ZEKEAgain.They threw me back in the damn dungeon again.I sat there, back pressed against the damp stone, staring at nothing, breathing like the air itself was against me. My palms slid into my hair, and I tugged—hard—like I could rip the frustration from my skull.I should’ve kept still. Kept quiet. Should’ve played the role of the grateful prisoner and rotted away in that cursed walls like they wanted.But no.I had to be a hero. I had to leap in front of a damn blade that wasn’t even meant for me.Now?Now I was back in this pit like some beast being taught a lesson.The ache in my spine from hitting the floor hadn’t dulled. The shackles—loose as they were—still clung to my wrist. I might walk free on occasion, but I’d never truly be free.Not here.Not in this place.I kicked at the moldy straw underfoot, pacing the cell like an animal penned too long. I’d started working through a fresh list of curses—some old, some inventive—when I heard the sound.Boots.Keys.And silence.Th
DARIUSMy eyes snapped open.The ceiling above me blurred, then came into focus. I lay still for a moment, listening. Breathing. I could hear the scrape of steel far outside the tower walls. The shifting of feet. Whispers. Then—nothing.I pushed myself up, slow but steadily, and Veyra moved quickly to my side.“You shouldn’t—”I held a hand up, cutting her off.My body ached, filled with something that didn’t quite feel like pain, but I forced myself upright and walked toward the window. The sky was iron gray. Storm on the horizon.I flexed my fingers and noticed the bandages around my hands. Tattered. Dried with blood. But when I ripped the cloth away, expecting raw flesh, there was only skin—scarred, yes—but sealed.I tilted my head, inspecting the marks. The poison was still there, deep in my bones, but the wound was healing faster than I thought. It was as though my body was fighting it off, the curse burning its way out of me.“How long?” My voice was rough.“A few hours, Your Ma
Content Warning:This chapter contains scenes of non-consensual sexual content (rape). Please proceed with caution.ZEKEThe creak of the door yanked me out of whatever half-sleep I’d stumbled into, head resting against the edge of the bed like some damn pet waiting for its master. My neck screamed as I turned too fast, but I didn’t care.Not yet.It wasn’t him.Just the witch.I let out a short, joyless laugh and hauled myself to my feet, even though the room tilted for a second.“Oh. Great. It’s you,” I said, voice raw and hoarse. “For a second, I thought the King had decided to come back and finish the job. Shame. I was almost starting to look forward to it.”She stepped into the room, quiet as a ghost, but the two guards behind her were anything but. I clocked them immediately, big, armed with swords and posted like statues at the door the moment it shut behind them.“You’re hurt,” she said, eyes skimming over me. Not soft. Not cruel. Just observing.I stopped myself from touching
I never thought I’d hear him cry. Not like this. Not the kind of broken, gut-wrenching sobs that forced their way out of him, his shoulders trembling as he wiped at his face with shaking hands. I had seen him angry before, had seen him spit venom and wield magic with the force of a god—but never this. Never tears. “You lied to me,” he whispered, his voice raw. “You never loved me, did you?” I didn’t answer. What was there to say? That I had once meant it? That there had been a time when I touched him and wanted nothing more than to keep him close? That I had whispered his name in the dark, hands buried in his hair, lips pressed to his skin, and believed—even for a moment—that I could love him more than I loved power? It didn’t matter now. Because I had taken what I needed. And he knew it. The torches in the throne room flickered, their light casting flickering shadows over the polished stone and wall. He stood before me, hands trembling at his sides, magic coiling around him
ZEKEI knew the city stank before I even stepped out of the shadows. The air was thick with the smell of rot—magic, corruption and everything in between—and it made my stomach churn. The streets weren’t much better. Piles of rubble, broken stalls, and the low hum of people desperate for anything that could make their lives worth living again.Not that I cared. I didn’t need any of them. I had my own problems, and none of them had anything to do with whatever curse had taken over this godforsaken city.I moved quickly, blending into the crowd, keeping my face low, my hands stiff. The coins in my pouch felt heavier, my fingers twitching to touch, to make sure they were still real, but there was more to steal. There was always more to take.“Watch where you’re going!” A rough hand gripped my arm, pulling me to a stop.I glanced up. Tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing the insignia of the city guard. “Do you have a problem, soldier?”He sneered, his fingers tightening. “I could have you th
ZEKEPain. That was the first thing I felt. A deep, throbbing pain at the back of my skull, spreading down my neck untill it burned. The second thing I felt was fear. I gasped awake, my breath puffing out of me as I sat up too fast. My head spun, my vision tilting before snapping into focus. Cold stone beneath me, damp air curling around my skin. A cell. A godsdamned dungeon. No. No, no, no. I shot to my feet, my balance wavering. My hands were bound behind my back with thick, iron cuffs, and and quickly spun around, trying to find it. But my bags—my loot—gone. Every last piece of treasure I’d risked my neck for, stolen right from under me. A thief, undone by another thief no doubt by the guards that had taken me.I cursed under my breath, pacing to the far end of the cell where a tiny, barred window sat high up on the wall. The only sliver of light in this miserable hole. Grimacing, I pressed up against the rough stone and tried to get a look outside. The world tilted at an
ZEKE Pain. Again. It greeted me like an old friend, but this time, it’s wasn’t just my head that hurt. No, it had been everywhere he’d touched me and the pain of whatever he had done to me when he tasted my blood. I forced myself to my feet but when I did, I realized something—my hands weren’t bound. A grin formed on my lips, That was their first mistake. The dungeon was as dark and damp as before, the stench of rot clinging to the air, but beyond the iron bars, I could hear them. “…rotation changes in a quarter hour,” one muttered. “I still say we should’ve taken his hands,” another grumbled. “Not our call. Besides, he won’t last long.” A sigh. “Would’ve been easier if the king had just killed him.” I barely breathed as I listened, mapping their movements, counting the time between each shift in position. My fingers found the hidden slit in my shirt, the small, sharpened blade tucked away. I waited. The footsteps faded. My heart pounded as I worked the lock, my hands
DARIUSA petty little thief. A mere human.A low growl rumbled in my throat as I paced the length of the throne room, my steps controlled. But the fury beneath my skin was anything but.The soft tap of footsteps behind me had my head snapping over my shoulder.“Your Majesty.”Veyra knelt before me, her head bowed in deference. I turned to face her, hands clasped behind my back, my patience hanging by a thread.“Tell me,” I said, my voice low. “What did you see?”She hesitated. Her eyes darted around the room before lowering to the floor.“I went to the dungeon,” she said carefully. “I took his blood, Your Majesty.”I inhaled. The sharp tang of magic clung to her, mixing with the unmistakable scent of fear.“The magic of the stone has imprinted itself deep within him,” she continued. “And…”She hesitated.I stepped closer. “And what, witch?”Veyra swallowed. “He is your mate.”The words struck like a blade to the gut and my lips pulled back into a sneer, a hollow laugh tearing from my
Content Warning:This chapter contains scenes of non-consensual sexual content (rape). Please proceed with caution.ZEKEThe creak of the door yanked me out of whatever half-sleep I’d stumbled into, head resting against the edge of the bed like some damn pet waiting for its master. My neck screamed as I turned too fast, but I didn’t care.Not yet.It wasn’t him.Just the witch.I let out a short, joyless laugh and hauled myself to my feet, even though the room tilted for a second.“Oh. Great. It’s you,” I said, voice raw and hoarse. “For a second, I thought the King had decided to come back and finish the job. Shame. I was almost starting to look forward to it.”She stepped into the room, quiet as a ghost, but the two guards behind her were anything but. I clocked them immediately, big, armed with swords and posted like statues at the door the moment it shut behind them.“You’re hurt,” she said, eyes skimming over me. Not soft. Not cruel. Just observing.I stopped myself from touching
DARIUSMy eyes snapped open.The ceiling above me blurred, then came into focus. I lay still for a moment, listening. Breathing. I could hear the scrape of steel far outside the tower walls. The shifting of feet. Whispers. Then—nothing.I pushed myself up, slow but steadily, and Veyra moved quickly to my side.“You shouldn’t—”I held a hand up, cutting her off.My body ached, filled with something that didn’t quite feel like pain, but I forced myself upright and walked toward the window. The sky was iron gray. Storm on the horizon.I flexed my fingers and noticed the bandages around my hands. Tattered. Dried with blood. But when I ripped the cloth away, expecting raw flesh, there was only skin—scarred, yes—but sealed.I tilted my head, inspecting the marks. The poison was still there, deep in my bones, but the wound was healing faster than I thought. It was as though my body was fighting it off, the curse burning its way out of me.“How long?” My voice was rough.“A few hours, Your Ma
ZEKEAgain.They threw me back in the damn dungeon again.I sat there, back pressed against the damp stone, staring at nothing, breathing like the air itself was against me. My palms slid into my hair, and I tugged—hard—like I could rip the frustration from my skull.I should’ve kept still. Kept quiet. Should’ve played the role of the grateful prisoner and rotted away in that cursed walls like they wanted.But no.I had to be a hero. I had to leap in front of a damn blade that wasn’t even meant for me.Now?Now I was back in this pit like some beast being taught a lesson.The ache in my spine from hitting the floor hadn’t dulled. The shackles—loose as they were—still clung to my wrist. I might walk free on occasion, but I’d never truly be free.Not here.Not in this place.I kicked at the moldy straw underfoot, pacing the cell like an animal penned too long. I’d started working through a fresh list of curses—some old, some inventive—when I heard the sound.Boots.Keys.And silence.Th
ZEKEHunger gnawed at my insides, but that was the least of my concerns. The first thing I needed to do was get out of here. I took a slow breath, squared my shoulders, and stepped toward the door. I pulled it open, half-expecting an invisible force to hurl me back or a wall of magic to block my path. But nothing happened. A grin stretched across my lips as I turned, glancing between the open door and the chain glowing faintly around my wrist. The witch’s magic must have been weaker than I thought. My pulse pounded as I stepped into the hall. Servants moved past in a hurry, balancing trays and pitchers, their heads bowed, their gazes fixed ahead. Not one of them spared me a glance. Strange. I reached the grand doors at the end of the corridor, and that was when I saw them—the guards. Their armor gleamed under the torchlight, swords strapped to their waists, hands resting over the hilts. Their faces remained blank, their attention fixed forward. Something was happening. Som
ZEKEThey threw me into the cell, the stone floor slamming into my ribs. A sharp breath tore from my throat, but I forced myself up, dragging against the cold wall as the guards loomed outside the bars. "Try that again, and you'll be wishing for death," one of them spat, his boot kicking against the bars before he turned away. I wiped at my mouth, fingers coming away red. My lip was split, my ribs ached, and my head was still spinning, but none of it mattered now. I pushed my hair back, my breath uneven. "Curse the gods," I muttered, pressing my head against the stone. I shouldn't have expected the King to go along with my plan. It was reckless, stupid—better than choking on my own blood. Then again, he almost had. Just not with his hands but with a cock that was too big to be real.A laugh bubbled up. Mate. I had been testing him when I said it, but his reaction had told me everything I needed to know. I really was the king’s mate. I let out a harsh breath, my hands slapped
DARIUSA petty little thief. A mere human.A low growl rumbled in my throat as I paced the length of the throne room, my steps controlled. But the fury beneath my skin was anything but.The soft tap of footsteps behind me had my head snapping over my shoulder.“Your Majesty.”Veyra knelt before me, her head bowed in deference. I turned to face her, hands clasped behind my back, my patience hanging by a thread.“Tell me,” I said, my voice low. “What did you see?”She hesitated. Her eyes darted around the room before lowering to the floor.“I went to the dungeon,” she said carefully. “I took his blood, Your Majesty.”I inhaled. The sharp tang of magic clung to her, mixing with the unmistakable scent of fear.“The magic of the stone has imprinted itself deep within him,” she continued. “And…”She hesitated.I stepped closer. “And what, witch?”Veyra swallowed. “He is your mate.”The words struck like a blade to the gut and my lips pulled back into a sneer, a hollow laugh tearing from my
ZEKE Pain. Again. It greeted me like an old friend, but this time, it’s wasn’t just my head that hurt. No, it had been everywhere he’d touched me and the pain of whatever he had done to me when he tasted my blood. I forced myself to my feet but when I did, I realized something—my hands weren’t bound. A grin formed on my lips, That was their first mistake. The dungeon was as dark and damp as before, the stench of rot clinging to the air, but beyond the iron bars, I could hear them. “…rotation changes in a quarter hour,” one muttered. “I still say we should’ve taken his hands,” another grumbled. “Not our call. Besides, he won’t last long.” A sigh. “Would’ve been easier if the king had just killed him.” I barely breathed as I listened, mapping their movements, counting the time between each shift in position. My fingers found the hidden slit in my shirt, the small, sharpened blade tucked away. I waited. The footsteps faded. My heart pounded as I worked the lock, my hands
ZEKEPain. That was the first thing I felt. A deep, throbbing pain at the back of my skull, spreading down my neck untill it burned. The second thing I felt was fear. I gasped awake, my breath puffing out of me as I sat up too fast. My head spun, my vision tilting before snapping into focus. Cold stone beneath me, damp air curling around my skin. A cell. A godsdamned dungeon. No. No, no, no. I shot to my feet, my balance wavering. My hands were bound behind my back with thick, iron cuffs, and and quickly spun around, trying to find it. But my bags—my loot—gone. Every last piece of treasure I’d risked my neck for, stolen right from under me. A thief, undone by another thief no doubt by the guards that had taken me.I cursed under my breath, pacing to the far end of the cell where a tiny, barred window sat high up on the wall. The only sliver of light in this miserable hole. Grimacing, I pressed up against the rough stone and tried to get a look outside. The world tilted at an
ZEKEI knew the city stank before I even stepped out of the shadows. The air was thick with the smell of rot—magic, corruption and everything in between—and it made my stomach churn. The streets weren’t much better. Piles of rubble, broken stalls, and the low hum of people desperate for anything that could make their lives worth living again.Not that I cared. I didn’t need any of them. I had my own problems, and none of them had anything to do with whatever curse had taken over this godforsaken city.I moved quickly, blending into the crowd, keeping my face low, my hands stiff. The coins in my pouch felt heavier, my fingers twitching to touch, to make sure they were still real, but there was more to steal. There was always more to take.“Watch where you’re going!” A rough hand gripped my arm, pulling me to a stop.I glanced up. Tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing the insignia of the city guard. “Do you have a problem, soldier?”He sneered, his fingers tightening. “I could have you th