“Good morning trainees! I trust you’ve all had sufficient rest and time to familiarize yourselves with this camp. As you will see behind us are tents with different coloured flags, please go to the tent that matches your bracelet.” The man standing in front of us was tall, muscular and had an air of authority.“Move! Now!” His voice was loud and everybody started to scatter towards the different tents. I headed towards the Violet tent. I kept to the back of the line as men scanned their bracelets to be admitted and be accounted for.Costin stood on the other side next to another man as they surveyed the group in front of them. My bracelet scanned and then flashed a blue light instead of green as with everyone else. Costin nodded his head and the second man took notice of me too.“These will be your instructors. On the far right we have Emil, Timo and Pavel. Each group will have one instructor. First group will be future Sires with Emil, the second group will be second in command with
Abigail was nervous and her hands trembled as she packed her suitcase. She hadn’t changed much in the weeks since we arrived but I could almost taste her fear. My duffel bag was on the floor near the room’s door and I pulled her into my arms as my hand smoothed over her hair and hugged her.“It’ll be okay, I promise.”“I trust you Wynter but I can’t help feeling like bait here.”“You’re not bait Abby. If I had a choice you’d never even meet the King. The plan was for you to meet him if I didn’t get a way in. I never thought he’d call for both of us at the same time.”“I’m just scared. Scylla doesn’t have a good feeling about this.”“It’s a request I can’t refuse. You don’t say no to the King. I’d die before I let anything happen to you.” I kissed her on top of her head as she squeezed her arms around my ribs once and finished packing.Two Royal Guards were waiting beside an SUV for us. Abigail held my hand all the way to the Country Palace that was a lavish estate. There were guards a
I handed Sorin the memory stick and he brought his laptop to the table nestled between the sofas. I leaned back into my seat, knowing that his life would never be the same again, not after this.The only sound in Sorin’s office was the clicking of his mouse as he looked through the files. I could see from his expression that the truth was beginning to dawn on him. “What the hell is all this?”“You’re looking at a kill order that King Florin sent to the Florida Elders. They reported me and my mother to the King. I merged with my dragon when I was five. When King Rex died my father was ordered to France. King Florin asked my father to remain as the King’s Assassin, which he declined, but the kill order had already been sent.”“That is the King’s signature.” Sorin confirmed what I already knew.“If the King ordered your deaths, how are you, your father and Abigail still alive?” Dorin was clenching and unclenching his hands.“My father was on a jet back to Florida when he realized somethi
I could hear low murmuring from the dining hall as Abigail and I made our way down the hall, across the large foyer, following the footman that had appeared at our door. I squeezed Abby’s hand and gave her a confident smile as she nodded her head and smiled back at me.The conversation hushed as the footman cleared his throat. “Your Majesty, King Florin de Haviland, King of Dragons, I present to you Wynter and Abigail Grey.”We bowed our heads in respect as the King stood up and gave us a warm smile. “Please, do join us.”“Thank you my King.”Sorin had stood up and pulled out Abigail’s chair for her as she sat between him and me with Prince Nicu, Cali, Princess Maya and Dorin on the other side of the table. The princess smiled broadly at me as I sat down and I looked her in the eye. I knew that look well too.“Mr Grey, I heard from my son that you were bonded to Cali here but rejected her.” The King’s voice carried across the large table as servants filled our wine glasses.“Yes my Ki
Maya led me to the back of the palace, through a bookcase in the library and down a dark secret passageway. I would remember this entrance at the back of the palace, hidden under a trellis of wisteria flowers. I tucked the route at the back of my mind for when I would need it in future. I was pretty sure I would.We entered the private gardens of the Royal Family and Maya pulled me closer to her as we kept walking. The moon was full and bright, looking down on us from high above. Maya stopped and sat down on a beautifully carved bench close to a wooden bridge that had a small stream flowing underneath it.“Where did you learn to fight like that?”“My father trained me from a young age and it suited me well when I joined the Unit for further training.”Maya’s eyes were a deep blue with specs of brown, an interesting mix. Her hair was chestnut brown and although she was on the short side, she exuded confidence and elegance. “The Elite Unit?”“I was there for five years, hunting everyon
We took our seats and King Florin gave thanks to Typhon for our many blessings and servants entered the room to take our orders. Cali walked into the dining room and gave Nicu a look as she took a seat next to Maya.Abigail was seated next to Nicu and he paid absolutely no attention to Cali. I caught Cali staring at me a few times but my eyes didn’t linger on her. I felt no sympathy for her, she was shallow, cruel and perhaps even vindictive. I’d have to speak to the King about what she could be capable of when she found out that Nicu planned to propose to Abigail.We had all put our orders in and a few minutes later fresh fruit and yoghurts were brought in and Nicu surprised everyone when he served Abigail a helping of each.“Thank you Nicu.” Cali’s spoon clanged against her bowl as Nicu stared at Abigail, looking like he was in love.Protocol didn’t allow for commoners like us to call any member of the Royal Family by their names. They were to be addressed by their titles at all ti
The more I thought about it, the more sense it made that this match was orchestrated but I had no proof. The King had made it clear that he wanted this bond and even Maya had suggested it the previous night.Echo was in two minds because the evidence of what I’d done was there. I was angry at myself for being in this position but the memories were slowly trickling back. I could remember kissing Maya, taking off her clothes, but I had no clue why I would do it.A footman informed me that Maya was in the private gardens and I braced myself for the conversation we would have. She was sitting on the exact same bench where we’d talked the previous night. She looked up when she heard my footsteps and then looked down again.“Can we talk?” I sat down next to her and she looked at me again.“Of course Mr Grey.” She was sad because I’d acted like a jerk. She’d given herself to me willingly and I’d made it cheap by just leaving and asking for proof when I knew in my heart that she wasn’t lying.
Sleep eluded me for a while and it felt like I had just closed my eyes and drifted off when the shrill ring of my private phone woke me. I didn’t even bother to open my eyes as I answered. “Grey.”“I just landed in Bucharest, where do you need me?” I smiled upon hearing Milo’s voice. It felt like weeks had passed since the last time I’d spoken to him. I missed him more than I could express in words. The past few weeks that we’d been separated I had felt like a piece of me was missing.“We’re at the Country Palace in Sinaia but if you hang tight I’ll come get you.”“Seems like I’ve missed quite a lot.”“I’ll explain in the car.”“Come get me then you lazy asshole. I can keep myself occupied for a while.” I smiled as he ended the call and got out of bed.It was five am and I pulled on jeans, a t-shirt, my brown leather jacket and boots. Our suite was quiet and earlier I had sat up and talked with Abigail for a long time and then talked to Ryder again as he called me back and we had a de