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
Von“I felt no pleasure fucking you that’s why I stopped,” I said, with an emotionless tone. “I couldn’t stop thinking about what you did.” I watched as Rae’s face changed. The smile vanished from her eyes. She looked like she wanted to speak but she stopped herself.I didn’t stare at her for long. I walked away without looking back.The moment I stepped into my room, rage overtook me. My hands slammed down on the desk, scattering papers, toppling ink bottles, and sending books crashing to the floor. The loud thud echoed in the room, but it wasn’t enough to ease the storm inside me. I was furious. Furious at myself. Furious at her. I had let her in again. Let her touch me, let her words burrow under my skin. I had wanted her—I still wanted her—and I despised myself for it. “Damn it,” I growled, raking a hand through my hair. “What was I thinking?”A knock sounded at the door. “Your Majesty, is everything alright?” The guard’s voice was hesitant. I didn’t answer at first, sti
Rae“You know you didn’t have to hurt him!” Normani’s sweet tone changed and saw Von tense beside her. She looked like if she was given the chance she would stick a dagger in my throat.“Von is a good man, and he always has been and it’s too bad that you don’t—““Normani don’t!” Von stepped in and I furrowed my brows. “Let her speak!” I said out loud. “You don’t need to protect me. It’s not like you care how much anything affects me!”“Obviously I don’t!” Von clarified. “And I also don’t like the idea of being cut up in any drama. That’s the only reason I’m stopping her.”His hardened tone softened when he turned to look at Normani. “Let’s go!”“I really want to give her a piece of my mind.” Normani protested and Von shook his head. “She’s not worth it!” He dragged her along with him, and I watched as he tried to coax me as they walked. His hands slid down her back in a slow manner. Some minutes later, Normani’s hardened face softened.I sighed turning to look at Anna.“Are you alr
Rae “You look distracted.” Anna’s voice tore through my thoughts and peered at her. I was in her room, as usual, hiding myself from Von and Normani. “I’m not!” I finally said. “I have been speaking to you for the past ten minutes and you didn’t even blink or move it’s like your mind is elsewhere.” She was right. My mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about Jace’s words. It kept ringing in my head and I could feel myself caving in. I didn’t know what to do. I have thought of a way to handle this situation without having to be involved but there was no way out. “See?” I heard Anna say, and I pulled myself out of my thoughts. “You’re doing it again.” “No, I’m not.” “You didn’t blink for two seconds.” “I think it’s normal not to blink all the time.” I pointed out. Anna sighed. “Just tell me what’s going on. I want to know what’s up with you.” I was about to speak but I stopped myself. Did I really want to tell Anna that I had an encounter with Jace? I didn’t know how she woul
Rae “You look distracted.” Anna’s voice tore through my thoughts and peered at her. I was in her room, as usual, hiding myself from Von and Normani. “I’m not!” I finally said. “I have been speaking to you for the past ten minutes and you didn’t even blink or move it’s like your mind is elsewhere.” She was right. My mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about Jace’s words. It kept ringing in my head and I could feel myself caving in. I didn’t know what to do. I have thought of a way to handle this situation without having to be involved but there was no way out. “See?” I heard Anna say, and I pulled myself out of my thoughts. “You’re doing it again.” “No, I’m not.” “You didn’t blink for two seconds.” “I think it’s normal not to blink all the time.” I pointed out. Anna sighed. “Just tell me what’s going on. I want to know what’s up with you.” I was about to speak but I stopped myself. Did I really want to tell Anna that I had an encounter with Jace? I didn’t know how she woul
Rae“You know you didn’t have to hurt him!” Normani’s sweet tone changed and saw Von tense beside her. She looked like if she was given the chance she would stick a dagger in my throat.“Von is a good man, and he always has been and it’s too bad that you don’t—““Normani don’t!” Von stepped in and I furrowed my brows. “Let her speak!” I said out loud. “You don’t need to protect me. It’s not like you care how much anything affects me!”“Obviously I don’t!” Von clarified. “And I also don’t like the idea of being cut up in any drama. That’s the only reason I’m stopping her.”His hardened tone softened when he turned to look at Normani. “Let’s go!”“I really want to give her a piece of my mind.” Normani protested and Von shook his head. “She’s not worth it!” He dragged her along with him, and I watched as he tried to coax me as they walked. His hands slid down her back in a slow manner. Some minutes later, Normani’s hardened face softened.I sighed turning to look at Anna.“Are you alr
Von“I felt no pleasure fucking you that’s why I stopped,” I said, with an emotionless tone. “I couldn’t stop thinking about what you did.” I watched as Rae’s face changed. The smile vanished from her eyes. She looked like she wanted to speak but she stopped herself.I didn’t stare at her for long. I walked away without looking back.The moment I stepped into my room, rage overtook me. My hands slammed down on the desk, scattering papers, toppling ink bottles, and sending books crashing to the floor. The loud thud echoed in the room, but it wasn’t enough to ease the storm inside me. I was furious. Furious at myself. Furious at her. I had let her in again. Let her touch me, let her words burrow under my skin. I had wanted her—I still wanted her—and I despised myself for it. “Damn it,” I growled, raking a hand through my hair. “What was I thinking?”A knock sounded at the door. “Your Majesty, is everything alright?” The guard’s voice was hesitant. I didn’t answer at first, sti
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
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 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
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 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 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