Dahlia ~A chill ran through my body as the soft waves of the river swooshed past me. I took a deep breath before submerging myself in the water that had a faint blue glow from the bioluminescent plants within it that glowed magically against my skin.The silence enveloped me within the water and I let buoyancy push me upwards until my nostrils could take a deep breath of air, but my ears were still submerged in the muffled silence of the river.Meridian had managed to convince Roxanne and I, as well as a few other contestants that since this was the night before the Trials, we should make it worthwhile and as fun as ever. But of course, I was not excited about any of that. I felt like shit, it was as though the weight of the world was on my shoulders, and it was becoming far too heavy a burden for me to carry.Thinking about how I would win the trials again at these women was already intimidating enough, but now the Alpha King was Kaden of all people. I hated my life so much. “Mae
Dahlia ~“Wake up Maeve, It’s time.”I groaned as I slowly covered my face with a pillow and Sienna— no, Roxanne ripped my cozy blanket off me.“Five more minutes please,” I mumbled into my pillow.“You don’t have five minutes,” she said. “Unless you want to stumble into the arena half-naked and barefoot.”Yep, that woke me up real quick and I sat up on the bed and scratched my hair.I rubbed my face, trying to shove the memory of Kaden’s words last night into a locked box at the back of my mind, but it wasn’t cooperating. Every time I blinked, I saw him again.Fuck.“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”I snapped my gaze to Roxanne, who was now leaning against the bedpost. Her arms were crossed, and an annoying smirk was playing on her lips. I scowled. “Who?”She raised a brow. “Oh, I don’t know. His name starts with K and he wants to burn someone to a crisp and throw their remains into the sea… ring any bells?”I threw a pillow at her face and she dodged it easily, laughing.I f
Dahlia ~One second I was standing on the scorching sand, and the next, I was immersed in a darkness so dark and inky that it brought a wave of fear into my mind.And then there was a blinding flash and I flinched, my house art hammered in my chest as the darkness peeled away to reveal a vast maze.From where I stood it looked endless and terrifying with a ghastly mist swirling on the bottom. The sky above was an unnatural shade of gold, the air was warm and filled with tension. We were in a completely different place now, but I knew the audience still watched every single thing.The fifteen of us stood at different entry points along the maze’s outer ring. The walls of the maze were high, towering mirrors that stretched endlessly in both directions, reflecting distorted versions of us.I clenched my fists. This was supposed to be a test of intelligence, I had no idea how that would work.But it surely meant this wasn’t about brute strength, rather it was about strategy and critical
Dahlia ~“The Huntress trials are next,” the elder announced, his voice reverberated through the arena. “And there are no rules this time, you must also remember that this is a completion, here, there are no friends, only contestants.”A ripple of tension spread through the remaining contestants as though they understood something that I was finding rather hard to grasp.My spine stiffened as I caught the shift in the air, as the temperature had dropped, like something dangerous had just been unleashed.Across the sand, Merikh locked eyes with me, her gaze held an emotion that caused my stomach to tighten with caution.“Each of you has a creature assigned to you,” the elder continued. “You will not be told what it is. But you should know when you find it. If you fail to bring back the correct one, you will be disqualified. You must learn to trust your instincts.”He let that sink in before adding, “And remember… you are huntresses. But you are also prey.”I'm not prey, I tried to rem
Dahlia ~“The next trial commences now,” the elder announced, and there was a hushed silence in the Arena. Tension was thick as people wondered who would finally win this.I wondered how many people who were not Scarvyn’s bet on me to win, probably not much.The three remaining contestants stood at the center of the scorching sand, Merikh, Meridian, and me, Maeve. The three M’s. A cruel joke from the gods, I was sure.“In the Trial of Temptation, you will each be placed in isolation. There will be no audience to watch you. No one to guide you,” he looked at us closely.And then he continued, “To be Luna, one must know how to resist their own desires for the good of their people. If you succumb to temptation, you are disqualified. But if you break the veil…” he paused for a dramatic moment, “You will win.”What would be my temptation? I wondered to myself before the gong sounded and the environment changed. I fell into darkness and a dimly lit chamber came into focus. A table sat in
Dahlia ~“Because of how desperate you seem to be,” Kaden murmured, as though his words were for my ears alone, but they managed to sound across the arena. “I will offer you help.”My heart was still working overtime from the pain of my loss, my utter failure, now he came to make things worse by calling me desperate in front of everyone. Was he trying to break me finally?My knees were still dug into the scorching sand, while my hands trembled against my lap. Suddenly, the sheer number of people in the Arena unnerved me for the first time. The ghost of my parents was probably somewhere, too, watching this utterly shameful spectacle.And Kaden, the bastard, genesis of all my troubles, was looking at me as though I was the only thing worth seeing.A slow smirk spread on his lips. “Join my court, Maeve. As my mistress.”The world stilled as his words settled on.Mistress? As in, his little whore?The word pierced through my chest like a splintered arrow, twisting itself in my ribs. Wha
Dahlia ~“Do you know how easy it is to drown in there?”A voice sarply pulled me from my deep sleep. I blinked feeling a little disoriented, my body felt weightless as I floated in the warm water and then reality kicked in, I had fallen asleep in the tub.Damn… how tired had I been?I jerked upright and water sloshed over the edge of the tub.Roxanne stood at the light pink doorway with her arms crossed against her chest. She was already dressed, and dear goddess, she looked so good.Her dress was ridiculously short, revealing her perfect legs and it had a stunning red colour that suddenly reminded me of…“Is there a reason your dress is the exact same shade of red as Orion’s hair?” I questioned her with a small teasing smile on my lips.Roxanne rolled her eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into the back of her skull. “I will actually smother you in this bath if you don’t get up right now.”I let out a laugh, “so what’s the occasion tonight?” I questioned.She widened her eyes at
Kaden ~ “You’re going to kill them.” Orion’s voice was flat, almost bored, but I knew him too well. Beneath the casual tone was concern, maybe even a little bit of fear. I smirked as I adjusted the heavy golden cuffs on my wrists. “You think so little of my self control.” He sat on the edge of my bed, arms crossed, watching me like I was some sort of volatile animal. Which, to be fair, wasn’t entirely incorrect. “I think you desperately need something to keep you in check,” he responded. I didn’t reply. Instead, I turned back to the mirror that spanned an entire wall of my chambers. My father had installed it years ago in some grand, extravagant show of wealth that I never understood. He’d been so obsessed with his outward appearances, with vanity, with power that gleamed and sparkled like the gold he wore. Looking perfect on the outside meanwhile his family had been in utter shambles. I hated him more for it. But the mirror stayed. And now, I stood in front
Sienna ~ I sat on the wooden bench outside the council hall, trying to still my racing heart.I never thought things would end up this way. I had spent countless times wondering about Orion, about the spark I felt every time I caught a glimpse of him.I was scared, but a part of me was so excited for no reason. Scared of anyone finding out about us. What would be the outcome?Naima's arrival made me snap out of my thoughts. She joined me on the bench, and stared at the moon briefly before her gaze snapped back to me. Her brows furrowed in question as she studied me. I looked away, I truly was not in the mood for a conversation."Sienna," she called casually in a gentle, motherly voice. "You seem lost in thoughts and troubled tonight. Is this about your sister?"I shook my head, swallowing hard. This wasn't about Dahlia. It was about me.And I didn't know how to go about it. I didn't want to speak too much of my feelings. "It's nothing," I lied, but Naima's knowing smile told me sh
Dahlia ~I felt it the very moment his bulge grew behind me. I always knew I was going to lose my virginity one day, it was inevitable after all.But how could I have imagined it would be this way?Not in a romantic getaway with the love of my life, no, in a frozen pool, with a man who hated me. Kaden was going to be my first, and I did know he wouldn't go easy on me. Yet… for some strange reason, I found my body responding to every bit of his touch, shamelessly.Kaden's breath fanned my neck, sending a sudden surge of adrenaline and ecstasy through my veins. "Kaden..." I barely made the rest of my words out of my mouth when he pulled me back, fingers wrapped around my neck as though I was his possession.Well, I was."You're going to open up for me, aren't you, Dahlia?" He came above me, voice barely above a whisper and I gasped. Despite the icy water that sent jolts to my bare skin, I was still a mess beneath my stomach. My wetness gathered."Or are you scared?" He whispered ag
Dahlia ~I decided to say something about it.“Your skin… It’s burning up,” I told him and something in his gaze darkened.I immediately regretted my words.“Indeed it is, Dahlia,” he abruptly rose from behind me and the constriction around my lungs lessened and I could breathe properly again.But that was only for a moment as Kaden’s strong fingers tangled in my hair and dragged me into his bath chamber. My eyes widened as I took in the place. It looked expensive just like every other part of his palace, but the most remarkable thing was the giant pool in the center, and it looked like it had… Ice crystals floating on it.What on earth?“Ever since the curse was aggravated, my body goes through phases of intense overheating, and only occasional ice baths can help,” he explained.Okay… what was he bringing me here? To watch him have a bath?Without warning, Kaden shoved me into the water, it felt like a billion needles pickled my skin at the same time as I was fully submerged in the
Dahlia ~I was a slut… just like he called me. A slutty whore who loved to be violated.That was the only explanation after all. Someone who wasn't a slut would not enjoy the things Kaden was doing, or anticipate more of what was to come. “You’re not supposed to enjoy this,” Kaden, “it takes away the fun.”“I can't help it, Kade—”“Don't you dare say my name, unless I ask you to,” he snapped at me and I bit back my words.I couldn't help but notice that his cock was hardening again despite the orgasm he had just a few moments ago. He was getting hard because I said his name? Did I truly have such an effect on this man who hated every fiber of my being?“I deeply apologize,” I said and bowed my head in submission and he scowled.“Don’t act like that, it Irritates me,” he stated and walked towards the massive floor to ceiling mirror that was right beside a balcony that overlooked the entire kingdom.“Come,” his eyes met mine through the mirror, “have a seat.”There was no chair there
Sienna ~“We shouldn't have done that,” I blurted out, breaking the silence, “what do you think people would say if they found out about us?” I questioned.My body still hummed with pleasure from the things Orion had made me feel, I had come over and over until I lost count. He had prioritized my pleasure over his and I made a mental note to make it up to him soon. My cheek was pressed against the warmth of his chest and the steady thrum of his heartbeat was so calming to my troubled mind.I wanted to be here, wrapped in the security of his strong arms forever. Yes, I was willing to admit it to myself now, I was tired of fighting these things I felt and I was ready to fully give in now.“I don't know… why should they care?” he questioned, “why should we?”“Oh come on, Orion, a Scarvyn and a werewolf fucking?” I said, “And not just any Scarvyn, the acting queen? Our people are not exactly at peace with each other considering Kaden just kidnapped one of our queens, and of course the ag
Dahlia ~ The slippery wet engorged tip of Kaden’s cock nudged against my sensitive upper lip and I stuck out my tongue and tasted the saltiness of the underside of his tip. I felt his twitch on my tongue. He was so deliciously sensitive, perhaps I could enjoy this. I parted my lips for him and he slipped in, wet and salty. A loud groan erupted from his chest. “Let me see those eyes,” he said and my gaze snapped up to meet his. His eyes were completely dead, completely void of emotion, maybe I had managed to kill Kaden that night of the claiming ceremony, because whoever this was before me sure wasn't him. His strong hangers tangled into my hair before he shoved himself into the back of my throat with so much force that I gagged and struggled against him, but his grip was far too powerful. I couldn't breathe and I tried speaking to beg him to let me but the sounds only came out as a moan around him. “You deserve this, Dahlia, you deserve so much worse,” he finally pulle
Sienna~ I sat on the floor of the empty throne room and the bitter sounds of my sobs echoed. Dahlia was gone and I had let Kaden take her, I was far too powerless to do anything. The weight of it crushed me and fingers violently dug into the cold marble as if I could steady myself, but there was nothing steady about this moment. Nothing that could stop this overwhelming sadness from swallowing me whole. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. We were supposed to win and everything was supposed to go according to plan! I wrapped my arms around myself and squeezed tight in an attempt to hold myself together when everything inside me was breaking. Warm hands found my shoulders. My body tensed from the contact. “Come here,” Orion said as he pulled me to him and I let myself fall into his embrace. I pressed my forehead to his chest and my fingers curled into his shirt. His strong arms locked around me and it felt like he could hold all the broken pieces of my heart
Dahlia ~ What could be more horrible than being reduced to Kaden’s pet? And it was so much worse because of the state he was in. Those glacier blue eyes never left mine as he took off his shirt and tossed it to the floor beside me. His scent flooded my senses, and I gulped thickly. His keen eyes noticed the movement and a lazy smirk graced his lips. “You look hungry, your majesty,” Kaden said to me as he looked down at my kneeling figure. It felt so degrading the way he was looking at me while calling me with that title. I looked away from him in an attempt to distract myself from my riding hunger. He stepped closer to me and squatted until his chiseled abdomen was at my eye level, forcing me to look up at him. “Don’t stress your pretty self too much, fortunately for you, I want your venom now.” Why was he being so soft on me? I expected so much worse… but maybe he was playing a psychological game. It sure felt like it. Maybe I should try explaining my reasons
Dahlia ~ “No, you can't take my sister away, stop, she is the only family I have left!” Sienna’s cries echoed through the place as I was taken away, Kaden refused to touch me and he had his soldiers drag me through the halls. Orion held Sienna back, halting her movements as she foolishly tried to get to me. I was thankful for Orion, Kaden was far too volatile now, I could feel it through this bond we shared, if Sienna did anything silly, she would certainly die. I couldn't stop my fear and regret from showing on my face during the carriage ride back to Lunaris. I was left alone with my raging thoughts and anxiety. Sienna would rule the Scarvyn empire as the sole queen, I had been stripped of my titles the moment I made that offer.My fingers absentmindedly moved to touch the cold silver of my crown. I didn't take it off my head as it upheld whatever was left of my dignity. “You belong to me now, little witch, every single part of you is mine now,” I remembered Kaden saying befor