Von I stared at her, waiting for her to speak. I had no patience for whatever game Rae was playing. It had been a long, exhausting day, and my mind was already occupied with figuring out who was behind Landon’s attack. I wasn’t in the mood for any of her nonsense. “Are you going to speak or what?” I snapped. Rae blinked, startled by my outburst, before she finally said, “I was just worried about you. I hadn’t seen you around.” I froze, narrowing my eyes at her. Of all the things I expected her to say, that wasn’t one of them. Worried? Since when did she care? I thought she saw me as Von the monster. I took a step closer, placing my hand on her forehead. “Are you feeling alright?” I asked, half-expecting to find her burning up with a fever. She slapped my hand away. “I’m fine.” “Are you sure?” I asked, still suspicious. Then I smirked. “You haven’t been messing around in my wine cellar, have you?” She scowled. “No.” I watched her carefully, still unsure what to make of
Von I carried Rae into another room, her body still trembling in my arms. She hadn’t let go of me since I pulled her from the fire, her fingers were still gripping my shirt like a lifeline. I had never seen her like this before—shaken, fragile. Vulnerable. As soon as I set her down on the bed, she suddenly screamed. “Fire!” she yelled, her voice filled with terror. “Fire!” I stiffened, watching as she bolted upright, her wild eyes darting around the room. She wasn’t here—not really. She was trapped in her own mind, reliving something I didn’t understand. Something that feared her. “Rae,” I called, stepping toward her. She didn’t hear me. She was gasping for air, her hands clutching at her head. Then, suddenly, she sobbed. “This is all my fault,” she whispered, then shouted, “I’m sorry, Mom!” My stomach twisted. I had never seen her like this—so lost, so broken. She had always been sharp-tongued, defiant, and always ready for a fight. But this? This was something else ent
RaeI remained in the room, staring at the door right in front of me. This room was quite different from the one that was set ablaze, despite that I still felt like I was trapped in a fiery shield.The scent of smoke still lingered, and at some point, I stopped myself from breathing. I thought to myself. Maybe it would all go away, maybe it would disappear. It hoped it would but when I stopped holding my breath it all returned.My hands trembled slightly as I ran them over the tattered fabric of my dress. I hated this feeling radiating through me.I hadn’t had a flashback like that in years. The last time was back in my old pack, the night I stumbled upon a burning bush in the woods. The sight of the flames had triggered something in me and sent me spiraling back into memories I wanted to forget. I had thought I was past it, that I had buried those horrors deep enough that they couldn’t resurface. But tonight proved me wrong. I guess people were right. You never truly heal.I inha
Rae My heart nearly stopped as I noticed Landon’s eye was still on me. I waited for him to act. But he didn’t move. He just stood there, staring. The silence between us stretched unnaturally long, and I knew he suspected something. I felt like running away, but instead, I smiled wearily, trying to hide the fact that I had just heard everything he said.“I thought Von was here!” I said coyly. “I’m sorry for interrupting you.”I didn’t wait for him to reply. I forced myself to walk at a steady pace as I took steps backward. I kept glancing over my shoulder, expecting him to be right behind me. But he wasn’t. The fact that he didn’t come after me was weird. Maybe he was planning to do something even worse or maybe he thought I didn’t overhear him.My thoughts kept racing and at some point, I managed to tune it down. I continued my search for Von, turning down another hallway.I arrived at his study and I realized he wasn’t there and as I made my way downstairs I nearly collided wi
RaeAnna took me to her chambers and once we got there. She turned to look at me."So, what do you want to say?" she asked gently, her voice filled with concern.I swallowed hard, struggling to form the words. "It’s Landon," I said, after finally finding my voice. "He’s behind the fire." The words felt like lead in my mouth. I had been holding this secret inside for days, debating whether or not to tell her. But now that I had said it aloud, it felt like the weight I had carried around had vanished. “How did you find out about this?” She asked with an intense look in her eyes.“I overheard him saying he was planning to kill Von!” I said in a firm voice.Anna blinked, and I noticed the look on her face had changed. "Is that what’s been getting you worked up?" she asked. "Yes," I admitted, my gaze falling to the floor. "I found out about it two days ago, and I’ve been torn ever since about whether or not to tell Von."“This is crazy!” Anna exclaimed.“It is!” I replied. “And gets ev
Von I stormed out of the room, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. My mind was still reeling from Rae’s accusations. How could she be so stupid? Did she really think she could twist the truth and make me turn against Landon? The audacity of it made my blood boil. As I walked down the corridor, I nearly ran into Landon. He raised an eyebrow at the look on my face. "What’s wrong?" he asked, in a sharp tone. “You look pissed.” I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "Rae is the reason for my current mood.”“What did she do?” Landon asked.“Here I was, actually giving a damn about that bitch, and the whole time, she was playing with my emotions." My voice dripped with frustration, and I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the anger building inside me. Landon frowned slightly. "Slow down. What happened?" I scoffed. "Rae said you were behind the fire. She’s been sitting on this idea for days, probably waiting for the perfect moment to drop it on me." I shook my head. "And the
Von I returned to the palace late at night, I was feeling quite tired. The fight between me and the rogue had drained me, completely. Right now all I craved was the softness of my pillow, but there was no time for rest I still had other things to attend to—like who started the fire and who was behind Landon’s attack. As I walked through the courtyard, I ran into Landon. I saw the neutral look in his eyes change to a hardened gaze. What was wrong with him? "Why the hell did you go after the rogue without telling me?" Landon demanded, stepping into my path. I exhaled sharply. So, that was the reason why his expression changed. Landon could act like a child sometimes but I still loved him regardless. “Why are you suddenly quiet?” His voice broke into my thoughts. I groaned. “I didn’t tell you I was going after the rogue because I didn’t need you there." Landon’s brow furrowed. "Stop acting like you can handle things on your own. I would’ve helped. I should’ve been there."
VonI stood there, listening to Anna’s words, and something inside me snapped. My blood was already boiling from the earlier news about Rae, and now, this? “Your majesty,” Anna said in a smooth voice. “I know you don’t believe me, but I’m telling you the truth.” I didn’t need to hear anymore. “Stop spitting out lies, Anna!” I snapped. “You think I’m a fool? My guards saw Rae escape. So why the hell are you lying?” Her eyes didn’t waver. “Those guards are lying to you, your majesty.“I clenched my fists. This was ridiculous. “So, what, you’re saying Rae didn’t escape and she was taken? Is that what you're trying to tell me?” Anna didn’t flinch. “Yes.”I shook my head. “How do you know this?”“I was going to see Rae when I saw some of your guards dragging her down the hall. I wanted to help her but I knew if I did they would come after me, and I wouldn’t be able to deliver this news to you.”I scoffed, shaking my head. “Did Rae put you up to this?” Anna’s expression changed.“What
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