NIKOLAIThe olive-skinned woman’s face was just as I remembered it, her dark eyelashes brushing upward as her hazel eyes met my gaze before she gasped again, slamming her head down to kiss her knees.“Your Highness, you called for me,” Raya Banks whispered, and I felt my throat thicken when I caught a flash of her full breasts through the neckline of her dress before she rose and straightened herself out.I nodded carefully, cutting my eyes to my best man who had not stopped giving me that weird look he always had in his eye around Raya, if I didn't know better I would have thought the man was going to tell me not to hurt the maiden.It would be absurd considering this whole sham-bam tackle was his idea. Wolfman periods maybe? I made a mental note to find my hourly boyfriend a mate, it wouldn't do to have him walking around the Stone Castle with that death mask on his face, what if he scared the guests away?“You, you're dismissed, have more men man the walls,” I whispered and watche
RAYA BANKSThe wooden tusk of the wolf mage’s furry face was enough to make my breath ragged and shallow as I struggled to understand what the hell was happening, cracking my eyes open an inch and immediately shutting them when the harsh fluorescent overhead smoked my vision.“Your Highness-” I whispered, feeling my blood run cold when the mage’s clear eyes blazed into mine as he loomed over me, the heady feeling I had been getting since I got in only calming after I had snatched up the prince’s hand, feeling my breath hitch in my throat when his dust gray eyes filled with worry.“Only for a few minutes Raya, everything’s going to be okay,” Nikolai whispered, his words fading into a blur when the huge fingers of the mage pressed into the sides of my head and he mumbled again.“I’ll take you back to your house in the Burning City Village Raya Banks,” The din of the wolf mage’s baritone sounded like a thunderclap in my ears and I felt the knots in my shoulders slacken, allowing my breat
OLIVIA BURNSI paced the length of my room, rubbing my hands together and gritting my teeth as sweat rolled down my back, unable to think past the point of thumping in my chest.“What the hell is taking so long,” I swore, cursing loudly and kicking the black flower pot so hard that it shattered against the far wall, making the muscular maidservant fly into the room like a bat out of hell.I resisted the urge to roll my eyes way back in their sockets and turned to face the girl who was panting loudly, her eyes widening at the mess on the floor before her pea-black eyes slid warily to me.“What the fuck are you doing barging into a lady’s room without knocking Judith?” I growled snippily, baring my teeth at the girl who shook her head in denial, lying through her teeth like I was freaking BLIND!I strode toward the pimply-faced girl and cracked my palm across her cheeks before I could stop myself, watching the way her eyes watered when she snapped her head back to me, cradling the redde
Nikolai“What the hell is going on?” I growled at Igor as we broke out into the foyer, feeling my hind legs dig into the stone as we bounded toward the high tower of the gates where the snarl of the creatures were coming from.“Shadow hounds from the Burning City! Settlement guards didn't see the horde until it was too late,” My best man panted just as one of the barrel-chested hounds flew at us and I scrunched up my nose as Igor’s massive jaws clamped around the shadowling's meaty neck, the crunch of bones under his jagged teeth making a delighted shiver run down my back as the geyser of black blood goo splashed over my fur and face.I spat noisily into the sand as more of the guards surged past us to connect their swords loudly with the creatures that were climbing over the walls.Was this my brother’s doing? I hadn't believed he would have moved this quickly. Could the bastard not at least wait until our father was buried before he started coming for my castle?If they broke throu
Raya Banks“What the heck is wrong with you Olivia? Let me go!” I snarled at the wolf that had sunk her claws into my ankle, gritting my teeth when the bitch smiled instead and twisted her hand so that her yellow claws dug deeper into my flesh.“Nooo!” I screamed as red-hot pain sizzled up my leg and I refused to believe it was my bone I had heard crunching like that.“This is for seducing the prince you little whore!” Olivia hissed through her long teeth and I felt my eyes widen as tears pooled under my eyelids.Had she seen me and Nikolai together? I opened my mouth to scream before I felt her large paw connect solidly with my jaw, forcing my mouth shut as the pain made me feel like my head was getting knocked around.“Oh, I don't think so Raya, you're going to keep that nice little mouth you like using shut and quiet, or ill rip your ttongue out and sew your lips together,” She threatened, her wolf eyes flashing when I gulped reflexively, feeling the world blur in my vision when sh
Alpha Toph“Useless!” I bellowed in the semi-darkness of my royal chambers, heating the hefty brown wood of the mirror vanity and shoving it so forcefully that it toppled and fell over, the clatter of glass shattering on the tiles doing nothing to soothe the rage swirling inside me.“What do you mean you couldn't get in? What's so hard about shooting up a fucking stone wall?” I bellowed, whirling around at the white-faced descendant Gobar had sent to inform me of the heist.It was preposterous! Here I was drinking and cheering for my victory and now they were telling me they couldn't even get in!“Useless!” I cursed acidly, pacing the air-conditioned room with my hand fixed on my hip and catching the messenger wolf flinch behind me before I waved him away from my sight.Shit was moving too slowly for my liking, I had to do something, but what?“Blast it all to hell!” I growled in the silence that followed, catching y distorted reflection in the broken shards that were scattered across
Alpha TophI felt my breath burn in my lungs as Hagrid’s massive form inched closer and closer to me, his one good eye filling with a strange light.“And if, say, Alpha Nikolai, we're to find out about the stone and mated the maiden before you could, He would be king of the three cities, your younger brother.” Hagrid wheeze again before I whipped around to stare him dead in the eye, snarling my fangs at him before he backed away, mumbling an apology and raising his hands-on surrender.“Out of my sight!” I hissed, turning away and feeling the hairs on the back of my neck rise when the door clapped shut quietly behind me.I couldn't get the bloody assassin's words out of my head! Nikolai couldn't mate with Raya before I did, curse the moon goddess and her tarty little games!I felt my fingers tear through my hair before my eyes settled on the brilliant gold crown that was resting in the show glass propped up in the corner of the room.I exhaled noisily, snatching the crown from the carp
Olivia BanksLost! I’d gotten fucking lost! It was just like that dead bitch to get in my head and ruin things so that I couldn't think straight!“Shit,” I gasped, feeling my body go rigid as I froze mid-stride, flexing my ears to pick up the mutter of conversation that seemed to be coming from right ahead of me. Nikolai’s men in the forest? Blasted heavens! How the fuck was I supposed to get out of here without arousing suspicion?“Curse you, Raya!” I swore under my breath, backtracking and slamming my back up against a tree just in time to feel the air change as some of the men rode past on horses, their dark armor galloping as they waved their light torches this way and that, thankfully never looking backward.Just how many men had the prince ordered for the search? I could feel the trickle of sweat as it pinched my armpit and trickled down my spine, before I realized I was shaking. Nervous.I clamped a hand across my mouth to stifle the scream that would have come out when I hear
Raya BanksI hadn't stopped glancing anxiously through the wide carriage windows after we left until my breath caught in my throat when I saw the looming buildings of the castle up ahead and leaned back in my seat, suddenly feeling my pulse jump.“It's okay Raya, I'm here...I won't let anyone hurt you.” Nikolai growled and I felt something warm unravel inside me at the possessive tone of his voice.I nodded, searching his stormy gray eyes once more before looking out the window again at the wet plains of the fields off to the sides.And Olivia? I wanted to ask, but something stopped me and I shook the thought out of my head, resting on his shoulder instead as the giant gate of the castle creaked open and I marveled at the cheers that boomed and erupted.“Holy shit,” I whispered and my cheeks warmed to hear Nikolai laugh beside me. Gosh, I never wanted him to stop laughing! There were rows and rows of ruddy-faced wolves holding large bouquets that they threw like confetti at the carri
NikolaiThe voices, by Jove! The rush of shadows and voices crowded into my head as I wove the moonstone around my neck must have made me mad!I roared, feeling my rage amplify and baring my teeth with bloodlust as I turned my body to see Alpha Toph charging toward me like a bat straight from hell.“You bloody prick! I'm going to annihilate you once and for all!” He bellowed, his lumpy muscled frame flying into the air before I surged forward to meet him halfway, almost stumbling when Raya’s soft whisper carried to my ears.I love you, I love you, I love you. I inhaled sharply, throwing everything I had into the fight as our bodies slammed meatily together before we landed heavily on the floor and I pushed against the bracket of his arms. His disfigured eyes stared at me from behind the barricade with such hate and venom that I threw away all the guilt I had swirling inside me.“Not if I kill you first.” I sneered, jamming my knee into his sides and watching him crumple in on himself
158Raya Banks“Nikolai! Watch out!” I shrieked loudly, feeling my gut wrench with fear as I saw the king get knocked down by Alpha Toph’s hulking frame.“You let a woman be your weakness again Nikolai, it's almost as if you never LEARN! Wasn't Olivia’s betrayal all those years ago enough for you?” Alpha Toph gurgled in a voice that sounded like rushing water and I felt chills wash over me as I tried to struggle to my feet before one of the shadowlings slammed their heavy foot flat on my back, knocking the breath out of me.“No!” I cried out, winded, and stretched a hand to the huge gray wolf that was being mauled ferociously by Alpha Toph’s half-human, half-beast frame. A trap! The beast had set a trap for the king and now he was cut in between. I knew almost immediately what he had planned to do but there was almost no way to warn Alpha Nikolai as he crossed the field to rescue me.Had I been his weakness? How did he find me? It couldn't have been that long since I was kidnapped an
Olivia BurnsIt was the silence that haunted me the most now. The empty hours from dawn to dusk and everything in between, just me and the shadows, and the shadows and me.“You rest up now Miss Burns, His Highness will be back to the Stone Castle in no time.” Meredith’s calming voice rang, making me snap my eyes to her pale oval face that had lifted into an encouraging smile.“Enough, I'm positive ill turn into one of the meadow fishes if you soak my stubs any longer.” I hissed impatiently, feeling my heart squeeze when the woman only smiled, snatching up a dry, white towel from the rack before wrapping my tender feet in it and toweling me off.I sneered at the unhealthy size of the swollen lumps as she massaged them into a reasonable size, and I stirred uneasily in the low plush stool that had been placed in the sunlit room.The King had ordered renovations for me, giant blue ceramic pots with fake gold flowers at the corners of the room that hid the shadowlings from my sight. The bi
NIKOLAIShe was RIGHT THERE, a few feet from me before he snatched her right out of the air. So close, and yet, so far away.“It doesn't have to be this way Tophas, my mate has no business in our rivalry, let her go.” I deadpanned, hearing the din of my voice as it caught in the wind whipping about us before my brother’s uneven face jerked into an excited smile.I could hear the thud of my heart beating and was aware how fast my breaths rushed out from my chest and yet, I could do nothing but stand and wait. No sudden movements.“But you lie, brother, Raya Banks is my mate too don't you reckon?” Tophas growled, slamming one thick paw that looked like the fingers had been snapped all the way back against Raya’s full cleavage.“Please!” Raya’s desperate wheezes twisted at my heart as I held out a hand, stopping Gallagher’s copper-colored wolf from morphing out and tearing forward. I could sense his agitation, because it was double in my gut, watching the woman I loved so much desperatel
Raya BanksI couldn't stop the shudders from running through my body before the sound of wolves laughing heartily in the distance reached my ears.“Oh God, oh God, help me,” I panted, squeezing my eyes shut and clamping my lips firmly to keep from whimpering when what felt like a tongue licked at the underside of my ass from the stone.The damned thing was alive! Like the stack of bodies in the corner of the room! Wolf zombies, immobile now, no doubt until the dark shadow king Gobar wanted to command them!“A feast! We shall have a feast!” Alpha Toph’s voice boomed in the distance and my body automatically stiffened, still as a rock.It had been some time since he left and the hearty yellow beam I could see beyond the cave opening flaps if I angled my head right had now turned a smokey gray. Dusk. I had to get out of here fast, I couldn't hope on the King any longer, he may as well have moved on with his betrothed and heir and here I was slaving away, holding out hope and waiting for
Alpha TophMy tongue pressed against the uneven ridges of my teeth as I fiddled with the lock of the shadow king’s secret compartment.I had caught a glimpse of the mammoth beast leaving the small shed, the spot on his neck where the blood moonstone hung bare. I knew then that Gobar had to have been hiding it here. He never wore it to hunt.“Come on!” I gritted through clenched teeth, feeling my eyeballs sting as the sweat rolled down from the cliff of my forehead.Everything had begun to feel weird, it was hard enough to feed without tasting the worms from the inside of my mouth in the blood.If I could just get my hands on the dark moonstone I could stop the transformation and have SOME chance of killing the shadow king.Yes! I had to kill him, there was no way in seven hells I would have gone through all the pains to settle for being his eternal stooge!The numbers I tried to spin on the lock didn't make any sense and it was beginning to get dark. I glanced around quickly, catchin
Meredith The Maid“MEREDITH!” My name, I answer it with pride when my mistress calls, but she does not call today. “MEREDIFFTH!” My name, whenever the mistress was in one of her moods and couldn't stand to get the words out nice and proper, her shrill tone seemed to shake me to my very core.She was in one of her moods again as I led her away from the King’s horses, holding the blubbering countess by the hand and helping her climb the stairs until we were behind the safe walls of the familiar quarters.“What time is it Meredith? I haven't had my afternoon tea and all that screaming has made me rather, famished!” Miss Olivia exclaimed and I caught my tongue between my teeth before I could tell her she had taken her lunch already. Thrice.“Of course, I'll send for it M’lady,” I cooed softly, lowering her onto the plush cushion of the high bed and propping her feet too before smothering her with the rich red duvets that had been layered on the foam.“My Merd, what would I do without y
NIKOLAITime seemed to stand still as I swung the silver sword in a neat arc, striking the stretched meat of my best friend’s neck and feeling the sword spasm in my death grip before cutting cleanly through the bone and clanging up to my shoulders against the hard rock of the dias.My heart pounded wildly in my chest as the brightly colored room blurred in my vision for a moment before I caught the lapse and blinked everything back into focus.The silence was so loud that my ears rang from the nothingness, not a breath, not a word, nothing but quiet. I watched Igor’s blood-spattered head roll quietly down each stone staircase until it toppled in a neat circle and stopped on the floor.I was breathing fast, and heavily, with my fingers shaking on the hilt of the executioner sword I still held tightly in my hand and yet I couldn't manage to shake it off.It was like a part of me had died the moment I held the blade. My fault! It was all my fault. I had let my best man turn into a trait