“I’m not sure how this is going to help with our meeting,” the sponsor says dismissively. “Look, I’m a very busy man. Can we just wrap this up? I’ve said everything that I need to say.” I had expected the sponsor to do something like this. It’s typical for men to make power moves like this during
Aiden and I settle into the couch, the box of pizza on the table in front of us and a plate propped on each of our laps. Unfortunately, it was very easy to find the interview, so there was no way to pretend that I couldn’t find it. It has been released on several streaming platforms already. I’m n
“Carol,” he whispers against my lips. My head tilts back with pure bliss as the pleasure builds and builds. “Aiden,” I respond. With each other’s names on our lips, we soon find ourselves spent and blissful. We don’t move far from one another after the intimate moment has ended. The embrace is s
I know that I’m not the only one who finds the situation uncomfortable. I can feel the gazes of my coworkers burning into my back. I hear faint whispers around me. It’s clear they’re irritated by Daniel’s obvious display of favoritism, and I can’t even blame them. I only catch a few snippets of thei
The sun casts a warm glow over the city as Aiden drives me to work. Despite the cheery atmosphere, a slight sadness lingers in the car. Today is the start of Aiden’s more rigorous practice schedule — which means our time together will be brief. "I'm sorry I won't see you more today," Aiden confess
“What’s wrong?” Aiden asks, his expression creased with concern. He pulls off his helmet and runs a hand through his hair. His tousled locks look messy in a shockingly attractive way. I try to shove down the immediate wave of attraction I feel at the sight. Not now, I remind myself. This is importan
“I thought you were worried the locker room would be too dirty,” I teased him. He shrugs. “I know just how to clean off.” He nods toward the showers with a smirk. “Care to join me?” I watch with rapt attention as he pulls off his shirt. His muscles glisten with sweat under the dim lights of the
Aiden noticed my hesitation and turns to me. He quickly rushes to my side. "Are you okay, Carol?" he asks, his voice soft with worry. I’m having a hard time vocalizing what exactly I’m feeling. Deep in my bones, I know that something’s wrong. I can’t possibly justify why I’m feeling this so strong
I chuckled as I held back tears.“Sorry,” I murmured, trying to pull back, but she held me tighter.“I’ve missed you like crazy,” she breathed. “How’s life in the empire? I’ve been keeping tabs on you in the media. Seems you are kicking ass as the queen.”Since the inauguration ceremony last year, I
She flinched away for a moment, afraid that the darkness might hurt him, but I had faith that it wouldn’t because it was under her control now and the light in her wouldn’t be dim for the darkness.“It’s okay,” I assured her, bringing Caleb even closer into her view. She stared at him with admiratio
EpilogueAiden’s POV“She still won’t come out of her room?” Fiona asked, staring at the closed suite door with a frown. “It’s been a week since she killed her sister…”“She’s scared,” I told her, cradling Caleb in my arms. “Raelyn’s darkness is inside of her and she’s worried that she’s going to do
She was quiet for a moment while the Queen continued to bark orders in the background. The dark tendrils only seemed to grow more agitated with each passing moment.“Please, call the tendrils off and—”“I can’t,” she said quickly. “They don’t listen to me anymore… they listen to her more than they l
I wanted to believe that there was still good in Raelyn. That the darkness hadn’t taken over completely. I grabbed her arm, and I brought my gaze to meet hers; I wasn’t sure if my powers would work on her, but I had to try. I channeled her mind and when I found a connection, I realized it was weak,
Carol’s POVI used my powers to fight off the guards, using my mind manipulation to make them fight one another and using some of the spells I was taught to ward them off. I’ve practiced with mind manipulation a lot so I was able to do it quickly. I soon had some of them at least turning against the
“It’s not personal darling,” she said, waving off his concern. “It’s strictly business.”“Was any of it real?” He asked, shaking his head with disgust written all over his face. “Did you ever love me?”She let out a bitter laugh.“Love?” She scoffed. “Please… There’s no room for love when I have a n
My entire body went cold when I saw what they were running from. Clouds of darkness snaked through the ground, slithering like snakes. I could feel the cold darkness and the chilling aura that penetrated it.In the distance, I squinted at the figures standing in the center of the town.The Queen.St
Carol’s POV“You promised you’d help me buy a ring for Fiona,” Oliver said as he leaned against the doorframe of my suite. I had just finished changing Caleb’s dirty typer for the 5(th) time this hour when Oliver decided to bless me with his visit.Collectively, we’ve been in the Empire for 2 months