Two guards rushed forward, grabbing me by either of my arms and lifting me while the king watched on."Are you the reason for this disagreement between my sons?" He asked, narrowing his gaze on me. "What do you think you are doing by coming into my kingdom and stirring discord?""King Nigel, this woman is a nuisance and a threat. You need to do away with her immediately." Veronica announced, acting weakly. "She is trying to seduce your son.""Seduce my son?" King Nigel repeated eyeing Veronica. "Do you think that the Prince's are so easily swayed?""N-no, of course not." Veronica stammered, her eyes widening. "I am just saying that this woman needs to be done away with.""Veronica!" Roland hissed, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Are you insane?"For a moment, Veronica doesn't speak as she takes him in with a look of disbelief and disgust."Don't tell me that you've fallen for this tramp too!"Eyes widening, Roland immediately looked to Elias as if worried that he would snap again d
"Duck!" Derrick called as Roland swung a fist at me. "You don't want to get hit!"Huffing, I quickly dodged Roland's attack as sweat poured down into my eyes. We had been training for a little over a week now, and I was beginning to get used to his movements—not enough to fully avoid, but progress was progress, right?"You just got lucky." Roland chuckled, readjusting his footing. "But you won't be so lucky this time."Lunging forward, his hand shot out towards my chest, moving out of the way. I managed to avoid the attack, but I wasn't quick enough to stop him from kicking my feet out from underneath me.Gasping, I tried to suck in air as my back slammed into the ground. Black spots danced in front of my eyes as Roland stood staring down at me, smirking."You alright?" He asked, holding out a hand.Coughing, I nodded. "I'm good; I can keep going.""I think it is about time we called it a day." He countered, heaving me off the ground.We had spent a good part of the day running simple
"GET OFF ME!" I screamed as my hands found the Lycan's chest and shoved.Surprise flashed across the creature's face as the force of my shove sent it flying backwards into a wall. Taking advantage of its momentary distraction, I hurried to my feet and braced myself before it moved forward, ready to attack again.As the creature lunged towards me, my body went into autopilot, easily catching the creature by its arms and twisting with a force that easily snapped its wrists. Snarling, it backed away before moving forward again, only for me to easily manage to dodge the attack before wrapping an arm around its neck and squeezing.Growling, the lycan tried to break free of my hold, but I was much stronger than it, and without the use of its hands, the creature was at a disadvantage. Heaving, I tightened my hold, crushing its windpipe, causing it to fight back harder. With a final heave, I felt the creature's neck bones snap before all movement ceased and the lycan became limp. Letting go, I
"YOU CAUSED THIS, DIDN'T YOU?" Maria snarled as her hand began to fall through the air, ready to strike. "YOU TRICKED MY BBROTHER,AND NOW YOU'RE HELPING THE ENEMY INFILTRATE THE CASTLE!"Eyes widening, I watched her hand come towards my face as if in slow motion. Lifting my own, I easily grabbed her wrist and tugged, pulling Maria forward while spinning her so that her arm twisted behind her back."I'm getting pretty sick of you coming in guns blazing." I snapped angrily. "How about you learn to give people a chance to speak?""YOU BITCH!" She screamed, trying to break free. "SEE! THIS PROVES MY POINT! LOOK AT YOU! YOU WERE JUST PRETENDING TO BE PATHETIC TO TRICK MY BROTHER!""Think what you like." I sighed, already tired of her overreaction."Maria, you need to learn to reign in that temper." Roland, who stood aside, sighed. "Instead of falsely accusing, you should help Father and Elias figure out who is actually behind this attack.""Everyone takes this woman's side over mine!" Maria
"Valerie," Roland whispered, coming up behind me. "When I say run, I need you to run and not stop until you're in the safety of the castle.""What?" I hissed, keeping my eyes fixed on the string of lycans that were making their way towards us. "What about you and Derrick?""We are trained warriors." He reminded me. "You, however, are not, and you would only be a hindrance sticking around here."I opened my mouth to retort, but I knew deep down that Roland was right. If I were to be stubborn and stick around, I would truly be a hindrance. Derrick and Roland wouldn't be able to focus all their attention on fighting the lycan if they had to pay attention to protecting me as well."Why don't the both of you run with me?" I asked instead; I just couldn't stomach the idea of leaving them both here to fight off the beasts.Roland chuckled. "What kind of solider would I be if I fled in the face of danger?""He's right, Valerie." Derrick added. "As soldiers, we have sworn our lives to King Nige
I don't know how long I laid on Elias' floor before he finally returned with a healer. Bending down, he gently lifted me off the ground and placed me back on his bed before moving aside so the healer could move in and begin examining my wounds."Luckily, they aren't deep enough to need sutures." The man spoke as he pulled pieces of tattered fabric away from the wounds, causing me to wince. "But they'll take some time to heal.""Be more gentle." Elias hissed, not missing my discomfort. "I brought you here to treat her, not hurt her.""Yes prince." The man said quickly, his voice shaking.Growing quiet, the healer busied himself cleaning and dressing the wounds on my back. I couldn't help but realize that the whole time he did it, his hands were shaking. It was clear that this healer was new, and he feared Elias greatly.Finished with his work, the man gave a bow before rushing out of the room, leaving just me and Elias."Thanks." I whispered, keeping my gaze fixed on my hands, which sat
"HEY!"Twirling, I found Elias rushing out of the room after me, his face fixed in a look of confusion."What do you want?" I asked, trying to hide my shock. "Did you need something else with me?""Thinking on it..." Elias began looking slightly uncomfortable. "It may be better if you stayed in my quarters for the time being.""What?" This time, I was unable to mask my shock as his words sank in. "Me, stay with you?"Elias nodded. "There have been two lycan attacks now on the palace. Don't forget, you are a danger magnet.""Yes, yes, I attract danger." I muttered, forgetting for a second what was being said. "Wait...."I needed to focus here. Just moments ago, he was being cold towards me, but now he suddenly wanted me to stay with him. What exactly was going on here?"This isn't up for debate." Elias huffed as the prior look of discomfort disappeared and his usual mask of indifference took its place. "Go collect your things and be back within an hour.""Sure." It wasn't like I could a
Soft moans escaped my lips as Elias' tongue swirled around my erect nipples while his hands trailed along my side down to my hip and back up, teasing me until I couldn't stand it anymore and was ready to attack.I don't know how long he had already spent teasing me and driving me wild. Usually he would just go straight for the kill, but something about this time was different than the others. It was hard to explain, but it felt more like I was being cherished compared to being just used."Elias..." His name left my lips with a slight sigh. "Please, I don't want just teasing."The things this man was doing to my body were insane, but I didn't hate them; however, I wanted more than this—so much more.As his name escaped me, his free hand trailed down my stomach to my soaked slit so it could slide between my folds. Using his fingers, he began to tease and taunt me. Moaning, I arched my back, silently begging for him to continue.Chuckling, Elias obliged, pushing in one, then two fingers a
That evening, in the dead of night, Tristan appeared, escorting a single Griffin. He seemed slightly nervous, and I wondered just how much danger he was putting himself in to help us."Are you sure this is okay?" Elias asked as he took the creature's reigns from him. "Won't they notice one is missing?""I have a plan." Tristan smirked."Okay," Elias murmured, holding out a hand. "Thank you for all your help, my friend.""Anytime." Tristan beamed. "Just try to stay out of trouble, got it?""Sure." Elias chuckled.I could feel tears beginning to prick at my eyes from the warm send-off between the two men. I couldn't explain it, but to see Elias having someone on the other side that has his back made me feel a little more at peace with the fact I could leave him at any moment."I'll see you when I see you, then." Tristan announced taking a step back. "Hopefully next time will be under better circumstances.""We can only hope." Elias agreed.With that, he turned and grabbed my waist. A sma
For the next few days, Elias and I laid low in the cabin that Tristan provided for us. Each morning, he would bring us food and a change of clothes and then disappear for the rest of the day, leaving us to our own devices. It was a good time for us to grow closer—much closer. It was also a good time for me to tell him a bit more about my past than I now remembered, starting from when I was born to the time I was murdered.I knew that it pained Elias to hear these things, but he listened quietly and didn't ask many questions. Likewise, he told me more about his past, like the time before the curse. Back when he was a happy young boy, the king wasn't so strict and smiled more. It looked like we were a pair of ruined souls that somehow managed to find each other despite the difference in universes and time."You awake?" Elias murmured on the morning of the third day.I was, but I was still thinking about everything, including the fact that I hadn't told him that I was slowly dying. As tim
"Listen." I said, slowly sucking in a breath. "I know maybe this sounds ridiculous, and honestly, it could be highly offensive towards you.""Offensive?" Elias repeated, lifting a brow. "What exactly is going through that head of yours?""I can't help but wonder if it is me that you care for or my blood." I said quietly, feeling the blood begin to rush to my face.There, I expressed my biggest worry. It was now out in the universe, and I couldn't take it back. I could only hope that I wasn't ruining the moment entirely, but before we proceeded, I had to know.Lifting my eyes, I met Elias' unreadable gaze and found myself wishing that I could read his thoughts. I wanted to know what he thought. I wanted to know how he felt about what I had just confessed to him."You think..." He said slowly, clearly trying to get his thoughts together. "That I would possibly mistake my feelings for you for an addiction to your blood?"Flinching, I realized just how bad what I had said sounded. Of cours
I felt a shiver rush through me at Elias' sweet words and tender touch. It was definitely going to take a lot for me to get used to him being like this."I think I will go find a healer." Tristan said slowly, drawing my attention to him."You don't have to." I said, quickly blushing ferociously. "I'm really okay."I was okay, truly. However, I wasn't going to be okay. I had almost forgotten what I had been told about slowly dying. That meant that eventually I would start to show signs of the end, and I wasn't sure how Elias would take it."What's wrong?" The man in question asked, immediately catching on to my discomfort. "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?""I'm fine." I assured him, plastering on a fake smile. "I just want to be able to go back to Allsbrook."For now, I simply wanted to go back to the place that had become my home and spend the rest of the time I had left with Elias. I didn't want to have to worry about a major battle or about having to kill someone."Soon," Elias s
The room around me grew quiet as my words sank in. We were in for quite a fight with the fake Vladimier. I knew from experience how nasty and terrifying he could be when he wanted something. What the hell was he even planning?"Tell me how the original curse was cast." Elias spoke, causing shock to roll through my body. "That way, we know what we are up against.""A life." I whispered, shivering. "In order to cast the curse, a life must be sacrificed.""A life?" He hissed, seeming unable to quite believe what he had just heard. "If that's the case, then who..."The rest of his question never managed to escape, as realization began to show in his eyes, followed by a horror that left me feeling happy and sad at the same time."You're saying..." He managed as his face paled. "That bastard."I could feel Elias' aura beginning to seep off of him as his anger at Vladimier's method of cursing his land sank in."You need to calm down." I murmured, reaching out a hand and touching his arm. "We'
Elias held me while I cried, not speaking a single word. Instead, he just made comforting noises while his hand rubbed soothing circles against my back. I knew that I didn't deserve this kindness that he was giving me, but I couldn't bring myself to try to pull away from it. After days of being with Vladimier and dealing with conflicting emotions at all times, it was just too wonderful to be in the arms of the man that I truly loved."I know you're upset, and now isn't the time to be asking this," Elias began, finally breaking his silence. "You mentioned that you were used to cast the curse."Tensing I began to realize exactly what it was that he wanted to know. He wanted to know if there was a way to break the curse since I knew how to cast it. Of course, I knew how to break the curse, but there was only one way to do it. To break the curse, I would have to repeat what happened to cast it."There is a way to lift it." I responded slowly while sitting up enough to wipe tears from my fa
"Why do you look like you're a criminal up for execution?"Elias' voice was calm as he spoke, but there was a hint of unease in it as well. It was like he was expecting the worst but hoping for the best. That made two of us, I guess, but it made what I had to say that much harder."Maybe I am." I responded bitterly.I knew he was trying to lighten the mood with his words, but he had no idea what I had discovered. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if he would look at me the same again once I revealed it to him."What could you have done so wrong for that?" He countered, stepping forward and reaching out a hand.Instinctively, I found myself flinching away from his touch. As I was now, I didn't think that I deserved to be treated like that by him. Not when I was solely responsible for how much he and his people had suffered."You don't understand." I whispered as tears pricked at my eyes. "Elias, I've remembered everything. From my time before meeting you and before that even.""You've rememb
"Elias..." I hissed as I watched the group of wendigos that were beginning to make their way towards us. "What should we do?"Behind me, I could hear him moving, but I didn't dare turn my attention away from the trouble that was fast approaching. One wrong move and I could become monster chow, and I wasn't about to let that happen so easily."When I say move, you move." Elias finally responded close to my ear, sending a shiver through me.Tensing, I nodded, knowing that he must have a plan in place. At least, that was what I hoped."Ready..." He murmured, "Set... GO!"As the word left his lips, I could feel a hand wrapping around my wrist and tugging. With wide eyes, I found myself being pulled in the opposite direction of the wendigos while they began to chase."This is your plan?" I demanded, managing to not fall on my face despite the roots that were threatening to trip me. "You aren't going to attempt to fight them?""Are you really going to sit here and fuss about escaping?" Elias
"Good bye." I murmured as my body began to fall toward the earth. "I'm sorry we couldn't meet one more time, Elias," I continued, feeling regret that I wouldn't see his face before I died. However, before I could fall into misery, I felt an odd tug at my consciousness.Confused, I tried to allow whatever was happening to happen. Slowly, flashes of the past appeared one by one. Each showing Vladimier with a crazed look on his face, pulling at chains that I could only assume were attached to my wrists at the time."You belong to me!" He hissed as his hand shot out and connected with my cheek. "HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO KILL YOURSELF?""I don't want to be part of your plan!" I heard my voice speak as fear clutched at my heart."You don't have a choice." Vladimier snapped, turning and leaving.Finding myself alone in a cell with whip marks across my arms and legs, I finally realized what was going on here. This was another memory of my time with Vladimier. Only this was the one that showed h