BRIELLE’S POVBrielle reached for the large book at her nightstand, which she had been reading for a few days to keep herself occupied in this deserted mansion.Smiling as she flipped over to where she had left off, Brielle plopped up on the bed, eager to get lost in the fictional romantic narrative.She had just taken her bath and dressed in one of the garments Lord Darius had explicitly chosen for her, and she had planned to keep herself occupied until he returned from wherever he had gone earlier today.She did this daily—Eat, bathe, sleep, and read books. The schedule was the same every time.She was considerably feeling much better now, but Lord Darius still treated her as if she were some frail being, and he kept her at arm's length, refusing to have intercourse with her even when she had shyly requested it some days back.Recalling that fateful day, a blush crept up her cheeks, but she wasn’t ashamed. If anything, she was glad she’d spoken up. At least he’d know that she still
DARIUS’S POVDarius gazed around the small romantic dinner he had made up earlier and even more so at the lovely lady who sat at his table.Brielle, as always, looked stunning and took his breath away.He had created this little fiesta in the garden with the help of his servants. With lights and candles lighting up everywhere and the scents of roses and lilies filling the air, the panorama in front of him was breathtaking. Also, the live music coming from the piano playing in the background helped to calm the breezy atmosphere. "Do you like it?" Darius inquired, clearing his throat and breaking the silence that seemed to have persisted since she arrived.“Like? I'm not sure why you did this, Master, but... I love it." She stammered, her beautiful rosebud lips extending into a faint smile.Fuck! She was a goddess! Darius thought to himself, his heart aching, and he so much wanted to grab her hands from across the table and shamelessly kiss those lovely fingers of hers.However, he h
MADELINE’S POVMadeline could hear their voices, hushed as they came from the garden where they were ostensibly dining.Tightening her hands, she kept telling herself that everything the maids had told her back at the mansion was a joke, but as she approached the garden, she could see, without a doubt, that the maid's gossips were true.Madeline didn't want to envision the scene in her brain, and even though one of the servants had given her a quick graphic description of what was allegedly going on over here, she didn't want to believe it.No matter how much Lord Darius pretended to appreciate Brielle, especially because she was his mate and had recently been through a terrible circumstance, he would never sink so low as to arrange a romantic dinner date for the both of them.'It's a stunning location. For this date, Lord Darius purchased silver-encrusted candles and freshly plucked roses.' One of the maids had whispered back at the corridor while Madeline listened earlier on.'The m
BRIELLE’S POVLord Darius didn't want to let her go, and she didn't want the kiss to end, too, so she said nothing and did nothing.She was having a good time, and it would be a shame to cut him off or take her lips away from his.Eyes fluttering open and shut as he kissed her lips, Brielle basked in this heady feeling.His hands were in her hair, lovingly caressing it, and his touch melted every worry in her heart.This man... He was toying with her heart and doing strange things to her insides."Oh, Brielle..." He sighed, his voice deep and sensual, and Brielle murmured in disappointment as he finally drew his lips away from hers."I think we have to finish our food, lady. If we keep going, I don't think I'll be able to stop, and we might end up fucking about like rabbits in the backyard. Would you like that?" Brielle's cheeks flushed brazenly as he asked the simple question, and her thighs clenched simultaneously. She couldn't even hide her embarrassment, and he laughed loudly, m
SOME DAYS LATER BRIELLE’S POVBrielle's eyes flashed awake as she tossed and turned violently on her bed, realizing she couldn't sleep.She was having difficulty falling asleep, and she had no idea why.Was it because her mind was preoccupied with Lord Darius, and she was wondering what he was doing at the time?'Brielle, you brought these unneeded thoughts on yourself.' The voice in her head chimed in, and rolling her eyes, Brielle brushed off the allegations.She had brought these rogue thoughts upon herself only because she had asked to return to her room a few days before. No, no…Brielle realized she couldn't stay in his room forever, and the sooner she left, the better for her because she'd be able to focus more on her duties here, as well as stop her heart from falling hard and fast for him.She'd lost track of how many days had passed since she'd made that request, and it was not because she was careless but because time seemed to move faster here.It had to be five or six da
DARIUS POVDarius's nerves were calmed the moment the piano's lovely tone filled the room.Furthermore, he couldn't believe Brielle was so skilled at tuning the keys on the piano board. He would not have believed it if someone had told him, but now he saw it with his own two eyes.Damn, he was in awe. When she’d told him that she knew how to tune the keys, he had looked at her in disbelief,Rolling his eyes, he’d waited for her to start tuning out some jargon, but she had surprised him. In a rather pleasant way, and to say he was taken aback would be an understatement. As he listened to her play, he was irrevocably stunned, and every shard of bitterness that clouded his heart earlier fell away.She was bringing back memories of Eve that he had kept hidden for so long, and even though the images of his long-lost lover muddled his thoughts, Darius couldn't focus at all. Hell, he couldn't bring himself to look away from Brielle because the scene in front of him was exquisite and entra
BRIELLE’S POVBrielle immediately closed her eyes when Lord Darius pressed his lips down on hers.Her lips parted as he extended the kiss, their mouths lapping one other softly, and she gasped again as their tongues touched in melodious harmony. She didn't dare pull away as he began to kiss her aggressively. No, she couldn’t move an inch. And this was because she enjoyed every minute and didn't want it to end.However, just as she began to lose herself in the sensation of Darius, he suddenly took his lips from hers, and Brielle let out a faint whimper, clearly unhappy with this gesture.He leaned forward, tenderly kissing her eyelashes, then her cheek. From there, he moved to her neck, his hands roaming her in a smooth caress. Brielle tried to hold the piano stand, wanting to steady herself.And Darius continued to kiss her neck, down to her chest, and then..."Master, what are you doing?" Brielle gasped, letting out another small scream as Lord Darius ripped her nightgown off rapid
DARIUS POVDarius couldn't focus on the files in front of him because his mind was flooded with vivid visions of Brielle in various sex positions, naked on the piano legs wide open for him as he pounded her to stupor.He'd never had a sexual encounter as satisfying as last night, and the only thing he could say now was that sex with Brielle just got better every fucking time.He couldn't believe she was the same lady who had enraged him on their first night together. How terrified she had been, and how uneasy she had made everyone.He could still remember how angry and dissatisfied he’d been with her, and how he had thrown her out of the room in rage. But now, he wouldn’t dare do that.Now, he wanted her in his space every freaking minute, and even as he sat in his chair, he envisioned her facing him from across the round table, seated atop it, lovely green eyes peering down at him, as she led his lips to her most delicate folds.The same delicate folds he’d lavished with attention la
BRIELLE'S POVHer heart fluttered like a flower picked from a peaceful garden. Brielle searched for words to convey how she felt as Darius hoisted her up the floor. Euphoria. Joy. Thrill. Delight. Excitement. Surprise. Yes. These words clearly defined the situation, but there was more going on. Something deeper. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Perhaps she didn't know what word to use, but it wasn't happiness. It was more than that. "My love. Mine, all mine..." Darius repeated in her ears as he twirled her around. After a few minutes, he dropped her back onto her feet.Brielle remained still for a moment, attempting to regain her breath. Her mind buzzed with so many different thoughts, and she felt dizzy and possibly lightheaded from all the dancing, but that didn't stop her from stretching her toes and kissing Darius on the cheek."How are you feeling?" Darius asked, and she replied. “I feel on top of the world. Or maybe I'm already flying through it; I have no idea
A MONTH LATERDARIUS' POVThe banquet went better than Darius had anticipated.He had hoped for a low-key and personal ceremony in which he could deliver the glad news to his people and seal the everlasting union with his partner, but the event planners had other ideas. They'd gone over and aboard, and he surprisingly approved. Every area of the castle was artistically ornamented with gold and scarlet decorations. Everything was stunning, from the beautiful wall tapestries to the intricate floral arrangements, and the crystal chandelier glowed like a light in the hall's center. It was ethereal. Just like the woman for whom this entire charade was intended. Darius smiled as he continued to glance around. His gaze swept through the guests in the room, mingling, drinking, and speaking in groups. He also watched the servants rushing around carrying platters, refilling drinks, and doing almost anything to keep the party going. Finally, his wandering attention was interrupted by the mo
BRIELLE’S POVThere wasn’t a force more powerful in the universe than love. At least, that was what Brielle was thinking as she watched Darius dress in front of the mirror.Her lips watered as he flexed his muscles to remove the white shirt that hugged his body's curves.They had both healed, and all that remained were the scars. Though as memories converged in her head, she nearly let out a whimper. She’d gone through a lot, and damn! Anytime she remembered the whippings, electric shocks, cold water dousing, and even days she went without food, tears streamed down her cheeks. It wasn't easy to forget what had happened, but with Darius, it was becoming easier than she had expected. He was at her side throughout the recovery process, and she couldn't have asked for anything more. "Like what you see?" Darius smirked, interrupting Brielle's thoughts.He was looking at her through the mirror, and when their eyes met, her cheeks flushed. She looked away."Umm." She murmured and said n
DARIUS POV Darius walked carefully down the corridor with his guards in tow. He’d woke up a few hours earlier, and all he could think about was seeing Brielle. The dream from the day before continued to torment him, keeping him half-awake all night. Now, all he wanted was to see and hug her tightly. Then he’d apologize for how he had neglected her—the anguish he'd caused her by not being present when she needed him most. And maybe she'd forgive him. But would she? The inexplicable torture she went through in Draken Havix's hands, as well as his irresponsible choice to send her out into the wild, was nothing short of horrific. It was unforgivable, and Brielle deserved much better. She deserved more than to be with a man like that. He was a coward and an idiot who couldn’t even admit that she had transformed him from who he used to be to a better person. But then, he was also a selfish fool, so he wouldn’t let her go. Not in this lifetime or the next. Regardless of these thought
SOME DAYS LATERBRIELLE'S POV Her eyelids fluttered slowly, and Brielle groaned softly as a dull pain throbbed through her temples. It took a few more attempts before she could open them properly, and eventually, they slid wide enough for her to see where she was.Brielle had to squint a little until her eyes adjusted to the light, which was in stark contrast to what she was used to - dim lighting, quiet, and empty space. 'Where was she?' She frowned and pondered, 'How did she get here?'.She tried to push herself up into a sitting position but froze when a sharp pain shot through her skull again."Damn it." She muttered quietly, lifting a hand to her forehead, only to discover that it was attached to something, and she could not move it. "Fuck! Where am I?" She cursed aloud and, with her eyes roaming, began taking inventory of the room. And that's when she noticed it. The familiar curtains dangling from the windows. The dark red couches facing one another, and gold-plated side ta
BRIELLE'S POVBrielle's eyes opened and shut as she slipped into and out of consciousness.Her entire body hurt; her head ached, and her chest was on fire. Her eyes were open, but she couldn't see anything, and her eyesight was fuzzy.She could only hear noises, low whispering voices that appeared to come from all directions simultaneously. She could also feel soft wisps of cool breeze on her skin, confirming that she was outside.She wasn't in that terrible cell anymore, being tortured by those evil men.But if she wasn't present, where was she? She remembered sprinting through the palace hallways, looking for a way out, but then...She slowly began to recollect what happened after that. Her memories were returning slowly. Brielle had planned to flee once the guards left, with the cell door open and the key having fallen out of their pocket by accident. She remembered scanning left and right to ensure she didn't knock into anyone. It seemed strange how empty the hallways were.She
DARIUS POVDarius fought with all of his strength. He hit and punched, channeling his inner strength until Draken was a bloody mess.Earlier, when Draken had transformed into a wolf and leaped at him, Darius had been prepared for it. His fangs and claws had sharpened, and he’d transformed into his lycanthrope wolf form. He rarely shifted, but when he did, he wasted no time. As a Lycan, he would always be faster than his opponent and better equipped to catch his prey. So when the man attacked, Darius didn't even think about what he could do. His beast form had switched to autopilot, and its instincts took over. He'd scarcely noticed anything when he attacked. He only felt the pain of the punches and strikes, which weren't too severe because he wasn't on the receiving end of them. Draken, on the other hand, was severely beaten. His hairy face was matted with blood, and there were several large gashes all over his body. At this point, he wasn't even fighting back, just squirming and
BRIELLE'S POV"What is happening?" Brielle overheard the question, as many guards entered the cell with troubled expressions."There is a very big problem." One of them spoke, and despite her weakness, Brielle managed to stretch her ears enough to hear what they were saying. "Which is? Can someone fucking talk to me?" Another guard inquired, and the whip in his hand tumbled to the floor. It fell with a resounding thud, and the sound echoed off the cell walls.The air seemed to cool even more. The room was silent for a long time until one of the guards spoke up again. "Master Draken and Lord Darius are…"Brielle's heart sank when she heard Darius's name."Goodness gracious please, let nothing happen to him…" The words came out of her mouth unexpectedly, almost in prayer, and a stray tear streamed down her left cheek. The guards resumed discussing, but this time in quiet tones, as if frightened Brielle would hear them. It irritated her, and she wanted to yell. She wanted to question t
BRIELLE'S POV "Please…" Brielle begged and screamed at the top of her lungs, but the guards did not stop. The more she pleaded, the more the torture increased, and they continued to whip her body with their batons.But she understood why this was happening. Darius was here again. He'd arrived yesterday, and while she hadn't seen him, the rate at which her torture had risen was clear evidence of this. Her agonizing yells were intended to convey a message to Darius. Draken was using it as a tactic to demonstrate that he still had the upper hand and leverage. Brielle's heart wrenched painfully as she thought of the wicked older man who held her captive. A shiver ran down Brielle's spine as she remembered their talk from last night.He'd informed her that Darius still loved her, and despite her misery, she couldn't deny that his words had given her hope. Even when he made insulting jokes about her and Darius's deaths, a small part of her brain ignored the unpleasant words and focused