Lianna: I couldn’t believe I was doing this. I glanced at myself in the mirror again, torn between laughing and crying. I had never dressed this way for anyone. Sure, I had worn a dress for Ethan once—on the night of our wedding, when I had slipped into the most sultry, elegant thing I could find, hoping he would actually see me for once. But no. That night, I had been left with the cold, empty space of a different room while he slept somewhere else. I shook my head, shoving that thought away. It wouldn’t help me now. It never had. Edward was different. He wanted this. Told me to wear something sexy for him, and damn it, I was going to. I barely had time to process it, but there I was, standing in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection in a two-piece bikini. The soft fabric clung to my skin, hugging every curve in a way that made me feel—exposed. But I couldn’t back out now. No way. Edward’s words still rang in my ears. "Wear it for me, Lianna. I want to see you."
Lianna: Adam's arms wrapped around me and he pushed me against the tree closest to us, caging me in with both of his arms on either side of the trunk. He looked down at me, eyes lingering on my lips. "I am the owner of you. I own your body," His fingers grazed down my arm, tracing lines till he got to my waist. "Your soul," He cupped my breasts. "Your everything. It's mine and I get to decide what happens and what doesn't." I planted my foot into the ground and pushed him off, swiftly changing our positions. I stared into his eyes and smirked. "Well, I own you as much as you own me so what are we going to do about that?" My lips moved to his neck and my fangs jutted out, tracing lines down his skin and grazing his ear lobes softly. "Tell me, Edward. Who owns who?" His fingers sank into my skin and he lifted me off the ground and pushed me back into the tree trunk. "Let's see for ourselves." He pushed my panties to the side, muttering how he regretted that he co
Lianna: The morning light spilled through the tall window, warm against my skin, a slow caress that eased me into wakefulness. But the real warmth, the one that made me want to stay exactly where I was, came from Edward. His arms were wrapped around me, holding me as if I belonged nowhere else. For a long moment, I just lay there, letting the feeling of absolute contentment settle over me. I had never thought I could feel this way, so at peace, so—dare I say it—happy. Carefully, I lifted my head, taking in the sight of Edward’s face. In the soft glow of morning, he looked almost unreal. Strong jaw, slightly tousled hair, thick lashes casting shadows against his cheeks. If the gods had ever sculpted a man by hand, I was convinced they had taken their time with this one. A small, ridiculous smile tugged at my lips as I reached up, fingers hovering just over his face. His eyes fluttered open. I barely had a second to react before I was caught in the full fo
Lianna: Her expression didn’t change, but there was something sharper in her gaze now. "Go on." "I believe there’s a spell on him," I said. "Something unnatural, something that… swayed his choices." The priestess leaned forward slightly. "You do not trust his love for you?" I hesitated. "I do. But that doesn’t mean something isn’t at play. I need to know the truth. If there is a spell, I want it broken." She was quiet for a long moment, as if weighing my words in her mind. Then, finally, she nodded. "A wise request. Love, when manipulated, is no love at all." I exhaled, relief curling in my chest. "Thank you." But before I could say more, she spoke again. "There is something else on your mind." I hesitated before nodding. "The pandemic." Her brows lifted. "The one that swept through the kingdom," I clarified. "It disappeared too quickly. Almost… unnaturally so. And I have reason to believe my ex-husband’s wife, Freya, had something to do wit
Lianna: She looked different. Her usual haughty confidence had been stripped away, leaving behind someone tired, almost… haunted. Her lips were pressed into a tight line, her shoulders drawn in like she was bracing for an attack. Edward’s jaw tensed. He didn’t even bother greeting her. I leaned back in his lap, tilting my head as I studied her. "You look awful," I said sweetly. "Having a hard time sleeping? Guilt tends to do that." Freya sighed heavily. "I expected as much from you." "And yet you walked in here anyway," I said, arching a brow. "What do you want?" She hesitated, looking between the two of us. "Before you start hurling insults at me, I'd like to speak." Edward exhaled sharply. "Then get on with it," he said, his voice clipped. I liked the sound of that. Freya hesitated, as if debating whether to actually go through with whatever she had come to say. Then, taking a deep breath, she began. “I lied about being married before,” she sa
*CHAPTER 130* Ethan: I had long lost count of the days. I'd literally been abandoned here. Left to die from starvation. I thought Edward was softhearted, but now, I saw him for who he really was. Fuck him for leaving me here and not even trying to use the blood privilege to get me the fuck out of here. Hunger gnawed at my insides, a constant, cruel reminder that I was no longer a prince, no longer someone to be feared or respected. I was a prisoner, a forgotten relic of power stripped away. My body was weak, thinner than it had ever been. My tunic, once finely woven, now hung off my frame in filthy tatters, clinging to me like a second skin soaked in sweat and grime. The metal cuffs around my wrists had left deep, angry marks, my once-calloused hands now trembling from exhaustion rather than power. The silence of the dungeon had become my only companion, and I had started speaking to the walls just to hear my own voice again. So when the heavy footsteps ec
Ethan’s POV The moment I stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Freya and stifled a groan. She was standing there, hands clasped in front of her, her face the perfect picture of heartbreak and helplessness. I knew that look too well. In the past, it would have broken me, twisted my insides until I was bending over backward to comfort her and do according to her wishes. Now, all I felt was disgust. I couldn't stand the sight of her. Hell, I wanted to kick her out this instant, but I still had use for her. She had played me, manipulated me, turned me into a shadow of myself. And when I was at my lowest, rotting in a dungeon, she had been the one to whisper the promise of my execution like she was telling me goodnight. I grabbed a towel and rubbed it over my damp hair, shaking off the lingering exhaustion that clung to me. The bath had helped, but it wasn’t enough to wash away the bitterness. Freya took a hesitant step forward, her eyes wide and glistening with t
Lianna: The High Priestess’s house was the last place I expected to find beauty. Yet here I was, standing in a courtyard blooming with midnight roses, their velvet petals releasing a sweet, intoxicating fragrance that made me pause before stepping further in. I had imagined something else entirely—an ancient, sagging shack, maybe, with a cauldron bubbling over and cats hissing from dark corners. But this? This was elegance. Clean-cut hedges, polished obsidian stone underfoot, and lanterns swinging gently in the breeze like they carried secrets inside their glass. I caught my reflection in the black marble pillars that flanked the doorway. My hair was a mess from the ride, and dust streaked the hem of my dress. Wonderful. I should have worn something less… peasant. And I should have taken a car instead. But then again, I wasn’t here to win a fashion contest. I was here to figure out why the hell Freya was still breathing royal air. The doors opened before I could lift a
Lianna: Breakfast settled into an almost eerie quiet after Edward put Mariel in her place. A perfect, beautiful silence. I could sense Mariel’s wounded pride and Ethan’s resentment. Across the table, Mariel kept her head down, chewing mechanically and likely plotting new ways to make my life miserable. I didn’t care. She had bigger problems now. Like figuring out how to exist in a world where Edward no longer catered to her whims. I, on the other hand, looked positively radiant, cutting into my fruit with a pleased little smile. I didn’t say it, but I was reveling in the fact that Edward was the one who had humiliated Mariel instead of me. Not because I couldn’t have done it herself, but because Edward’s words had an impact that mine never would. Mariel could handle my hatred, but Edward’s indifference? That was a death sentence. Ethan was the only one not enjoying the moment. He was practically vibrating with anger, stabbing his food like it had personally offended h
Lianna: I had never felt this regal in my entire life. Every step I took down the long, gilded hallway was a declaration of self confidence. The maids paused in their duties, their gazes trailing after me with open admiration. The guards, usually stoic and detached, offered subtle nods of acknowledgment, their respect barely hidden behind their trained expressions. A smirk tugged at my lips. I was reveling in it, and why shouldn’t I? After the hell I had endured, the bruises I had earned, the blood I had shed, this moment, twas mine. Even with the dull ache threading through my joints, the soreness reminded me of my victory. I felt good. No, better than good. I felt untouchable. And if the gods were feeling particularly generous, Mariel would be waiting in the dining hall, seething, and barely keeping her composure as she drowned in the bitter taste of her own defeat. The thought alone nearly made me hum in delight. I pushed the grand doors open and stepped inside,
Lianna: Blood crusted against my skin, dried and flaking, but I walked through the halls like a queen. Warriors, maids, even the high-ranking guards who rarely acknowledged anything outside their turned to watch me pass. Some wore looks of shock, others admiration. A few dared to speak, their voices hushed but awed. "You fought like a beast, Luna." "I didn’t think anyone could beat that woman." "I knew she was strong, but this? This was something else." I smirked, head held high, spine straight despite the ache creeping into my muscles. Even with bruises blooming across my skin and blood drying on my lip, I felt untouchable. Behind me, Ingrid sighed heavily. "You are absolutely impossible, do you know that?" I chuckled, not slowing my pace. "I do, actually." She groaned in exasperation, quickening her steps to match mine. "Why, Lianna? Why did you do that?" I tilted my head, pretending to think about it. "Hmm... the thrill of battle? The sa
Edward: I'd woken to an empty bed. I stretched my arm across the mattress, my fingers meeting nothing but the lingering warmth Lianna had left behind. A slow smile tugged at my lips. She’d been up early. Again. It wasn’t surprising anymore. For weeks, she’d thrown herself into combat training, each session more intense than the last. I’d heard the whispers—about her skill, her sheer strength, how she was no longer just a woman learning to fight but a warrior in her own right. It amused me. It pleased me. She was taking this seriously, proving herself to everyone who thought she couldn’t. I leaned back against the pillows, stretching my arms over my head, allowing the quiet of the room to settle over me. Today was a court meeting day, which meant a long morning of listening to people complain about things I barely cared about. But at least breakfast would be worth it. I’d see her then. Maybe tease her a little. Chuckling to myself, I swung my legs o
Lianna: Pain. Sharp, searing and unrelenting moved through me as Mariel targeted my solar plexus. My body was screaming, every inch bruised. Blood spilled from my nose, staining my lips with its metallic taste. But I didn’t care. I had felt worse. The blows Mariel landed on me were nothing compared to the fire burning in my chest, the sheer fury fueling my every breath. She thought she was winning. She thought she had me down. Fool. I could hear the gasps, the shifting of feet, the numerous worried eyes on me, but they were background noise. Even Ingrid’s worried face barely registered in my mind. Edward stood at the sidelines, arms crossed, his jaw locked so tight I thought his teeth might snap. But he wasn’t stopping this. He couldn’t. Mariel smirked, her lips split at the corner, blood smeared along her cheek. “Look at you,” she sneered, rolling her shoulders, preparing for another round. “Flat on your back. You should be used to that by now.” I tasted i
Lianna: I woke tangled in Edward’s arms, and if it were another day, I would have gone back to sleep and enjoyed the comfort of his arms. But I’d had enough of lying still, enough of waiting for someone else to make the first move. I wasn’t going to be the woman who watched things happen to her anymore. Not today. Careful not to wake him, I eased out of his grasp. His hand slid down my side before falling away completely. I held my breath, pausing to be sure he stayed asleep. For a man who carried entire kingdoms on his shoulders, he looked annoyingly peaceful. I slipped out of bed, feet silent on the cold floor. The chill bit at my skin as I pulled on my training clothes—black leggings, a snug sleeveless top, and bandages wound tight around my wrists and knuckles. My boots were next, worn leather creaking softly as I laced them. I dragged my hair into a braid, tying it off with a sharp tug, and then slid out of the room without a sound. The hallway was empty. Eve
Lianna: I woke up to silence, the kind that draped over everything like a heavy wool blanket. Imogen’s soft snores were gone. She must have retreated to her room a while ago. Good for her. She had the sense to sleep through this misery. I, on the other hand, had the misfortune of being conscious. And thirsty. So damn thirsty. I swiped my palm across my face, grimacing at the stickiness on my skin from dried tears. No glass of water on the nightstand. Of course. No maid hovering about with one either. Why would they? I was supposed to be the Luna. Supposed to be cared for, respected. But it sure as hell didn’t feel like that tonight. With a muttered curse, I swung my legs over the bed, my bare feet hitting the cold marble floor. The chill bit into my skin, but I welcomed it. Pain was better than… this hollow ache inside. Wrapping my arms around myself, I padded toward the door. It creaked slightly as I eased it open and slipped out into the dim corridor. The palace
Edward: The moment Lianna’s breathing evened out, I rose from the edge of the bed and straightened. Her back was to me, her shoulders tight even in sleep, like she was bracing for another blow that wouldn’t come. Carefully, I pulled the covers higher over her bare shoulder. I stood there for a long minute, watching the gentle rise and fall of her back. My jaw clenched tight. None of this should’ve happened. Mariel never should’ve stepped foot in this house. And now, because I hadn’t dealt with her the moment she crossed my gates, Lianna was in this bed trying to convince herself I wasn’t another mistake. That wasn’t going to happen again. I shoved my hand through my hair, flexing my fingers to shake off the restless itch under my skin. I walked out, shutting the door behind me with a controlled click. Ingrid straightened from where she stood outside, but I waved her off before she could speak. “Stay here,” I ordered, and she nodded without protest. The cor
Ethan: The moment Edward stormed out of the room, I exhaled slowly and leaned back in my chair. My fingers tapped lazily on the stem of my wine glass as I watched Mariel standing there like she’d just been gutted. Honestly, I’d never loved a moment more. She blinked fast, like she was fighting tears but too damn proud to let them fall. That alone made me sit up straighter, lifting my glass to my lips as if I were toasting the disaster that had just unfolded. Mariel’s gaze slid to me, burning with something between frustration and grief. “Don’t say anything, Ethan,” she bit out, her voice tight, like it scraped her throat just getting the words out. “I swear, I can’t take it from you right now.” I smiled slowly. “Relax. I’ve got absolutely nothing to say.” I tilted my head, studying her with an idle curiosity I didn’t bother masking. “Just… wondering why it ended the way it did. Edward’s never exactly been chatty about you. Or anything, really. Guy’s tighter-lipped