All because some old man had jealou
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