KIARA "Can you do it now?" I asked, squinting at him. Although I was desperate, I was a little skeptical about how easy he made it sound. Even if he could create a barrier that could keep Lucas out of my head, there was no way he could set it up while he was in a weakened state. However, I had a feeling that he wanted to set up the barrier as quickly as possible. Denzel cocked his head, his gaze intense."You don't think I can do it right now?"I gave him a small smile as I reached out and took hold of his hand. "I don't want you to push yourself too hard," I stressed, maintaining our eye contact. "Kiss me," he breathed, and my eyes widened. I was startled by his sudden statement. We'd gotten to the point where exchanging kisses shouldn't be surprising. Still, I couldn't help but feel flustered. "Right now?" I squeaked, feeling my blood rush to my cheeks.Denzel did not give me a response. Instead, he cupped the back of my head, pulled me closer to himself and kissed me deepl
KIARA "....to Kiara!"I glanced at Cassy, puzzled. I'd been lost in thought. Therefore, I hadn't been listening to her before now. Two days had passed since the knife incident. But everything seemed to have gone back to normal. Denzel was back on his feet, attending to the kingdom's affairs. Regardless of the fact that Cassy was yet to talk about her problems, I was hopeful that she wouldn't keep me waiting for too long. I hadn't encountered Wren since Keenan told me about her release.Despite all of this, there was a strong sense of foreboding resting on me. The hair on the back of my neck stood stiff, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched by someone I couldn't see. Every few minutes, I found myself glancing back for any signs of my invisible stalker. The knots in my stomach just wouldn't ease up. It didn't help that I was feeling cranky and my back was starting to hurt. "Are you alright, Kiara?" Cassy asked. She was standing beside me in the kitchen. Althoug
KIARA Disoriented, I watched Keenan take hold of Cassy's arm and close his eyes. His hand began to glow a bright yellow. He leaned over her, pressing his forehead against hers. "I, Keenan Aleck Avory, choose you, Cassandra Rosario, as my bonded mate, may the moon goddess bear witness to this," he stated, his voice tinged with desperation. "What are you doing? You said she's..."He cut me off as he straightened, his gaze lingering on Cassy."My life force will sustain her for now. But, she needs your help. She didn't want to burden you, it's why she kept it to herself," he said.My chest tightened, my eyes brimming with fresh tears."She should have said something," I croaked. Keenan rose to his feet and turned to look at me, a blank look on his face. "You're pregnant. Besides, you already have Denzel's best interests at heart. You want to free him from Adam. Cassy wanted you to focus on that," He replied.I lowered myself onto the bed and buried my face in my hands. "Was sh
KIARA I opened my eyes slowly, blinking to clear the blur in my vision. "Hey."A small smile curled my lips at the sight of Denzel, who was gazing at me with warmth in his eyes."Are you feeling alright?" He asked, reaching out to place a hand on my forehead. "I'm okay. What happened?" I asked as he brushed my hair away from my face. "You don't remember? We were in the garden when you suddenly had some kind of episode. Your power was straining for release," he said. I glanced around the room, realizing that we were in his room, and I was lying on his bed. "I...passed out?" I asked, and he nodded, his eyes filled with concern."I made sure that you were properly examined by the healers. They told me that you have a seal on your powers. Until you get it off, you might have more episodes."I stared at him, puzzled. "A seal?" I breathed. The thought that all along, the reason why I'd been unable to access my powers was because of some seal felt far-fetched."We will figu
KIARA Keenan stepped into the room, an icy look in his eyes. He moved towards Wren and I, grabbed her by her uninjured wrist and pulled her to his side. He stared at me for a moment and started to head towards the door, dragging her along. "I know she provoked you. However, you didn't have to retaliate," he said, halfway to the door.I scoffed, the heat of my annoyance still sizzling within me. "Provoked?" I scoffed, clenching my fists. "She tried to attack me!"Wren stole a glance at me, her eyes bloodshot. "I understand."Keenan's response was bland, it spiked my annoyance."I apologize on her behalf. I'll make sure an occurrence of this manner won't happen again," he stated and stormed out of my room, leaving me to gape at the door in utter disbelief.Was he in support of what his sister had done or was it just...My train of thoughts came to an abrupt halt at the sound of a thunderous slap accompanied by Wren's cry of pain. I blinked, surprised at the turn out of the sit
DENZEL It happened in a blur. One moment, I was trapped at the back of my mind; the next moment, I was back in control, my hand hovering in midair. I stared down at my mate, blood draining from my face at the sight of how terrified she looked. She was trembling with fear. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and her face was as white as sheets. Slowly, I dropped my hand and took a step backwards, bile rising up the back of my throat.Nausea swept through me, and I stumbled away from Kiara, rushing into the bathroom to throw up. I was sick with both rage and despair. Adam had dared to use my body to try to hurt my mate. If I had been a second too late, she could have gotten hurt. "Denzel?! Is that you?" Kiara's voice broke the silence, riddled with a mix of concern and confusion.The air was thick with tension as she approached. I didn't want her near me. I was too ashamed and appalled by my own foolishness. If only I'd asked her to leave the moment she'd walked in. "Denzel! Are you alri
KIARA At first, I was merely suspicious of the smell of the chicken soup. It had a hint of an acrid smell. But when the silver bracelet around my wrist started to turn black, I figured it out right away. The bracelet was a gift from my mother. I'd never taken it off. Today, it saved me from what could have been a painful experience. I gulped, my limbs trembling.I looked up to meet Denzel's gaze. He appeared calm, but his rage was barely contained. I could feel it through our mating bond.I watched as he ordered the maids to get rid of the meals on the table. Keenan hurried in, looking alarmed. "You called for me, your majesty?" He asked, his eyes wide. "I want you to investigate the source of the poison," Denzel said, and Keenan stiffened."W-what? Someone tried to poison you? H-How..."Denzel cut him off. "Don't ask me. Do what you've been told," he waved him off, and Keenan bowed before rushing out of the dining room. Denzel walked up to me and took hold of my arm. He st
KIARA Melissa's claws sank into the curve of my shoulder, and I jabbed my elbow into her stomach, knocking the air out of her lungs. She stumbled backwards, clutching at her stomach, a mixture of pain and fury brewing in her eyes."You got stronger," she commented, her eyes darkening. "Of course I did." My retort dripped with defiance. My hands seized a white bathrobe off its hanger by the wall. In swift motions, I wrapped the robe around me and tied the sash around my waist with my gaze fixed on Melissa.Fueled by rage, she launched another attack. I dodged her blows, maneuvering her towards the tiled wall. The impact left a vivid red stain on the wall as she collided with it, the metallic smell of blood permeating the air. Hostile hisses escaped her lips as she struggled to her feet, half blinded by the blood now flowing down her face. "I'll kill you. I'll fucking kill you, you hear me!" She screamed at me, flashing her blood-stained fangs at me.I should have felt fear. I
KIARA "Are you ready?" My mate asked me as I wrapped an arm around his waist and pressed a kiss to his bare back. We were both lying in bed on our first anniversary."I'm excited," I squeaked, and he chuckled. "You're finally getting to imprint on my mind. Of course, you should be excited," he replied, his voice laced with amusement. "Close your eyes. I'm gonna go in now," I whispered, delving into his mind. When I opened my eyes again, we were standing on top of a hill. There was a beautiful, clear waterfall directly opposite us, and there were bright red roses growing along the paths of the wide expanse of the mountains. The sky was a breathtaking pink, and the breeze was refreshingly cool. "Can I open my eyes now?" Denzel asked, and I chuckled, leaning into him from behind. "Yes."He glanced around, whistling under his breath. "Denzel?" I said, and he turned to look at me, his eyes wide with awe. Holding out a hand, I gave him a big smile."Let's go for a walk," I sugge
KIARA A scream tore through the air, and I narrowed my eyes, pulling the door open. Hurrying down the hallway, I reached out for Denzel through our bond. However, I got no response.More screams and cries filled the air, and my stomach churned. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me what was happening. Lucas was here. The battle had officially begun. Maids scrambled in my direction, their dresses stained with blood. "Azalea," I breathed, worried about my daughter's safety. Just before I could get to the nursery, I saw Cassy running towards me with Azalea in her arms. Her eyes were wide with terror. "He's here. He's killing everyone," she panted. "Take her to the basement. Can you do that for me?" I asked, and she gulped. "Stay safe, Kiara. Please." She croaked. I nodded, patting her back. I watched her continue down the hallway. She suddenly vanished out of sight. Relieved to know that my daughter was in good hands, I crouched by the side of an unconscious guard and grabbed
KIARA Denzel and I sat in our bedroom with Azalea asleep in my arms. My mate had cleaned himself up and was now dressed in his robe. There was a blank expression on his face. It was obvious that we were worried about the fact that Lucas had stolen Ria's power. I still couldn't wrap my head around how he had managed to do that. With Ria's power in his possession, I was the only one who could truly put him down for good. But there was one problem. I was yet to remove the seal. Lucas could attack at any moment. However, we were not ready for him. I still didn't know what Lucas' plan was, and this was unnerving. "Don't worry too much about it," Denzel said to me, his gaze meeting mine. I knew he was trying to comfort me. But, at this point, it was the last thing I needed. I couldn't shake off the feeling that a much bigger war was coming. One which was capable of causing a much bigger catastrophe. If we weren't ready for it, we were bound to get destroyed. "What if he comes her
DENZEL "She was right here in her cot. I was standing by the window, preparing her food. When I turned around, she was gone," Kiara's maid said, her head lowered. We were in the nursery, and Kiara was pacing back and forth. I knew she was barely holding it together. "You didn't hear anybody walk in?" She asked, and the maid shook her head. "No one came in. I would've heard the door open."Kiara gripped several locks of her hair and tugged. I walked up to her, releasing her grip on her hair."Don't hurt yourself," I said, and she looked up at me, her eyes filled with both desperation and anguish."It's all my fault. I shouldn't have left her side. I should have stayed to protect her," she said, her voice trembling. "We will find her," I stated, and she shook her head feverishly."Lucas... what if he's the one who took her? What if he took her to get back at us? What do we do now? This can't be happening," she sobbed.My mate was slipping right into panic mode, and it hurt me t
KIARA I didn't think. I grabbed the woman's arm and pulled her off my mate's body. Denzel stumbled out of bed and hurried into the bathroom with unsteady movements. Grabbing the strange woman by the hair, I kicked her at the back of her legs, bringing her to her knees. She cackled, and I narrowed my eyes at her, bringing my claws to her throat. "Who are you?" I demanded, and she stopped laughing."Can't you tell? I'm you.""What?" I breathed. For a moment, she almost got me to believe her. However, the glint in her eyes reminded me of Ria in an unnerving way. "Stop hiding behind that illusion. Show yourself!" I snapped. "You're no fun," she hissed, transforming into her original form. It was Ria."You bitch," I spat, my claws digging into her skin. Pushing me away from her, she transformed into her signature animal and vanished. The sound of Denzel throwing up in the bathroom made me grimace. When he emerged out of it, his face was as white as sheets. "Care to explain how
KIARA Stepping out into the garden due to my sudden insomnia, I was surprised to find my mate in an odd position with Ria. He had his hand wrapped around her throat, his eyes darkening with menace. "There she is. The star of the occasion," Ria choked out, casting a sidelong glance at me. "Denzel, what's going on?" I asked, and he refused to look at me. "Go ahead, Denzel. Tell her how you hid the fact that Lucas showed up again," Ria stated, and I narrowed my eyes at them."What is she talking about, Denzel? Did Lucas really show up?" I asked, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. He still wouldn't look at me. "Come on, Denzel. Don't keep her waiting. She wants to know about your injury and the fact that Lucas kissed you," Ria said, and I froze.I was appalled by the thought of Denzel hiding all of that from me. But, I felt more hurt knowing that Ria was aware of the things I didn't know."He's such a terrible mate, isn't he? He made you believe that you were his partner amidst all of th
DENZEL "Your majesty, do you realize what you've just said?" Keenan said, stepping away from the door, his eyes squinted at me."I know. It sounds crazy. I don't understand why he did that. The more I think about it, the more I feel disgusted," I said, and he chuckled."Now what? He finds you attractive? Or he wants to get back at Kiara by stealing you from her?" He stated, clearly amused.I scoffed at him, increasing the pressure on my wound. "Maybe he was just messing with you. Maybe he was trying to get a reaction out of you. However, if he's into men, he might be head over heels for you," Keenan continued, and I glared at him. "That's bullshit.""I know, right? This is crazy. Will you tell Kiara about that? No, wait...if you tell her about that, she's bound to find out about your injury," he said."What injury?"We both stiffened as the door opened and Ria walked in. She narrowed her eyes at me. "What happened to you?" She asked, and I shut my eyes, annoyed. "It is none o
DENZEL "There are no signs of injury on his body, your Highness. We suspect that this is a psychological issue," a member of the royal healers said to Kiara, who was perched by my side, holding my hand. I kept my eyes closed. Therefore, no one knew that I'd regained consciousness. "He coughed up blood, you know that. How can it be psychological?" Kiara asked."I'm afraid we do not have the answer to that yet.""You can leave now. I'll stay with him," Kiara said. The moment we were all alone, Kiara kissed my knuckles and stroked my hair. "Will you tell me what happened without lying to me?" She suddenly said, startling me. I opened my eyes to look at her."You knew that I've been awake?" I said, and she nodded. "Please tell me you know exactly what happened to you," she said, and I heaved a sigh, closing my eyes."It was Lucas. He was in my dream, except...it didn't feel like a dream. He stabbed me," I told her, and she stared at me like I'd gone crazy. "Lucas entered your
KIARA A week later, it was confirmed that Estella had indeed taken her own life. She'd left a will behind. Apparently, she had been overcome with a sense of emptiness. Although Estella and I didn't have a solid relationship, I felt bad for her. Denzel was hurt by her decision. He'd done everything to protect her, after all. With the royal family of the northern states down to one member, I had a feeling that it wouldn't be long before Denzel became their king. I knew that my mate was going through a lot. However, I could not comfort him the way I wanted to. Since I had to make sure that Ria believed that my relationship with Denzel was in shambles, I couldn't get affectionate with my mate. Ria was everywhere. She was making it clear that she was there to stake her claims. If I wanted to defeat her, I needed to unlock the fullness of my potential. I stared at the cloudy night sky with mixed feelings. The cool breeze caressed my hair and made me relax. Taking a deep breath, I cl