TYRIONOur preparations were far from perfect. We might have had a lot of ammunition, but not too many snipers able to take down enemies without any collateral damage. Harriet might have prepared nearly four hundred cloaking talismans that were currently hanging around each of my warriors' necks, but they could work for a little less than an hour. The last time Nessa called us, she said that Ragnar had most likely lost the witch's support, and that was the only fortunate news. We could be certain that there wouldn't be any magical surprises on our way… assumingly.The good thing about Harriet's talismans was that we were still able to see each other as slightly translucent shades while staying invisible to everyone else who didn't have her talisman. We passed the main checkpoints of our frontiers and walked alongside the clueless Ragnar's warriors. Then we launched a surprise attack. We went for the kill, believing that those who were already bewitched, couldn't be easily reversed. We
ARIAI had a dream—a real nightmare. I was reaching out my hand to touch Tyrion's, but the second I brushed my fingertips over his skin, he took a few steps back from me. I started running toward him, but he was getting further and further away. I ran faster when suddenly got caught in a spiderweb. The thick threads tightly wrapped around my body, squeezing my insides. I called Tyrion's name, but he dissolved somewhere in the darkness around me. I kept struggling to break free, but the tighter the threads became the more I struggled. Soon after, I couldn't breathe. I was fighting for air with every ounce of strength within me while shedding tears. I was alone. I was trapped. I was dying."Don't cry, angel," a warm voice whispered, and my tears stopped as if he had put a spell on me.Suddenly, the threads around my body began to snap one by one, until I was freed from the web. The darkness started to crack, letting soft streams of light brighten my way out.I opened my eyes and winced
ARIA The royal council was a group of over twenty influential wolves from different packs. Some of them were Alphas or former Alphas, others received their position because of their vast knowledge. They meant to create an elite able to control the king's actions and interfere when it was necessary to give the ruler a little nudge in the elbow. Of course, it was just a poetically written theory. In reality, the council members were appointed by the previous rulers as a form of reward, while others bought that position by bribing the rest of the members and winning the internal vote. As a result, the council had become corrupt and greedy, with only a few good people among them. Now, those people wanted to meet with the King as if they were going to prosecute him and me along with him. "Damn fuckers," Tyrion grunted, getting dressed with reluctance painted all over his face. "What happens in Moon Blade Pack shouldn't concern them," I pointed out. "This had nothing to do with the whole
ARIAMy head started to spin. The blood racing through my veins mercilessly pulsated in my eardrums. My body shivered, and I started to feel sick. Only Tyrion's tight squeeze on my hand stopped my panic attack. He pulled me a little closer and kissed my forehead before letting go of my hand and standing up. He seemed stoic, but the aura surrounding him was darker than ever before. We walked over to Doctor Florenti, making him step back and cringe."How much did they pay you?" The unmistakable threat in Tyrion's words brought Florenti down to his knees.The doctor glanced at Greco and then at Tyrion. "A-alpha King… please…" he choked out as Tyrion's power started to pressure his lungs.Tyrion looked down at him. His expression seemed to be frozen in a cold emotionlessness, but the dark flames were long swirling within his eyes. "You tested my mate's blood without her knowledge or consent, which is already dangerously near treason, but the fact that now you show up with—as you said—your
TYRIONA few hours earlierI stood still watching Aria leave the audience hall. Her haunted and painful expression broke my heart in two. I was trying to control myself. I didn't want to level those dickheads and restrain every murderous intent I had within me, but what had I done? I allowed them to humiliate MY MATE. She hadn't deserved any of this. She had never asked to be poisoned. She was a survivor and the strongest she-wolf I had ever met. If the council wanted to attack someone, they should have attacked ME! They proved to be a bunch of cowards, and what they had done could only be considered the lowest of all low moves."You see? No woman is fit to rule. Luna's sole purpose is to bear Alpha babies. If she can't do even that, she ought to be rejected." Dante Greco must have had a death wish. He had tested my patience long enough; he and the rest of those council cunts.My wolf was close to surfacing. My aura was emanating in lush waves, thickening the air. None of those assbra
ARIAI slept in Tyrion's and mine chamber for about three hours. Tyrion didn't join me in bed and went straight into his office instead. He told me briefly about what happened in the council meeting after I left the audience hall and that he had given the council word and promised to find and kill the witch in three months. I wasn't too pleased with the idea of Tyrion looking for the one who was trying to kill him, but we couldn't sit and wait for her next attack either.I stretched my arms, sitting in bed when Tyrion walked into the room and brought me breakfast. He brought it on the bed tray and adjusted it so I could eat the scrambled eggs, veggie salad, and toast comfortably."Have you already eaten?" I asked.He nodded. "I have an ex-council member to kill. Greco chose to fight me, and I still try to figure out whether he is that brave or that stupid. He couldn't possibly think that he has any chance against me, could he now?"I chuckled and reached out my hand to touch his cheek
ARIA "So, do you know where he's taking you?" Nova sounded overly excited as we talked on the phone. "We're going to the Moon Mountains again," I told her. "Oh, the rustical, romantic mansion you told me about?" she sang happily. "Yes." I swallowed hard. "And I am freaking out!" Nova giggled. "But why? You had sex with him before, and you get intimate… a lot. So why the sudden panic?" "Because we are going to mark each other! We are going to complete our bond! It will be something totally different!" The agitation turned my voice into a squeaky, high-pitched sound. "It's going to be fine, and you will love every minute of it," she assured me. "What if I won't…? Or worse! What if he doesn't like it?!" I was dangerously close to a state of panic. "Aria, take a deep breath," Nova instructed. "I envy you, you know that? You get to share a mate bond with someone. Now you and Tyrion are going to seal the deal. I don't understand your sudden anxiety." The deep inhale that filled my
TYRIONI probably couldn't look any dumber as I lay beside my mate with my mouth stretched into a full grin. The bliss. She was finally mine, and I belonged to her entirely. I had never thought that the mate bond could have such power. I felt everything she felt with insane intensity, and I knew that it was the same for her. If it weren't for the fact that our bodies needed to regenerate, I would forever stay buried inside her, exchanging the heat and pleasure in never-ending ecstasy.I could now fully understand those mate couples, burning in lust long months after they mark each other. Amusing... I had always detested them. The thought of having someone I cared about felt like a burden. I was a fool. Aria wasn't a burden or responsibility. She didn't weaken me. She was the strength I desired without knowing it. In the swirl of emotions, confessing to her felt like the most natural thing to do, although I was more than convinced that this simple "I love you" couldn't convey how I fel