[Zeve’s POV] He raked his hair back with his hands, sweating. I held his hand and made him sit in front of his dressing table in his walk-in closet. He looked at me through the circular mirror in front of us. “I thought so. Her maids were lying. She was lying.” Amor already looked deeply troubled. I didn’t want to make things more difficult for him. “But why did they say that you were near the lover’s fountain…” “Hazel’s maids? I have never visited that place. It is a place that holds a lot of memories of Hikari and Mayu, so I completely avoid it.” “Oh! I didn’t know that…” I told him everything from the beginning till the end that happened on the banquet night. He completed the full story, telling me what happened after he found me with Hikari. He knew about mine and Hazel’s encounter in the hall, but he got to know that Hazel gave me that drink from Hikari who had questioned her maids. “But she drank the wine from the same teapot. She was just fine.” I said while I brushed
[Zeve’s POV] Amor’s knights joined him as soon as he walked out of our room. Everyone he came across bowed and greeted him. But strangely, everyone he came across was only males. Usually those hallways were filled with maids, but when Amor walked around, it had butlers, knights or guards. Maybe everyone in the palace was aware of his repulsive nature towards women. Or maybe it was because of his rut. “Greeting alpha…” Morfan greeted Amor. His tone was more like he was talking to a friend rather than the alpha of the pack. He never spoke in that tone in front of me. I guess he had always been like that with Amor. I wondered what his story was and how he met Amor. “You don’t look so good today,” Amor said. “I fucked all night and in morning I got the news about what happened and I feel more fucked up now. I shouldn’t have gone to the courtesan’s court. I was needed here. Why didn’t you call me?” He whined. Are all men like this? Do they talk about such things so freely? “You r
[Zeve’s POV] Amor and Hikari walked out of the room together into the hallways. They didn’t talk. Awkward. My spy butterfly flew from Amor’s shoulder to Hikari’s. I wanted to see Amor. My heart needed no reason to flutter. Amor’s one glance was enough. I rolled on my belly, adoring Amor’s exceptionally sharp looks. “Your scent is still strong,” Hikari said. I let out a sigh of relief. At least someone broke the awkwardness. “Hmm, the second day of rut. What do you expect?” Amor said. I pouted. I told you to take a break. You are pushing yourself too much. “You should go back to your room and rest. If there is something you want me to take care of, let me know,” Hikari said, hesitating initially. “I need your spies…” Amor said, looking at Hikari. He tensed his brows, looking over Hikari’s shoulder. I got up with a jolt. I felt as if I made eye contact with him through my butterfly. But how is this possible? “What happened?” Hikari asked, looking over his shoulder. Can Amor
[Zeve’s POV] ‘Ria! Please help me! Please!’ I yelled in my mind. I felt a warm strength flow through my body. ‘Calm down, Zeve. Stop thinking about that conversation for now. Give it a break. Almost everything about that conversation confused me. Like, who is that overlord? And what is the real reason for the vampires to be after you? How is this related to your parents? There are so many questions erupting right now.’ She was right. With so many uncertainties, there was no use overthinking about it. But I couldn’t help it. ‘Look at the bright side of that conversation. A power like Hikari is on your side and now we know his true intentions. He doesn’t want to hurt you, rather all this time he was trying to protect you from the creep overlord or whatever. Everything will be fine, even if everyone leaves you. I am by your side. So calm down.’ ‘Right. I have to be in my right mind to get my answers. That overlord even sensed my butterfly’s presence.’ I thought to Ria. ‘Exactly.
[Zeve’s POV] Lexi and the maids came in. “Do you have any orders for us, Luna?” I took a deep breath and looked at her. “I was hoping to take a stroll. It feels a bit stuffy in here.” Lexi’s eyes twinkled. She ordered the maids to draw all curtains, open all windows and restore the ventilation of the room. I sat back, blinking as all that happened in less than a second. “Change all these curtains too. They are too dark. Put light blue cotton curtains. Luna likes the scent of lavender. Bring the fresh flowers and scented candles. Change the carpets too. Lucy! Inform luna’s personal knights. Her highness wishes to take a walk. The royal garden is in full bloom. Will that be fine, your highness?” I nodded, blinking. “Right! Ask the guards to check the security. Inform gamma Nash about the walk!” Lexi looked at me. “Would you like to have some tea in the fresh air, your highness?” “S-sure!” “Arrange for luna’s tea and no food should reach her without being checked by me!” Pffft
[Zeve’s POV] Did I add salt instead of sugar? Before I could guess what was wrong— “What are you doing here?” My skin prickled at the impassive, deep voice that came from behind me. I gulped and slowly turned around just to see Amor’s glowing blue eyes glaring at the knights and maids. “Amor. Why are you here? Is the meeting over?” I asked. He was still glaring at the knights. The gravity that fell around the garden with Amor’s knights eyeing my knights became more daunting. The knights gulped down my tea as if they were swallowing their last breaths. “Yeah. I heard luna injured her hands and was out on a walk, but I didn’t know her servants were bullying her…” I interrupted Amor. “No! No one bullied anyone here. You are getting it all wrong.” “So what is this? I have never seen a master prepare tea for her maids or her knights. This is getting on my nerves.” “I was playing with them.” Amor finally met my gaze, and his eyes stopped glowing. The harsh gaze they had seconds ag
[Zeve’s POV] “It’s ok if they like you and are loyal to you, but it’s not good if you get closer to them because they are there to protect you. I don’t want an incident like Arki to repeat itself. I oversaw once, but I will not keep overlooking your flaws.” He said. I dropped my head. “I am sorry. I just…” “It’s their duty to protect you and their choice to die for you. You don’t have to blame yourself if they die saving you. You should take their sacrifices bravely to your heart and protect that feeling of vengeance within. I know you have a soft heart. But you are my luna now… a soft heart will only hurt you more.” “I will keep that in mind. I apologise again.” I made him angry again. I thought if we get along well, we might get closer and work better. I was scratching my nails again. “Where did you get this bad habit?” Amor held my hand. “Stop destroying your beautiful nails!” Beautiful nails? Are my nails beautiful? I nodded, trying hard not to blush. “Take my words as a
[Zeve’s POV]“Don’t be nervous, Zeve. It will all be ok. Stay calm and collected. Rest will happen like I told you. Finally, my daughter will wear the crown. I am so proud and happy for you,” mother patted my head.“Thank you, mother. You have helped me so much in my journey to become an ideal luna. I feel so anxious. Everyone will be there. Royal family, dukes, duchesses, pack public and all the rank holders. I pray everything works out smoothly.”“It will… remember, even if something adverse happens, which most likely happens during such huge ceremonies, stay calm and composed. If you panic, it’s ok, but don’t let that hamper your rationality, wisdom and thinking. Ok?” Mother said, and I nodded with determination.M
(This is a free chapter. You won’t need to pay for it. So, please do it read it until the end.) Dear readers, So this journey had finally come to an end! First of all, THANK YOU so much for reading this book, investing your time, and giving it so much love and appreciation. Your every gem, your every comment, your every review has brightened my day and uplifted my spirit in my hard times. This is my first book on this platform and I couldn’t have ever imagined of getting so far. But you made this possible and I am super grateful for all your supports, lovelies. I know this book isn’t perfect and nor am I, but I always try my best to better my craft and create a world where all of us could unite. So, don’t forget to tell me who your favourite character/s was/were in this story? If you enjoyed the book, a review on the main page of the book is much appreciated. It really helps with the growth of the book. And so do your gems and comments. Thank you for coming on this adventure w
[Zeve’s POV] As I plunged into the magma, I had no thoughts in my head. My body was being consumed by the flames, while my heart almost stopped. It was cold inside the volcano. My clothes and armour melted away, but neither the flames nor the magma touched my skin. They flowed inches away from my skin. I held my breath. The bright red glowing magma flowed magnificently inside the volcano. It was scary how I could feel its heat yet not get burned. It was like one of those dreams came to reality, except this time the one to be burnt in flames was me and not Amor. The magma behind me started taking some kind of form. I felt Amor’s presence and my heart skipped a beat. I felt hands warped under my waist and knees. I shut my eyes with a shudder. The next thing I remember was I was sitting far away on the ground and watching the magma, ashes and rocks explode out of the volcano like fireworks. There was a dazzling figure hovering above the volcano, suppressing it back into the ground
[Zahir’s POV]Why don’t you smile?Why don’t you cry?Why don’t you fight?Why don’t you get angry?Why don’t you get scared?What the hell is wrong with you?You are my son, and you cannot be the monster they say you are.Feel!Feel something!Feel anything!Feel everything!‘If nothing, then feel the pain!’That face of a person I was supposed to call my mother.Those glowing eyes floating in sheer darkness.Those words were like pure acid, pouring in my ears.Those snarls of pure hatred and screams and cries, those slaps and whips.The dark bathroom flooded with water everywhere and blood dissolved in it through my veins.I remember.Maybe I felt nothing but cold. It was unbearably cold.That time, that’s all I felt. A cold that made my spine shiver.I wanted to feel, but how?Everything I locked up within me and in the magic and key core came back.It all came back, but I think it never left in the first place.Even after hundreds of years, I could still feel her presence by the s
[Zeve’s POV]“Mother, stop!” Killian yelled.“Venus, calm down… we can make things right, ok? Trust me. Put down the blade…” Zahir coaxed Venus into his manipulative tone.Venus distanced the blade from her throat as if Zahir’s words were controlling her on a mental level. Her hands were shaking as she held the blade to her throat.Her eyes were frozen, as if she was in Zahir’s control. She shook her head with a gasp, “no, not anymore. You can’t control me anymore…” her voice came out hoarse and shaky.And she put the blade against her neck again, this time cutting her skin and bleeding.“NO! NO! Stop!” Zahir panicked and stepped back from Venus, raising his hands.“What the hell is going on here? Venus!” I called out and was about to go to her when Hikari held my hand.I looked at him and frowned. Hikari shook his head.I looked at Venus again and the blade was Hikari’s katana.“Your katana?” I felt a strange fear take over me as I stared at Hikari for an answer.“I must have dropped
[Zeve’s POV]‘I see him burning and these nightmares just don’t stop. Day after day, it’s always the same thing. I try to save him, but the flames always find their way to him. His body… it’s like it’s melting. I couldn’t get these nightmares out of my head and it’s disturbing. A lot. So, I came to you for guidance. Do these nightmares mean something?’‘Dreams are often a window for the future. We just need to interpret them rightly,’ priestess Melantha said when I met her in my third year in Phantoria. ‘For a seed to turn into a sapling and then into a huge tree, the seed coat needs to break. He’ll burn for you and this world.’‘No, he won’t. I won’t let death touch him, not because of me — especially not because of this world.’ This was what I told her, and then she replied with a subtle smile.‘What is the definition of death for you, luna?’ She asked.‘I don’t know. Death for me is what it’s for everyone else. Bad, painful and gloomy and… end.’‘When the right time comes, you will
[Zeve’s POV]There were two souls active inside Killian. One was of Derek and another of Polaris. Killian decided based on the soul that dominated him at a time.That was the only sane explanation I could give to why he was using Celeste as a hostage when Killian saved her, risking his own life.“Fine,” I said, calmly. “Let them go. But I don’t know how to get the core out of my body. Extract it yourself.”Killian frowned. “No hidden tricks, Zeve. I don’t have time for that.”I raised my hand to my shoulders as if I was surrendering myself. “I am telling you the truth. I was born with this core and never took it out. I am not playing any tricks.”Killian thought for some time and then stretched his palm towards me. Four black magic circles appeared around me. One above my head, one below my feet, one in front of my chest, and one behind it.“I am already stuck here. I can’t escape. Please let them go now,” I said. The hellhounds backed off from Lucella and Celeste.The suction from
[Zeve’s POV]The sound of gunshots, along with screams of the knights getting attacked, mashed up with the howls of the hellhounds dominating the road. Killian coughed vigorously and threw out the broken pieces of rock with his teeth and blood from his mouth. “Oh, I know what devilishness it takes to create a utopia. But you really piss me off whenever I see you…” Killian snarled at Amor.Killian created a dark energy ball between himself and Amor, who was pressing him against the ground. The energy ball exploded, flinging Amor far away from Killian.Amor jumped back to his feet and drew out his sword. The armour worked. Amor wasn’t hurt badly. But I could just stand and wait for him to be hurt.I looked at the sky with my apprehension increasing with every second.On the training grounds, the screeches of shadow eaters were tackling the fire wall, keeping them locked within the magic circle. It was as if their screams were summoning the rain because heavy clouds had started looming
[Killian’s POV]Dark clouds stirred over the ruins of the Aura palace and its training grounds. The land had prepared to devour the souls and vomit a curse in the darkest shade of black to open the portal to the dark world from where the creatures of hell would flood the land, turning it into their grazing field. They would feed on souls and lock them in timeless gloom — in a world of nothingness and doom. Their minds were under my control and their souls on my command would set themselves ablaze on the magical ground.I was prepared and so was the enemy.Heavy military and army of hundreds guarded the boundaries around the precinct of the Aura palace and its land. The knights were armoured and ready with their swords, defending the boundaries of the palace from outside.Warriors were ironclad in their wolf forms. The wolves of darker colours were standing on the front lines and surrounded the training grounds.The soldiers created a wall of shields on either side of the criminals’ p
[Zeve’s POV]“Should I take off this gown now?” Celeste asked, walking to me and then standing beside me as we peered at the air where Killian stood seconds ago.I looked at Celeste and caressed her cheek. “I know it’s uncomfortable, sweetie, but wait a little, hmm?”Celeste looked into my eyes and nodded once.“You did a good job. I am proud of you,” I said.A week without the key core and Celeste already looked so fragile. I had to get back the key core from Killian after the plan played out the way I wanted it to.I looked at the sky. The chess board was laid out, the only thing left was the game to begin.“Zeve, I don’t like this at all. You are pregnant and even if everything goes according to your plan, it’s still dangerous because we don’t know what might happen when things actually start happening,” Amor said.I looked at Amor and smiled.“I have heard kids take after their parents. I want my child to be brave, and for that, I have to be braver today. I am going to be a mother