AVERY I can never understand the change in Aleister’s mood. One moment, he is cold. Another, he is warm. Then, he is cruel before becoming like this…too clingy. I cringe as he suffocates me by hugging me tightly. I wanted to argue with him and curse him some more, but he looks like he came back to life after experiencing a horrifying death so I don’t know what to do with him. In the end, I can only struggle to breathe as I stay plastered to him. “ This is so unfair. ” I grumble under my breath. “ I should be the one acting like this. Not you. ” “ It’s not my fault that I can feel your emotions. ” He sighs, tightening his grip over me. If I didn’t know better, I would think he is trying to kill me by breaking my ribcage but his heart thumping against my ear tells me he is truly panicked. “ How can you say it’s not your fault? You marked me and brought this upon yourself. ” I huff, unconsciously placing my hand over his back. My hand moves on its own, patting his back softly. He s
AVERYMomentarily, I forget about the cold. Aleister carries me to the familiar hall where women mostly gather instead of to my room.When we enter, the witches rise and form lines on either side of the hall, bowing their heads to the King who has emerged suddenly.Smugly, I watch the hateful glances the witches throw my way from under their lashes. They must hate me right now. I just love it. Agrona steps down from the stairs and stands in the middle. Her eyes take me in, then lift to Aleister’s face.“ My King, is there something wrong? Why is the Princess drenched and shivering? ” She feigns concern for me and hurries towards us.I roll my eyes internally while applauding her performance. She always appears so kind no matter what. “ Can you stand? ” Aleister ignores his favorite woman and looks at me instead.For a second, I blink up at him. His brows furrow, awaiting an answer from me.“ Will you keep holding me if I can’t, My King? ” I smile innocently.“ I will have to sit you
AVERY“ You exposed your audacious lie, Princess! You were not kidnapped from outside your room. ” Her widened eyes narrow as she yells at me. I nod. “ of course, I was not kidnapped from there. But how do you know that? ”The satisfaction she was about to feel dissipates as she realizes her mistake. The desire to protect her precious Agrona made her desperate and got her caught. “ I heard witches are not as intelligent as they pretend to be, Tracy. Now, I believe it. ” Anger burns in my eyes as I scoff. Agrona starts. “ Princess, please show consideration. First, you accused me, and now Tracy— ”“ I apologize, Agrona. I didn’t intend to accuse you. I know you didn’t kidnap me but to make Tracy confess, I had to do it. And now that we have our culprit, you need to step away! You should not protect someone who tried to kill me if you are not involved in this! And if you are, tell me now so I can break your hands for trying something like this with me! ” I snap, forgetting the niceti
AVERY In the next moment, I realize the grave mistake. Darkness leaps for the figure standing in the distance until it covers all of him. I blink, stumbling another step back and desperately trying to find him in the fog. An ear-piercing scream sounds in the silence of the hall. It grows in volume, becoming soul-wrenching. With a wild heart beating in my chest, I break out into a sprint to reach him. The darkness appears around me like a cold entity, trying to trap me into the same spot but I pass through it until I am standing right behind Aleister’s imposing figure. I come to an abrupt halt when I catch sight of the scene before me. Agrona is nowhere to be seen. But Tracy and the group are still there. They are on their knees, clutching their heads and screaming at the top of their lungs. Their eyes…have lost color, turning into a familiar black that I saw in Darksin’s eyes. My breath comes out in labored pants. Shock renders me immobile. Slowly, I lift my terrified gaze to
AVERYI wrap a blanket around myself and settle down on the bed. Draven insisted that I take a bath and change my drenched clothes to avoid catching a cold so I listened to him and did just that. But now he is eerily quiet and it’s driving me crazy. I look up at him to find him staring down at his palms as if he is lost in deep thought.“ It’s time you tell me what happened out there. ” I am so done with his silence. It’s not helping at all.He picks his head and throws me a pointed look. “ It’s better if you ask Aleister. ”“ And when do you suggest I do that? ” I wonder, folding my arms across my chest. “ I can walk out right now, you know. But you don’t think it’s a good idea. ”“ If you want to die, be my guest. ” He scoffs sarcastically.I sigh, shifting my gaze to the closed door. The thought of that dark fog appearing from the cracks is still haunting me. I swallow, forcefully changing my line of thinking to my time here.Today turns out to be yet another never-ending day in
AVERYI start, “ I don’t— ”“ After that, those who accused you would already become an enemy for Aleister. He would have eliminated them on the spot and what happened tonight…wouldn’t have happened. ” He doesn’t give me a chance to talk as he narrows his eyes on me.For a moment, I pull my knees tighter to my chest and ponder over his words. He seems so sure of Aleister’s thoughts that I am forced to revisit the memory from a few hours ago.He did sound genuine when he asked me if it was true. What was I thinking back then? I bite my lip. I was thinking about how my family never believed me and I assumed that Aleister won’t either. But in my defense, if even my closest people never believed me…how could Aleister do it? A small voice in my head whispers that I should have given it a chance and even if Aleister had not believed me, I should not have tried to anger him more by telling him to believe whatever those witches were saying. If I had been honest with my words and had refuse
ALEISTER “ Was she scared? ” It’s a foolish question in itself but I can’t help but still ask. “ She is strong. She will get over it. ” Draven replies quietly. I don’t think she will get over it. I think after what she witnessed tonight, appeasing her will be harder. But isn’t it better if she is livid and not…scared? “ It would have been better if she had not discovered this right now. ” I admit, playing with the ring on my finger. “ You shouldn’t have lost control in front of her then. ” He sighs. His frustrated expression makes everything clear. Avery must have been shocked and terrified when she saw me flip like that. I didn’t plan on letting her know for a while—not until she was settled here but tonight, I truly couldn’t keep a grip on my sane thoughts. I drop the ring on the desk and lift my narrowed eyes to Draven. “ Why did you get so fucking close to her?! ” “ Don’t tell me you believe what those witches said. ” Draven huffs. “ even if you do, ask Agrona! She was t
ALEISTER“ What? ” She draws her head back and blinks at me innocently.She was with me when I needed someone so I can never be too harsh with her. I promised to always care for her, after all. I soften my expression when I notice the hurt in her eyes. “ I want to retire for the night, Agrona. You don’t need to worry about anything. I am not angry at you and I believe you so go back and rest first. ” “ Can I not stay with you tonight? ” Her hand sneaks down to my belt, playing with it suggestively.How do I make her understand that something is fucked up with my cock’s logic? I only want to spend my nights with that stubborn Princess who seems to have engraved herself in my mind and a small part of my heart.“ I don’t want to lose control in the middle of the night and harm you. So, go back to your room Agrona. ” I state firmly.“ But— ”“ It’s not up for debate. Get up now. ” I interrupt coldly. I am done for tonight. All the softness has left me.Realizing that I am getting into a
AVERYLife is unpredictable, they say.I caress the cheek of the newborn, my finger trembling softly. I am awed and reduced to a teary-eyed, half-conscious woman with nothing more meaningful in life than the bundle lying on the bed beside me. So, I believe now…Life is unpredictable. If someone had told me that I will give birth to a beautiful girl, with glassy grey eyes and a sharp cry…I would have told them that I didn’t need them to fool me into believing things that would never happen.But it has happened.“ You have the right. ” Aleister lays on the other side, watching the girl lying between us with similar expressions. He looks dazed as if he is in a dream and scared of touching this beautiful creature.“ We decided on that. You will get to name her if it’s a girl. ” I pull my knees to my chest, trying hard to forget the pain I felt during labor yesterday. People say something else too—they say giving birth is no easy feat. It’s like dying and coming back to life after seei
AVERY“ Was this really as necessary as you make it out to be? ” I ask, moving across his room, smoothening down the non-existent creases in the dress.It’s the same gown that I wore to the festival. Back then, Aleister sent me away without even looking at me but he carried this dress with him wherever he went when I left him.Now, he wants me to wear it on my initiation. I told him it’s unnecessary, but he insists that I must wear this.“ I can get you a new dress if you want, my Princess. ” Aleister says, stepping out of the dressing room and pulling me into his arms immediately. I notice the dark suit he is wearing, the material fitting every bulging muscle and making him appear bigger than he already is. Our eyes meet and warmth spreads in my insides—It’s instant and soothing. “ How do I look? ” I whisper, reaching up to press my lips to his mouth gently.“ Like my Princess. ” Aleister tilts his head, connecting our lips again. “ Like the greatest star in the sky or the beautif
AVERYIt was not as bad as I imagined it. Aleister did stick out from the others, but no matter how wary they were, they couldn’t say anything about it or him anymore.We had breakfast together, and then I showed Aleister around. As expected, Dustin gave us a side eye whenever we stumbled across him but he couldn’t do anything about it which left me giddy.For the first time in my life, I have my own team. Aleister and I are together, and I don’t care if the whole world is on the other side. He is enough for me.But I like that my former friends and acquaintances have accepted him as my mate.“ You have been smiling from the morning. ” Aleister mumbles, pressing a kiss to my neck from behind.“ Do you not like it when I smile? ” I inquire playfully.“ Of course, I love it, Princess. ” He trails a path of kisses up my neck as his hand rests on my stomach, caressing it softly. “ I want you to keep smiling like this forever. Will you do that for me? ”“ If you don’t make me mad, I will. ”
DUSTIN“ What are you thinking now? ” Lenora asks curiously.“ That’s not the right question, Lenora. ” I tell her and place my palm over the edge of the window. The sea appears calm today, or maybe, it’s just me. I am calm, inside out. There is no noise inside my head right now. After seeing Avi genuinely happy, I think I will be better for some time. “ Did you always know that King is her mate? ” She inquires and stands beside me.“ Does it matter? ” I wonder. Why does everyone make a fuss about it? If I know, so what? Does it change anything?The loser thinking makes me want to roll my eyes. If you jump into the ditch after knowing that it’s not deep or you jump without knowing it’s not deep…it’s all the same. In the end, you still have to jump in the ditch. “ How did you know? ” She turns her head and studies me curiously.“ Moon Goddess told me. ” I vowed to not lie to Lenora before, so she gets all the honest answers.She snickers. “ I am serious, Dustin. ”It’s another thi
ALEISTER“ Levian…can tell when someone is lying. If you had stayed back, he would have found out about your child. You don’t realize how brutal he can be when it comes to getting what he wants. And right now, it’s not the time for the war. It’s time to hide that you are pregnant, Avi. ” Dustin explains to her.“ You want to hide my child? ” She huffs. “ that’s not happening. ”“ That’s why I didn’t tell you before. Now that your mate here has told Levian that you are not pregnant and that he is not allied with the other three Kingdoms, Levian is not desperate to snatch your child. He will wait. Because he believes we are weak when we are not united as the four Kingdoms. ” He says and wipes the dried blood from under his nose again. “ He will wait for you to find your mate. ” I conclude neutrally.“ He will wait for me to break and join him. Or he will wait for a mate to come to break me and get me to lose my mind like the rest of you. ” Dustin replies, and smirks. “ but that’s never
ALEISTERI have a hunch that Dustin Landric—the twat let me hit him intentionally. I would have preferred if he fought back. I don’t enjoy hitting those who want to get hit.“ Aleister. ” My Princess nuzzles into my neck, and peer at me with her puppy eyes.My throat feels heavy as I stare into those eyes. I came here to be mad at her. Her friend sent me a letter and informed me that my Princess hadn’t left me and it was all her brother’s plot. He drugged her and kidnapped her.But she could have let me know about it.And she didn’t.I was mad, but what do I feel right now? The heaviness in my throat increases. She loves me, she is carrying my child and she is showing me that she cares about me without giving a fuck about the watching eyes.It’s like I am in a dream. Maybe, I lost my mind back in the South and this is a part of a beautiful imagination.If it’s that…I slide her stray hair behind her ear and watch as she smiles at me brightly. Her blue eyes are moist, and they still l
AVERY“ Once we are done, do you want me to give you a visit to the Wolveshire Citadel? ” I wonder, clinging to Aleister’s arm.He glances at my eyes, slowly looks down at my arm wrapped around his bicep, blinks, then looks away. From where I walk beside him, I can see his neck turning slightly red.“ I don’t think your brother would like that. ” Aleister grumbles under his breath as we step into the sitting area.“ I think the same. ” I nod quickly. “ but I don’t mind. He can be broody about it and go sulk in his room. ” My eyes wander off to my brother who is standing in front of the window, his back to us. “ Ava. ” Nora squeaks, grabbing my attention.I look to my right and find the rest of them standing beside the couches stiffly. Their wary glares filter towards Aleister, making me frown.Subtly, Tyson pushes Amelia behind him and stands in front of her protectively while the girl looks as horrified as a dying fish. Nora and King Striker are beside them, all in their defensive s
AVERYI fake a gasp and roll on the bed. Instantly, Aleister halts and turns to me worriedly.“ What happened? ” He asks, approaching me hurriedly.I clutch my head until he is standing in front of me. When he leans in, I grab his shoulder and sit him on the bed again.My eyes narrow. “ I liked what we did but I don’t want anyone to see this view. ”I point towards his abdomen before rolling out of the bed and grabbing his pants to throw them at him.“ You faked it? ” He rolls his eyes.“ I know what works with you. I just used that information. ” I shrug, searching for my dress. The look of disbelief comes back on his face. He leans back, dropping the pants on the floor again.“ I am not wearing them. You wanted to fuck me in your room. Now you can’t hide me, Princess. ” He chuckles, balancing himself on his palms.“ First of all, we didn’t do what you said we did. We— ”“ Made love? That’s the same as fucking. My cock goes in and out your— ” A knock silences him. Gasping, I drop t
AVERYI am getting worried now. Aleister hasn’t said anything for like an hour after what I told him.I am comfortably lying on top of him now, and I am so tired that I want to sleep. But the hundred different emotions that keep surging back and forth in my mind keep me wide awake.I yawn, snuggling into his neck. “ say something. This silence is irritating me now. ”Silence meets me as a reply again.I huff and draw my face out of his neck just to glare at him. But he looks lost and his eyes see right through me.“ Are you that shocked? Did you not want— ”“ You said…it’s not possible. ” Aleister finally mumbles, his heart beating like a loud drum under my palm.My gaze meets his wide eyes as I sigh. “ Well, my Mom lied about that. I am perfectly fine. I confirmed with a Healer. ”“ What? ” Aleister whispers, his eyes still holding disbelief.“ Yes, Mom lied and made me believe I couldn’t get pregnant. ” I shrug, dropping my head back. “ but who knew…her lie would get me pregnant mor