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THIRTY FOUR
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Eli
I heard Hade screaming my name in pure terror as I was walking up the stairs to our bedroom. Adrenaline rushed up to my brain and I immediately ran upstairs. I was about to grab the door's handle when it opened and revealed a terrified Hade.
"What happened—" I wasn't able to finish my question as I felt my body crash unto Hade's. His embrace was so tight I could feel his fear vibrating from his skin. His heart was beating abnormally fast as well.
I let him hug me as long as he needed. When he finally calmed down, I untangled our bodies and faced him. "What happened?"
Hade put his hand on his forehead as if the fear he felt just now made him dizzy. "I thought I saw you ju—"
Hade immediately stopped his sentence and his face was replaced with an unexplainable expression, like he just thought of something. "Stay here, Eli. Don't go inside the room."
My face contorted with confusion as I stared at him rushing do
Bab terkait
Sand Castle THIRTY FIVE
Hade Yula looked like she lost weight. It's been six months since the wedding, and she always looked like she was a deathbed patient. Sometimes, he could even hear her struggling to breathe. She looked like she's always exhausted and sleep deprived. Hade thought it was just her being homesick, so he would tell her to visit her family as often as she likes. She'd go home three times a week, but even that didn't seem to help. There was nothing romantically going on between them. Hade is very much aware of how his feelings are just reserved for her sister and no one else. He is not sure who Yula is in love with, or if there is even a person she likes, but he knows that Yula also does not see him romantically. She's not even trying to be wife-like to him. But they're very good friends. So he can't help but get worried. He tried everything he could to comfort her and though she might n
Sand Castle THIRTY SIX
Eli My body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes. Yula had an affair. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like something that my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that. I sighed. My head ached. I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks. "Hey." It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to en
Sand Castle THIRTY SEVEN
Eli My body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes. Yula had an affair. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that. I sighed. My head ached. I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks. "Hey." It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to enter the window.
Sand Castle THIRTY EIGHT
EliMy body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes.Yula had an affair.I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that.I sighed. My head ached.I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me.I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks."Hey."It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to enter the window."
Sand Castle PROLOGUE
My mother used to tell me a story about the Old World, how it shined too brightly and too soon— until it couldn’t anymore. For a long time, the Old World moved into an endless spin towards the age of technology— and then it stopped. My mother would say, that for a time, the people went on their ways and made lives. And then a plague hit the land and wiped the world of its beautiful palm trees, towering glass buildings, and self-driving machines that can take you to faraway places. The plagues, called the Death Waves, were said to have lasted for decades. The people’s medical system and high-powered machines could not beat their unseen enemy. When the plague finally went away on its own, the Old World became no more. More than half of the world died, and the remaining half killed for survival. In fear of another D
Sand Castle ONE
Eli Perhaps I just wasn't born for this. All the royal banquets and the flowing gowns and the bitter grape wines— I certainly would not want to be born for this. It tires me out, and while I’m grateful to not be living under the ground like my grandmother’s childhood, I want something more than this. My thoughts were halted after feeling my mother’s elbow on my waist after passing by me. My head automatically shot to look at her and she gave me the look— I know that look. Chin up, chest out, lips stretched. I frowned even more. My back is hurting from being a noble’s daughter and attending these dreadful banquets in hopes of catching anyone’s attention to be my potential husband. The mandatory marriageable age of those from noble families is 16-18, but tradition calls for women age 14 to 15 to be in the Harvest, where families look for potential pairs for their children when they reach 16 until 18. Once anyone passes that ag
Sand Castle TWO
EliI couldn’t remember the rest of last night.All I could remember was Alexei whispering something to my mother and then he led me out of the hall. And then I was inside the pod beside Alexei, who was driving the vehicle. I couldn’t even remember how I got inside the pod, but I remember the whole ride home was painfully silent.Nobody dared speak. Deep inside me, I know Alexei knows something about my feelings for Hade, but he still negotiated for his marriage to Yula. I wanted to feel betrayed, but I was also torn between my love for my sister and my infatuation for the only boy I found worthy of my feelings.Besides, I feel like I don’t have the right. Yula’s Harvest time is almost up, and I wish for nothing else but Yula not to be taken away. More importantly, the Vandenbergs are controllers of the court, and are powerful allies for any family. It’s only right they get the eldest daughter, and I know Yula will b
Sand Castle THREE
Eli I wasn’t able to process everything at once. One minute I was being dragged out from the scene by Nikola, and the next minute I was in my room surrounded by my three elder sisters— Yula, Rebecca, and Margareth. They helped me undress out of my ball gown and back to my silky nightgown. Yula started to brush my hair while Margareth kept rubbing my back. Becca went downstairs to get me a glass of warm milk. The room was filled with deafening silence. My sisters tried their best to make me comfortable, but earlier scenes just kept replaying inside my head. I punched a seat holder of The Council— that’s enough to put my whole family in trouble, not to mention a separate offense for me. And then Hade came to my rescue. My head ached at the thought. I don’t understand why he did that. The Vandenbergs and the Langstons have been good allies since both families took seats in The Council. What he did would jeopardize the good relation
Bab terbaru
Sand Castle THIRTY EIGHT
EliMy body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes.Yula had an affair.I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that.I sighed. My head ached.I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me.I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks."Hey."It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to enter the window."
Sand Castle THIRTY SEVEN
Eli My body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes. Yula had an affair. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that. I sighed. My head ached. I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks. "Hey." It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to enter the window.
Sand Castle THIRTY SIX
Eli My body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes. Yula had an affair. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like something that my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that. I sighed. My head ached. I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks. "Hey." It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to en
Sand Castle THIRTY FIVE
Hade Yula looked like she lost weight. It's been six months since the wedding, and she always looked like she was a deathbed patient. Sometimes, he could even hear her struggling to breathe. She looked like she's always exhausted and sleep deprived. Hade thought it was just her being homesick, so he would tell her to visit her family as often as she likes. She'd go home three times a week, but even that didn't seem to help. There was nothing romantically going on between them. Hade is very much aware of how his feelings are just reserved for her sister and no one else. He is not sure who Yula is in love with, or if there is even a person she likes, but he knows that Yula also does not see him romantically. She's not even trying to be wife-like to him. But they're very good friends. So he can't help but get worried. He tried everything he could to comfort her and though she might n
Sand Castle THIRTY FOUR
Eli I heard Hade screaming my name in pure terror as I was walking up the stairs to our bedroom. Adrenaline rushed up to my brain and I immediately ran upstairs. I was about to grab the door's handle when it opened and revealed a terrified Hade. "What happened—" I wasn't able to finish my question as I felt my body crash unto Hade's. His embrace was so tight I could feel his fear vibrating from his skin. His heart was beating abnormally fast as well. I let him hug me as long as he needed. When he finally calmed down, I untangled our bodies and faced him. "What happened?" Hade put his hand on his forehead as if the fear he felt just now made him dizzy. "I thought I saw you ju—" Hade immediately stopped his sentence and his face was replaced with an unexplainable expression, like he just thought of something. "Stay here, Eli. Don't go inside the room." My face contorted with confusion as I stared at him rushing do
Sand Castle THIRTY THREE
Hade The midnight moon shone brightly as it touched his wife's face. She looked so serene as she slept beside him. As if she did not just cry her heart out to him before she fell asleep. It was too much for her. That's why he ponded on telling her knowing it will hurt her so much. He just didn't expect she would know this soon. But what shook him the most is how she reacted. He totally thought she'd throw a fit, or probably not talk to him for a long time. But he'd do everything to win her feelings again, anyway. But Eli didn't do any of those. Instead, she cried in his arms as hard as she could. He didn't dare let go of her, not even for a second. He held unto her like she was his only lifeline. He whispered comfort and loving words unto his wife's ear all night. He wanted to take her pain away, but he couldn't do anything but promise her he'll do everything to make it a little bit better. It took a while befor
Sand Castle THIRTY TWO
Eli The sunlight hitting my face awoke me from my slumber. My eyelids felt so heavy I was tempted to go back to sleep. Memories of last night flooded my brain and I was instantly horny. Damn. Hade did not stop until we were both breathing hard from exhaustion and only let go of my body after dawn break. He was a monster, no doubt. I yawned while my hand automatically reached out to feel Hade's body. But only the pillows were there to catch my longing arms. My eyes instantly shot open and saw the empty side of the bed where Hade laid last night. My mood instantly soured. I sighed. What's new, right? I lazily got up and scooped the blanket to cover my body. I did not bother calling for anyone anymore, I think I can take a bath on my own just fine. After I was done, I went out of the bathroom and found the bed neatly made. There's a sage green dress on top of it as well. It has long sleeve
Sand Castle THIRTY ONE
Eli I kept my head down the entire time Hade was talking. My head was still spinning over the fact that he and Noah are brothers. "Eli..." Hade's voice trailed. I was lost in my own thoughts that I didn't realize Hade has finished talking. I raised my head and met his scared eyes. "What was the deal?" I asked. "What?" Hade asked back. "You made a deal with Noah over me. What was it?" I saw Hade close his eyes before he opened his mouth to speak. "He told me he'll watch over you if I agree to stay away from you forever. And I told him he's not allowed to fall in love with you." I tilted my head. I can't believe I'm hearing this right now. "I feel so pathetic right now." "Eli—" Hade tried to reach for my arms, but I yanked his hand away and got up. "Do you have— any idea," I paused, giving
Sand Castle THIRTY
Hade "What do you want, f*cker?" Hade could feel the distaste in his mouth as soon as he heard his brother cuss at him. He wanted to curse back at him, but he's here for a favor, so he does not want to start on the wrong foot. They were inside a coffee shop at the train station. Knowing his brother, he'd be spending his time waiting for the train to arrive in this exact spot of the coffee shop, just by the window, where he could easily see passengers scurrying off trying to bid their loved ones or chasing their train ride. Without any hesitations, Hade immediately sat down the vacant seat in front of his brother. He didn't even take his eyes off the window, it was like he had memorized Hade's presence by instinct because he hate him so much that now he does not need to look anymore to know that it's him. But Hade's not here to pick a fight. "I'm here to ask a favo
