RaeI wandered through the palace, searching for Jace. I had been trying to speak to him all week, but every time I got close, he was either with Von or preoccupied with his duties.I had something important I wanted to discuss with him and I couldn’t wait to finally get it off my chest.Anyway, when the weekend arrived the opportunity finally presented itself. I was standing on the terrace all alone, Von was fast asleep these days it was so easy to put him to sleep.As I glanced around the palace my eyes landed on Jace he was walking around with a firm look on his face.I waved towards him hoping it would get his attention but it didn’t.During that moment, I realized that I needed to head downstairs. Without wasting any time, I rushed outside. I was hoping that Jace hadn’t gone into his room. A breath of relief escaped my lips when I saw him standing at the entrance of the palace, staring out at the open courtyard. "Hey!" I called out, in a very low tone as I approached him. J
Rae My heart pounded against my ribs as I turned to face Von. I was about the speak when Anna’s voice sliced through the air. “Why don’t you tell Von what you did while he was away?” she said, in a cold tome. “Tell him all about how you fucking betrayed him.” My blood ran cold. I turned to glare at her, silently begging her to stop, to not make this worse than it already was. But Anna didn’t care. She wanted this. She wanted to see me hurt. She wanted me to feel exactly how she was feeling. “Come on, Rae,” she taunted, her lips curling into a smirk. I clenched my fists, swallowing the lump in my throat. I knew Anna wouldn’t let this go. “Rae, do you care to explain what she said.” Von’s voice grabbed my attention. I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn’t bring myself to utter any words. “Rae!” Von called again. This time his voice wasn’t as firm as the last. "You know you can always speak to me," Von continued and I noticed how soft his tone was. I looked up at him.
VonThe pain in my chest was unbearable. I felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest, like every breath I took only served as a reminder of what had happened. Jace’s words echoed in my head, as I took a step forward."He kissed her," I said to myself. ”And Rae let it happen.”I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms. My anger burned hotter than anything I had ever felt before, but it wasn’t just directed at Rae—it was at myself. “Your majesty!” The sound of one of my guard's voice caught my ears and I halted my step.“I’m not in the mood for whatever you have to say,” I yelled. “Go away!”I watched as he scurried off. There was fear in his eyes. It was not like I cared.When I reached my chambers, I slammed the door shut behind me, the force rattling the walls. The sound barely registered in my ears, drowned out by the storm in my mind. I wanted to destroy something—anything. The furniture, the walls, the entire palace if I had to. But instead, I stood
Rae I stepped into the room, the echoes of my awkward conversation with Von replaying in my mind.He couldn’t even look at me. He didn’t even let me explain.It was clear that Von hated me.As soon as that thought spilled into my mind. I let the tears spill. They came fast, hot, and relentless, burning tracks down my cheeks as silent sobs racked my body. My hands trembled as I wiped them away, but the ache inside me remained. At that moment, I heard a knock at the door.I quickly wiped my face, smoothing down my clothes, and forcing myself to look composed. I hesitated before opening the door, and when I did, my heart dropped. It was Jace. What was he doing here? “You shouldn’t be here,” I whispered, glancing over my shoulder as if Von would appear out of nowhere. “I don’t think he would like the idea of seeing us together.” Jace exhaled. “I won’t be here for long.” Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist. “What do you want to say?” I asked, staring i
VonThe palace gates opened, and a sleek black car rolled in, its polished surface gleaming under the golden rays of the afternoon sun. My hands instinctively tightened behind my back as I stood, watching the vehicle come to a stop. The moment the door opened, a familiar figure stepped out, her long, silver-white hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. Then, she turned to me, her eyes lighting up. "Normani!" I called out, a rare smile tugging at my lips. She laughed, a rich, warm sound that hadn’t changed over the years. “Von Dax the 57th king of the Hybrid Kingdom and the most handsome Alpha I have ever known.”I smirked. “You never get tired of giving me a grand introduction, do you?” “Why would I?” she shot back, stepping forward to pull me into a hug. Her embrace was firm—just like the Normani I remembered. “I’ve missed you,” I admitted as we pulled apart. She tilted her head, smirking. “Of course you did.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “So, how was your gr
Rae I stood in the palace courtyard, watching Von and the woman beside him. She was breathtaking—tall, elegant, with an effortless grace that made my chest tighten. She laughed at something he said, her silver-white hair glinting under the golden light. A sharp pang twisted in my chest. I clenched my hands into fists, forcing myself to look away before I did something foolish—like march up to Von and demand to know who she was to him. I knew I had no right. Not anymore. But that didn’t make the jealousy burning inside me any easier to ignore. I hated feeling this way and to make things worse. The voices of the maids which I had overheard earlier replayed in my head.“Maybe he’s trying to replace her.”My heart sank as that voice replayed over and over in my head.I couldn’t stand the voices or the fact that the mysterious lady was resting her hands on Von’s. I just had to leave.With a shaky breath, I turned on my heels and walked briskly toward the kitchen. The moment I
Von “It’s been a while since I’ve come to places like this,” I muttered, stepping out of the car.Normani had suggested we go to the bar to get my mind off you know who. I didn’t feel like saying her name, just the sound of it left a bitter feeling in my tongue and my mind. “This place is perfect to cure a broken heart remember,” she said with a smirk, linking her arm with mine as we approached the entrance. Normani’s white-blonde hair shimmered under the streetlights as we took a step forward. I scoffed. “I don’t have a broken heart.” She gave me a look. I sighed. Fine. Maybe I did but I wasn’t going to admit to it. Doing that proved that I was weak, that I had let a woman make me feel less than a man.The second we stepped inside, everyone looked in our direction. People stood up, and I watched as they bowed their heads down respecting my presence. During that moment, Normani freed her hands from mine and walked towards the people who I instructed with a wave of my hand to
Rae I stood in the hallway, my back pressed against the cold stone wall, watching Von emerge from the room. I had been watching him all night—watching as he returned, watching as he carried Normani in his arms, watching as he disappeared into the guest room with her. And now, here I was again. Watching him leave. His sharp gaze locked onto mine, his eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here?” I swallowed the lump in my throat, my hands curling into fists at my sides. “Is this your plan?” My voice wavered slightly, but I forced myself to hold his gaze. Von’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?” I stepped forward, my pulse hammering. “You’re trying to replace me, aren’t you?” His jaw tightened. “And what if I am?” My breath hitched. “You’re not even trying to fix things.” He let out a bitter chuckle. “Fix things? There’s nothing left to fix, Rae. You betrayed me.” “I’ve been trying to explain to you that it was a mistake!” My voice rose, as I spoke. “I never meant to hu
Rae I stared at Anna in disbelief, my lips parted but no words coming out. I couldn’t believe what I just heard. I felt like I was in a nightmare. I managed to pull myself out of the haze staring back at Anna. “You’re saying… I have to die to save the kingdom?” My voice cracked as I spoke, and my legs felt unsteady beneath me.Anna gave a slow nod, her eyes filled with sadness.“I don’t understand,” I said, forcing myself to stand. “Why me? How am I the reason for the curse?”“I don’t know, Rae,” she replied gently. “But Von might. He’s been keeping everything to himself. I think he knows more than he’s saying.”I shook my head. “This can’t be real. I refuse to believe it.”My heart pounded in my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The walls were closing in. A thousand thoughts ran through my mind, crashing into each other. I didn’t want to cry, but tears burned behind my eyes anyway.Anna stepped closer. “Please calm down. Landon’s looking for a witch. He believes there might b
RaeThe dim light crept into view, it was blurry and soft at first, like a distant memory trying to settle into focus. My head felt heavy, and my body… foreign. I blinked a few times, trying to ground myself in the space around me. Everything was unfamiliar. I was disoriented. My arms ached, and when I looked down, I noticed wires—tubes—stripped across my body. I couldn’t tell if they were for healing or restraint.Then suddenly I heard soft sobs which broke through my haze.I turned my head, and my eyes landed on Anna. She was hunched over in a chair across the room, her shoulders trembling. Her voice cracked as she muttered to herself, “I think I’ve made a mistake… I shouldn’t have let him go…”What was she talking about? And why was she crying?“Anna…” My voice came out hoarse, it was low and if she wasn’t sitting close by. I was sure she wouldn’t have heard it.Anna’s head jerked up after those words left my lips. Her eyes widened like she’d seen a ghost. “Rae?” she gasped. T
VonThe moment, I saw Landon move I halted my steps, trying to figure out where he was heading. He directed his horse towards the side of the river while he rested on one of the stones. He was facing me now, but because of the trees I was well hidden and I couldn’t be easily detected. I kept watching, waiting for the opportunity when he would finally turn his back. Eventually, he did, and just as I was about to launch myself at him, my horse let out a sharp, loud snort.Landon jerked his head up and during that moment his eyes found mine. I wondered if he had seen me, but the moment I saw him reach for his horse I got the answer to my question.Landon pulled his horse out of the river in one fast move, climbed onto the saddle, and kicked hard. The animal responded instantly, racing through the shallow water, splashing and tearing through the trees.“Landon!” I growled, then yanked my reins.I mounted quickly and dug my heels in. My horse moved forward, its hooves digging into the t
VonI stared at Anna with a coldness that could freeze fire. My eyes locked onto hers, searching for answers, for some kind of remorse, but all I saw was silence. Her lips stayed pressed together, and it was clear she wasn’t planning on explaining anything anytime soon.My anger ignited. It roared up from my chest like a beast unchained. I hit her against the cage once again.“You dare remain silent?” I growled through clenched teeth. “You set him free and you stand here with your mouth shut like it means nothing?”Her gaze flicked to mine, and finally, she spoke in a soft tone. “Even if I explain things to you… you’ll never understand.”I scoffed, tightening my grip. “Did he promise you something? Huh? Is that it? Did Landon feed you some sweet little story?”“No,” she snapped back. “He didn’t promise me anything.”I let out a humorless laugh. “Then why? What in the hell made you think this was a good idea?”She yanked her arm out of my grasp. “Because he said he wants to help this c
Von The night had arrived.I sat in my chambers, wide awake. My sword rested beside me on the table, a sharp glint catching the flicker of torchlight from the wall. I hadn't slept, not even for a second. My instincts told me tonight would be the night they'd try it—the traitors among my guards. Anna’s warning had been clear, and my men were ready. My loyal guards were stationed throughout the palace, hiding in shadows, crouched in corners, armed to the teeth.I paced slowly across the room, boots echoing faintly against the stone floor. Then—just as I paused—came the sound. A low grunt. Then another. It started outside my door. The fight had begun.I moved quickly into the shadows, pressing my back against the cold wall. I could hear the scuffle grow louder. Then came footsteps rushing toward my chamber. Someone was coming for me.I didn’t move.I waited.The door creaked open. I saw the silhouette step in, sword drawn. He didn’t see me. He thought I’d be asleep.He took three step
Von The room was quiet except for the steady ticking of the clock on the wall. I had taken my position at the edge of the bed, my hands resting on my knees, the weight of everything pulling at my chest. Anna stood by the door, her brows furrowed, her lips pressed in a tight line. “Are you going to speak or not ?” I asked, my voice hoarse from lack of rest.She stepped closer, looking over her shoulder like she was afraid someone might be listening. “I don’t know if you are ready to hear this.”I sighed. Nothing else would surprise me, for the past few weeks I had watched my life go for bad to worse to wise. I knew nothing she would say would make a difference in my life.“Just say it, Anna!” I tried to keep my voice neutral trying not to lose my cool.“They’re plotting to kill you, Your Majesty.” Anna finally said.My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”“I overheard the guards talking with a few locals,” she said, her voice low. “They’re working together. They want to overt
Von The deaths in the kingdom had not stopped. Every day brought another body, another cry for help. And in the middle of all that, the truth I had learned clung to me like a second skin. Rae—no, Rose—was my sister. That revelation shattered something in me. It was like a rope had snapped. The very bond that once tethered me to her had been sliced clean through.I no longer looked at Rae the same. Her smile, her voice, the warmth in her eyes—it all haunted me now. I dared not to think of our memories, the feeling of me thrusting into her, the sound of her calling out my name. It felt like a nightmare. I forced myself to think of something. It wasn’t easy and to make things worse I started having dreams. Horrible, violent dreams. In them, I killed her over and over. Sometimes with my hands. Sometimes with a blade. Sometimes I just watched her die, unable to stop it. Every time I closed my eyes, those dreams returned, more vivid and terrifying than the last. Sleep no longer gave m
Von “Shall we leave now, Your Majesty?” one of the guards asked. His words felt distance it was like I was in another world and I was disconnected from my body. I couldn’t bring myself to reply I just stood staring at world around which had suddenly lost its light.“Your majesty!” A voice called out and this time I realized that the voice belonged to Roy. He was moving closer to me. I could hear his steps but I couldn’t see him. I was lost in my mind.“Are you fine your majesty?” He asked. “Do you want us to attack?”I was sure he must have thought the seer did something horrible to me, little did he know that she had no hand to place in this. I was just shocked by the truth.“Your majesty!” His voice returned and I knew it I didn’t reply they are going to be hovering around her and they might end up going in to attack the seer.“I’m fine Roy!” I finally said. “Don’t attack.”He didn’t look fully convinced but he nodded.“Shall we leave?” He repeated and I nodded. We got into the
Von The night air was cool and still, as we set out on our journey to see the seer. The drive through the forest was smooth, quiet, almost too quiet. Trees blurred past us like silent watchers, and inside the car, my thoughts raced. I kept staring out the window, pretending to be calm, but my mind was anything but that. My stomach churned as I thought about the fact that I was closer to the truth.What if the seer tells me something I can’t handle? What if there’s no going back after tonight?For a second, I considered turning back. Doubt crept in, whispering its poison. But I clenched my fists and shook the thoughts away. This wasn’t the time for fear. I had made it this far. Rae—no, everything—depended on this.When we arrived at the seer’s place, the guards approached first. The hut was small, isolated deep within the woods, lit only by the dull glow of moonlight and a single flickering lantern hanging from a crooked pole.The lead guard stepped up and knocked twice on the wood