Tanya’s POVSunlight pours into the room, bathing me in a warm light. I blink a few times to shake away the drowsiness that clings to me as I look around. I need to sneak back to my room, but when I move, Marco’s eyes meet mine. They’re a bit groggy with sleep, but they’ve returned to their usual shade of blue, with no trace of the crimson that burned in them during the night. I take in a sharp breath, startled by the intensity of his gorgeous gaze. Then, he takes in the sight of our entwined bodies, his brow furrowing. “What happened last night?” he asks defensively, pulling away slightly to survey our surroundings. Something tightens in my chest as I realize he doesn’t remember anything that happened. My mind races to explain. “You were howling in pain. I know you told me to stay in my room, but I was worried. I came to check on you… but nothing happened. I mean, you kissed me, and we ended up sleeping in the same bed, but you didn’t… we didn’t have sex. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean
Tanya’s POVThe moment the door swings open, I’m struck by a variety of delectable scents. My eyes widen as I step inside and take in the sight of the quaint space in the attic. The room has been refurbished with a large desk and several shelves full of equipment and ingredients. There are several copper and glass distillation stills, as well as various tubes, beakers, and droppers. The shelves are lined with jars of dried herbs, barks, and resins. There are also vials with a variety of solvents and oils. The equipment and materials here are brand new and sophisticated, only of the highest quality. The smells that fill the air are so delectable that my heart skips a beat. Marco has even provided a few blank journals for me to record different formulas and take notes. It’s not just a hobby room; this is a fully stocked laboratory for me to create perfumes and potions. The little apothecary shop he’s made for me right in his townhouse is a dream come true. This space is perfect for m
Tanya’s POVI feel everyone’s eyes turn on me as I stumble back slightly in surprise. I barely have time to process what’s happening before Ayana appears at the edge of the crowd. She shoves her way past me, almost knocking me off my feet as she rushes to Cathy.“Cathy? Cathy, wake up!” she cries, shaking the princess violently by the shoulders in an attempt to rise her, her voice drawing even more attention to the scene.“Somebody gets help!” Ayana shrieks at the top of her lungs, but despite all her yelling, Cathy remains unconscious.Suddenly, I see Ayana’s expression twist from melodramatic exaggeration to genuine fear as she holds her hand by Cathy’s face. I’m filled with horror as I realize she’s trying to feel Cathy’s breath, and a sickening sort of understanding washes over me as I see that Cathy isn’t moving at all. “What- what happened? Is she… is she okay?” I ask, my voice shaky with concern.Ayana’s attention whirls furiously towards me.“No! She is NOT okay!” she yells a
Tanya’s POVI turn towards Lily, surprised by the chill in her tone. I’ve never seen her be openly hostile before, but when I look into her eyes, it’s not just anger that fills them; it’s fear. What could she possibly be afraid of? I can’t figure out what’s going through her mind, but I don’t get the chance to ask her. Ayana leaps at the opportunity to accuse me once again, yelling in my face. “So, she’s not a murderer, but she’s a thief!” she cries. Eric and Marco help Cathy to her feet as the princess slowly begins to recover. Still, Ayana is relentless in her efforts to make me seem like the villain. “That extraordinary perfume, you took it from Lily’s family! They recently showed Montenero’s custom perfume collection at the perfumery. Tanya must have stolen it from there.”“I would never do that,” I try to explain. “It’s true that I visited the perfume display, but I didn’t steal anything. I made this fragrant potion myself, recreating the formula from what I smelled in the spe
Tanya’s POVI wish I could spend forever like this dancing with Marco. But all too soon, the song ends, and the crowd turns to the ballroom’s main door as the Lycan King and Queen arrive. Everyone except for the royal family bows at their arrival. My gown swirls around me as I curtsy alongside the others, but I catch a glimpse of the Queen. She stands tall beside her dignified husband, but I’m surprised to see her eyes fixed on Marco. Her gaze is so filled with hatred and envy that it sends a chill down my spine as the King motions for everyone to rise. He stands at the edge of the balcony, officially welcoming his guest to the palace to celebrate the Autumn Equinox. Then, he gives a short but eloquent speech about the changing of the seasons throughout the kingdom and the fall harvest. Once the King is finished speaking, everyone disperses, and Marco is called by the Lycan King to have a talk. The ballroom feels far too large and crowded without Marco by my side, so I quietly slip
Tanya’s POVI stumble out of the palace and into the gardens, feeling tired and mildly nauseous. I make my way to the edge of a large pond, focusing on the sight of starlight glistening on the surface of the dark water. Someone approaches me, and I wince when I realize Ayana and Lily join by the pond, ruining any chance at peace and quiet. Not here. Not now. It’s been a long night, and I’m in no mood to be tormented further. The King’s voice still rings in my ears; the secret of Marco’s sitting heavy in my heart. Not to mention the crushing sorrow of everything I saw in Marco’s old room. The way Lily smiles at me so innocently makes my skin crawl. “My dear Tanya, is everything all right?” Lily asks. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”I did, and she knows it. She’s the one who showed me the ghost of her past relationship with Marco. “I just needed a moment alone and some fresh air,” I say softly. I don’t have the energy for any more drama. I just want to hide from all of this
Marco’s POVLily’s screams ring in my ears, and she thrashes wildly in the pond, sending water in every direction. I race to her side, jumping in before Eric even reaches the edge of the pond. Lily wraps her arms around me with a gasp, her nails digging into my skin. I grimace as she splashes me, hauling her out of the water. “Lily, calm down. Stop it. I got you,” I growl at her, and she wiggles a bit less at my command. I carry her out, setting her down gently on the ground. Eric quickly joins us, his expression wrought with worry. “You shouldn’t have done that,” my brother says quietly to me. “I would have gone in to rescue her.”I know Lily is not mine to rescue. She’s with Eric now, and he’s the one that should be rushing to her aid. But I’m faster and stronger, and I would have done it for anyone. Even though Lily and I aren’t together anymore, I wasn’t going to stand by and watch as she drowned. “You’re welcome,” I growl at him sarcastically before nodding towards Lily. “Tak
Tanya’s POVI’m hot and cold all at once, the fever wracking through my body. The chill of the pond from that night seems to have seeped into my bones, making me shiver even a sweat clings to my skin. My hand rests on my stomach as guilt courses through me, stronger and sharper than any discomfort from the fever.If I were the only one sick, I wouldn’t mind. But at that moment, when I jumped in after the earrings, I forgot that I’m not just making choices for myself anymore. There’s a child growing in me that will suffer the consequences of my mistakes. I berate myself for not having thought of that when I recklessly threw myself into the water. If this baby suffers because I made myself ill, I’ll never forgive myself.What kind of mother will I be?Something shifts on the best beside me, and I wince at the stiffness in my joints. My eyelids are heavy with fatigue, and everything seems blurry and far away like I can’t tell whether I’m awake or dreaming.Suddenly someone’s lying beside