DahliaKaden drove fast and hard until we got to the area where the smoke was coming from. I rushed down from the car and a massive fire was set to the kingdom.Bombs were dropped from fighter jets and explosion after explosion rattled my bones.For a second, I couldn’t move. The smoke plumes curled into the sky, thick and dark, the scent of burning wood and blood clogging my lungs. My heart slammed against my ribs.Gunshots rang out and my eyes darted to the kingdom where people fought with guns and knives. A scream tore through the air and a warrior charged at me. He was fast and deadly. His golden blade gleamed in the light as he swung toward me. I willed my body to move, to dodge, to fight, to go anything, but my feet stuck to the ground.But Kaden was quick to counter his attack.His dagger sank into the warrior’s chest before I could even gasp. The man choked, eyes wide, before crumpling to the ground.Kaden swore under his breath and yanked his blade free, his other hand alre
Sienna ~The battle had barely begun, and already, Orion was at my side.Where has he materialized from? I have no idea. I should have been annoyed.I should have rolled my eyes, brushed him off and told him I didn’t need a bodyguard.But the way he looked at me as though I was the only person in this entire palace that mattered… yeah, made my pulse stutter.His voice was rough, urgent. “Are you alright?”I blinked and gripped my machine gun tighter. “Why do you care?”His jaw clenched. “That’s not an answer.”I hated that my heart fluttered at the way he said it. Like my well-being was something personal to him.I forced a smirk. “I’m fine. But really, Orion, don’t you have more important people to protect?”He didn’t hesitate. “No.”I swallowed.Damn him.I shook off the warmth threatening to settle in my chest. “You know nothing about me.”Something changed in his eyes.“You remind me of someone,” he said slowly. “Someone I once knew, she meant a lot to me.”My breath caught and m
Dahlia ~The battlefield was flled with screams of the dying and struggling.Steel clashed against steel, and flesh, the scent of blood and smoke was thick in the air. The Jorrans were relentless in their fierceness.Kaden was a storm.He moved like he was born for battle, his black sword seeped with smoke anc he handled it as though it was an extension of his body. He cut through enemy after enemy without hesitation, his expression was calm, cold and calculating… I came to the realization that back in the training room, he had let me over power him for some reason.And I should have hated it.Should have hated seeing just how much of a challenge he would be to kill. But there was something maddeningly intoxicating about the way he fought. Like war was nothing more than a game he knew he would win. Like death was an inconvenience he didn’t have time for.He turned and his back was to me for just a second as he struck down a warrior to his left. Another enemy lunged from behind him wi
Kaden ~The Jorrans were defeated and what was left of their forces retreated.It was pathetic to say the least.One moment, they were an unstoppable force, with their war cries that shook the ground. And the next? They were nothing but desperate men and women fleeing for their miserable lives.My grip on my sword tightened as I surveyed the battlefield. Mangled bodies lay scattered everywhere, the scent of blood was thick in the air. The thrill of war still hummed beneath my skin, and then my skin prickled with awareness.Maeve was watching me, only her gaze caused this visceral reaction from me.I turned slowly to find her standing a few feet away from me.Blood streaked her cheek and there was a smudge of dirt along her collarbone which I had the ridiculous urge to wipe away.“We won, Kaden, they're gone,” she said with a smile on her face. Instead of speaking about the battle, I said, “You saved me.”She lifted her chin in a defiant gesture. “Don’t mistake it for loyalty.”A shar
Sienna ~The pain seared through my body and I had to bite my lip to the point of bruising to keep myself from crying out.I sucked in a breath and pressed my hand to my side where the silver blade had cut deep. The healers had done everything they could, but silver wounds were rather tricky to heal.I needed blood… fresh blood to heal.I lay on the med in the private healer’s quarters, my head rolled to the side and my body was weakened. The white sheets beneath me were already stained red, and the scent of my own blood was making me nauseous.Then the doors were opened and someone stepped in.I didn’t have to look to know it was Orion. I usually felt him before I saw him.“You look like hell, sweetheart,” he said to me in that smooth deep voice.I opened my eyes.And gods.He looked good, especially better to my hungry eyes.His copper hair was damp, strands falling across his forehead in that effortlessly messy way. He had a few smudges of dried blood on his jaw, but it didn’t make
Kaden ~Something was wrong with Maeve.Or maybe something was wrong with me.Because the more I watched her, the more I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something obvious. Like a puzzle with one piece just barely out of place, an image almost complete but not quite.And I hated it.I hated that she made me think so much.I was still stewing over it when Orion found me.He leaned against the stone archway with his arms crossed, looking entirely too smug for someone who had just experienced a war. There was something different about him, his scent was dull and his pulse was slower.A Scarvyn had fed on him.I narrowed my eyes. “I thought you had better self-preservation instincts than that.”Orion ran a hand through his hair. “She needed it.”I let out a slow breath through my nose “You let a Scarvyn bite you again?”“Couldn’t exactly say to Scarvyn venom, you should know this.” He pushed off the wall and walked toward me, he stopped just close enough to make a point. “But
Dahlia ~I needed to get out of my head and stop thinking so damn much.The moment I stepped into the massive shower that was decorated with silver tiles, I turned the water on full blast and let the scalding heat wash over my skin. My fingers pressed into my temples, trying to rub away the ache that had been sitting there since this morning.Everything was a mess.Everything was too much.The way he looked at me like I meant something to him, the way his eyes burned into me like he knew something was off. Like he was piecing it together, bit by bit.And now the claiming ceremony was in two days, meaning I had less than two days to seduce him and kill him. A muscle jumped in my jaw.This mission should have been easy.He was arrogant. Overconfident. The kind of man who thought himself untouchable. He had let me in, trusted me enough to fight beside me, to put his hands on me, to kiss me like he meant it.And yet he had saved my life during the Jorran war.I let out a slow breath and
KadenThe day of the Claiming ceremony had finally come. And anticipation filled the air.The entire kingdom had gathered, their eyes fixed on the altar where I stood, waiting.For her.I rolled my shoulders and adjusted the heavy ceremonial robes draped over my skin, but no fabric could ease the weight pressing against my chest.The wait was becoming unbearable.And then a hush fell over the crowd and Dahlia emerged, I had no doubts in my heart again, I was looking at my mate.Dressed in white, the fabric looked soft and light as it flowed like water around her, delicate gold chains draped over her collarbones, and circled her wrists before wrapping around the slender curve of her waist. Her red hair was woven into intricate braids, pearls and moonstones glinting under the sun.She was breathtaking.And she was walking straight to me.My jaw tightened.The hatred I felt for her was gone completely and now all I felt was want.A raw, aching hunger that burned deep in my bones.She sto
Dahlia ~"Breathe, Dahlia, yes Just like that take deep breaths your majesty." The healer's voice sounded very distant as though it was from a dream. I gritted my teeth and nodded as sweat beaded on my forehead. I dug my fingers into the side of the birthing bed for support.“Breathe—” she was saying. "I am trying to breath for heaven's sake," I snapped, pain mixed with anger crushed my body.Sienna's laugh suddenly echoed from nearby. "Jeez, You will bring down the roof with your screams, sister."How the hell was she laughing during labor? Yes we were in labor the same exact time, how utterly divine. I would've yelled back if I could, but another contraction rolled in for the umpteenth time and I screamed."You're almost there, darling. One more push." Kaden's voice came beside me as his strong habds stroked through my hair slowly. I hated that word. There was obviously nothing "almost" about this kind of pain. My bones were screaming fire and i felt like I was being ripped ope
Sienna ~That morning when one of the messengers had dropped busted into the dining hall, I was about drinking my coffee. At first, I hadn't expected anything serious and perhaps one of the councils disputes or something else."What's this about?" I cleared my throat as soon as I settled the mug of coffee down. He bowed and started, "Your majesty,"I glanced at Orion who sat opposite me and back at the messenger. "What's the news?""The curse has been broken, Your majesty. Alpha Kaden is awake." For a moment, I was unable to breathe. My heart hammered in my chest. If Kaden was healed, then that meant Dahlia... she might be okay too. I wouldn’t be mourning my sister that was still alive and I wouldn’t be alone anymore. Kaden's curse was broken!I turned to Orion, who was already looking at me. Then he gave a small smile. "Go to her," he muttered."There’s more," the messenger added, and stretched out a scroll. I glanced at him curiously before accepting it.My eyes scanned the
Dahlia~I walked to and fro in the chamber, constantly keeping an eye on Kaden's unconscious state and being hopeful he would wake up.It has been few days since Ihad confessed my love for him and when I woke the next morning, Kaden did not, I had been bothered ever since.When Madam Gertrude had called the healers numerous times but they said he would be in such a state for some time and they had no idea of if he was going to wake up or not.And that was what I feared, the way my mind was troubled made me to realize that I did in fact love Kaden, more than I could ever admit, and this was not just due to the mate bond, no, it was something much stronger.I stayed awake as long as I could, I whispered to him and held his hand with the hopes that that day or the next, he would magically wake up and wrap his arms around me and tell me everything was alright.But the longer he remained unconscious, the more such silly hopes vanished. What if he never woke up? What if breaking his curse
Sienna ~The whispers and rumors from the people had started even before I had the chance to tell them myself, it spread like wildfire accross Scarvyn and soon enough, everyone knew had known.At first, I thought there would be ma major outrage or perhaps they would demand to dethrone me. But to my uttermost surprise, my people had done the unthinkable. They had accepted it. Accepted the fact that their queen was in love with a werewolf, and not just any werewolf, Orion, the man I had introduced to them as my body guard.Nothing felt better than the joy I had in my heart at that moment.Last week, most of the rebels that played my rule and opposed me had been wiped out in a tragic fire that consumed their hideout. That much had been confirmed. Some claimed it was an accident, a mere misfortune. Others said it was just karma getting back to them. But those weren't my thoughts. Orion was.The thought sent a shiver down my spine because I knew he could be capable of it.If Orio
Dahlia ~I turned to the side of the bed for the umpteenth time, my body ached in a way that wasn't painful, but just a reminder of what had just happened.Kaden lay beside me with his eyes closed, his face held the calmest expression ever.I leaned closer, close enough to feel his warmth and I suddenly felt the urge to touch him and perhaps tell him how hard I was finding it to get some sleep.As if he'd felt me, his eyes flew opened at once and I shut mine instantly and gripped the duvet tightly to pretend to be asleep.He suddenly stood up and peeled the covers off him before he strode to the bathroom. My eyes parted open and I trailed his movements. Curiosity got the better of me and I stepped out of the bed and followed him.I reached the door and the bathroom was fogged up with steam oozing out out of it but it wasn't hot steam, no this was the type that came from cold.Kaden squatted by the pool as he dipped a hand into the icy water with a blank expression on his face. "Why
Sienna Orion had refused to leave my side ever since he found out I was pregnant. He pactically followed me everywhere I went and his eyes were on me as though he did not want a single mark to mar my skin.It was not like I didn't love having him around to protect me and make me feel so safe, but it was starting to get rather ridiculous.He had followed me into the palace kitchens at midnight, when he was supposed to be asleep, I had tiptoed out of the room just so he wouldn't notice I was gone, only for me to turn and bump right into his chest. His shirt had been buttoned down completely so I collided into his hard muscles."You do realize we've been in this position for a while now, right" I said to him with a small smile playing on my lips, “I'm rather thirsty, baby us thirsty too.”Orion's fingers traced the tiny curve of my stomach so slowly as though he was trying to revel in every moment. “It’s so unreal, Sienna, I’m having a baby with you and I don't know if I've told you t
Dahlia ~The first thing that hit me that morning, was the urge to puke.I ran into the bathroom, and gripped the porcelain as I threw up.I couldn't understand why I'd been feeling so strange for a while. It was either I threw up, or got exhausted unnecessarily.What the hell was wrong with me?!Sighing, I started to wash my face before lifting my gaze to the mirror. I smiled slightly when I saw how fast my hair had grown in the past two weeks.I shook my head, trying to brush some wandering thoughts to the back of my mind as I hurriedly turned on the faucet and had a rushed bath.Minutes later, I exited the bathchamber and Kaden was in the room getting dressed."Kaden -""Not now, Dahlia." He cut me off with a deep laced with irritation as he struggled with his cuff links. Why was he always making things difficult?Ugh."Um, let me help you with that," I said, moving toward him. Kaden's gaze slid to me and I stopped, transfixed to my spot."Don't you come any closer," he said as
Sienna ~It had been a week since I turned down Orion's proposal like an inconsiderate asshole. And a week since I saw Orion. My heart still ached terribly whenever I thought of it. All of it was my fault. If I hadn't been selfish, if just accepted his proposal, we'd have sought it out and surely found a solution one way or another.But what had I done? I'd rejected him and pushed him so far away. I never wished I could turn the hands of time more than I did at that moment.The annual moon ball of the Scarvyns was tonight, and me? I wasn't ready. Not at all. I remained on the bed, hands clasped tiredly. Oh, how I missed him, I could barely function, it was as though my life force was drained to the bottom.I was on the verge of tearing up for the umpteenth time that day when a soft knock came at the door, and before I could respond, the doors were opened and Naima strode in.Disappointment flooded my veins because I had stupidly thought Orion would walk through the doors. "Oh godde
Dahlia~The salty taste of Kaden still lingered on my tongue as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. My knees ached from being on the cold tiled floor, but Kaden didn’t seem to care. He sat on the edge of the bed, adjusting his belt like nothing had just happened. Like I was nothing more than a toy he’d used and discarded. And it hurt merely thinking of it.Had he really become so heartless?"We'll be going to a masquerade party tonight. It's better you comply than argue," he announced almost suddenly.I blinked, caught off guard. "A party?""Yes." He stood, towering over me again. "And you’re coming with me."I swallowed. My head felt lighter than it should, the weight of my hair gone after he’d gruesomely shaved it made my chest tighten.I hated him so much.But hating Kaden was like hating fire for burning. It didn’t matter to him because he believed he still owned me.~~~~~A few hours later, Kaden's car pulled to a stop in front of what appeared like a hall. As soon as he