Nerezza's Point of ViewI hadn't been this vulnerable to anyone before. Maybe Priamos but most of my memories of him were locked away. Stored somewhere I never wanted to open. But opening up to Amadeus felt natural. Easy. His comforting hand was on my back. The kisses he would place on my forehead as the water turned cold.Neither of us wanted this to end. This moment could carry on for the rest of eternity and I would remain happy. Because I had never felt this safe with anyone. Not even Priamos. The thought of him leaving ripped open my heart. But I was still confined to my chambers. Denied any visitors.Especially my mate.Reluctantly, I pulled away from him. His eyes followed my face downward. Curved over my collar bones. Ran down the length of my ample chest. Settled just below them, where my heart was. As if he could see it breaking.I had no idea how long I had been in his embrace. Long enough that the water had run cold. Bubbles had disappeared. His brows furrowed when I scoot
Nerezza's Point of ViewThere was no time to dry off. Or to even get dressed. Both of us were spent. Tired from both baring our history to fucking like animals in the cold bath. At least we had bathed again. Washed each other clean until our skin felt raw.Amadeus had gotten out first. Dried off and handed me a towel. I barely covered myself before heading into my room. He followed on silent feet. Watched me move and discard the towel on the floor. Dipping into bed, I let the cotton soak me up. Warm my insides. A sigh of satisfaction clawed free from my throat. Amadeus stood at the end of the bed. Kept his eyes locked on me until I raised myself on my elbows and glared at him. "Are you going to stand there the entire night?" I asked, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. When my body gave way to weariness, I became grumpy. Disgruntled. Same could be said for when I was hungry. Amadeus chuckled instead of taking the brutal tone to heart."I just wanted to get another long look
Alastair's Point of View It was well past sunrise and there was no sign of Amadeus. Trouble had a way of catching up to my twin but this was ridiculous. At least he could have called. Set my mind at ease to where he was. But no. Instead, he made me wait in the foyer, legs crossed and the clock ticking away. For all I knew, they could have discovered him. Locked him up somewhere and I would never see him again. Nerezza could be thrown in there with him. No. At least if something happened to her, Phaedra would contact me. Tell me about what had happened and make sure that I came to her rescue. Or so I hoped. Sighing, I scrubbed my face with a hand. Let the dread of the day settle into my bones. This wasn't what I had envisioned for my life. Not even remotely. But it was my life now. There was no persuading Nerezza to choose another path. So, I had to sit in silence and worry until someone made their presence known. Another minute ticked by and I heard the gate open. Excitement jabbe
Nerezza's Point of ViewReginald had sent an entire team to dress me up for our lunch. According to one of the maids, she had overheard from another maid that Reginald was taking me out for lunch. To some fancy restaurant somewhere in the city center. They had gushed about it profusely. How a lowly commoner now held all the attention of the king. How there might still be hope for them. When I turned my back, another maid would scold them. Tell them how I was the exception. About how beautiful I was and that was why the king had wanted me among all others.w I pretended not to listen. Or to get offended by the statements. All they had ever known was this life. As I had once only known my simple life as well. So much more happened around them that they weren't aware of. I was glad they still had that level of innocence. Had someone to fight their battles for them.Somewhere in my heart, I knew I wanted the same. Had relished Amadeus coming here because I imagined him fighting Reginaldf
Priamos' Point of ViewI was halfway around the world, following a lead I had gotten. Years later, the rumors still ran like wildfire. Of a gang that stole children. Sold them on the black market to families who couldn't make their own. Nothing especially sinister happened to the children. Most were bought by wealthy people. It enraged me all the more. Some nurses were in on it. Received money for procuring the best offspring. Once she had stolen a child, she would vanish into the night. Change her name. Start somewhere else. The cycle went on and on.My leads had dried up in the first few months. People were tight-lipped. Wouldn't give away the people who helped them to survive. Gave them money for whatever reason. Money that they had gotten from families buying kids. All of it was sickening. I was in some human country now. With mountain ranges on all sides. No electricity. Running water was also only meant for the wealthier families here. The village was small but I had found a h
Prince Reginald's Point of ViewThis was the part of being the prince that I detested the most. Mountains of paperwork. Meetings to be held that were of no great concern. Late nights filling in forms and setting forth new motions for the upcoming week. Nothing to write home about. Not that home life was any more interesting than this.Where was the action? The war and human misery? Where were the people bowing at your feet, begging for mercy? This was not what I had had in mind when I agreed to take over from father sooner rather than later. Although, the bugger was somehow beating the odds. I'd have to make a mental note of it to tell the doc to add extra of that poison from now on. His inclining health was a problem.Just as I set down my first mug of coffee for the morning, Beatrice stormed in. Her hair was a mess. Robe falling around her, untied. Which was highly immoral. But her face looked worse than normal. Her too-large eyes were now in slits. Nose scrunched up in distaste. I
Nerezza's Point of ViewSomehow they found me in my old home. All three of them. None of them knew what to say to me when they entered. But I barely acknowledged their presence. Dug the palms of my heels into the carpet I had walked over the last time my parents had been alive. Having them here almost felt like we were disturbing my parents. That they were sleeping upstairs and the moment they noticed boys with me, I would never hear the end of it.No one had bought the house. For obvious reasons. The walls were cracked. Windows shattered. The sink was stolen from the cupboard. It was all in ruin. Most of our possessions were still inside. Crumbling with age. Still smelt faintly of my mother. Her perfume a painful reminder of what I had endured the last few years.Old family photos hung on the walls. As if someone had drawn a line at tearing down the personal touches. But the rest was a nightmare. Feces, both of a person and animal, lay scattered about. Needles for drug addicts. The c
Priamos' Point of ViewThe cold bit into my skin. Pumped ice through my veins. Blackness had somehow seeped in right after I turned. Well, was forced to turn by Nerezza's palpable fear. Something was wrong. Missing. I needed to get to her. Get out of this frozen landscape. She was alone in this world and from that incapacitating feeling, I knew she needed me.Even though the freezing cold surrounded me, there was a warmth at my side. I turned to look at my left flank. Noticed the tiny head still draped over me. Puffs of air took form around the nostrils. Shallow but there. The fawn from earlier.I angled my head upward and noticed the frozen blood from the mother just above me. The sun was slowly creeping back over the horizon. Made the ice and snow glitter around me. It did nothing to curb the cold. Or even make a dent in it. Exhaling, I tried to sit up but the fawn stirred and I stopped. Spooking it would result in a large headache for me.I had to get back. But I couldn't leave hi
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