RAYA BANKSGoosebumps rose on my back and neck as the handmaiden marched me outside the maiden chambers , and I saw the ornately decorated hallway for what felt like the first time. There were rows of small fitted fluorescents on the high ceiling of the passage, the stone walls slanted in thin columns at the top so that the draft from outside blew through the space.“Well if it isn’t the runaway,” A snotty-faced woman chipped, the glazed coffee tone of her collarbones catching my eyes.If I didn't know any better I would have sworn the woman was one of those high-bred werewolves that spawned from a half-Lycan breed.“Oh Anya, don't scare off the kitty just yet, she hasn't gotten used to your crazy. Hi! I'm Lori, we're old maidens, consorts of the royal palace.” The shorter woman offered, waving at I and I felt my hand shoot up in return.”I’m Raya, Raya Banks,” I whispered, tucking my hair behind my ear shyly.Anya scoffed, flicking her long, auburn hair over her shoulder and saunteri
NIKOLAIThere was silence in the royal diner banquet for what felt like the longest time before the sound of a chair scraping across the floor broke the spell.My heart thudded oddly in my chest and I was aware of the way Olivia’s hands were splayed across my chest, the heady feeling of the wine I’d had earlier sloshing around in my head so that the world around me blurred slightly at the edges.I saw Igor rise from the table, looking dapper in his oil-black silk suit and crew-cut blonde hair as he jogged over to the empty chair and pulled it out for the woman, who whispered her thanks.Why hadn't I thought about that? Damned Igor with his annoyingly good charisma. I shifted uneasily, taking Olivia’s hands away from my chest as murmurs of dissent rose on the table.She hadn't stopped making her come -on’s at me, batting her ginger-colored eyelids and bumping my thigh with her toes under the table as I fought to hold back my grimace.”Who do we have the pleasure of meeting Nikolai? Wou
RAYA BANKSMy heart thudded loudly as blood rushed to my ears, making me sag against the hard chest of the sandy-haired man who had come up to stand behind me.“Careful Raya,” He whispered, all trace of his usually playful personality gone as his sea-green eyes bored into mine, before I gasped again, jerking my hand away from his grasp and stumbling toward the stone towers of the maiden chambers.Nothing, I was nothing to him? What about last night? The forehead kisses he had given me when he thought I’d been sleeping, and the way he looked at me like he couldn't wait to have every inch of me writhing under his touch.“Shit!” I heard the Prince’s low cursing before the sound of feet rushing to meet me had me increasing my pace. I must not have been walking fast enough, because the feel of a hand pressing into my shoulder made me turn to face him, taking in his concerned face and the look of shame in his eyes before I let my tongue loose.“Don’t fucking touch me!...Your Highness, I thi
RAYA BANKSThe low humming of the air conditioning wormed past the static that had filled my ears before I became aware of the hands on me.“W-what did you just say?” I managed to choke past the lump that had grown in my throat, struggling to hold down the rush of nausea that had risen like bile in my throat as the world tilted around me again.“Hold on to her!” Igor’s voice sounded from somewhere above me and I managed to crack an eye open to see Anya’s pale face before the prince’s distinct baritone made a rush of warmth roll up my neck.“What the hell is going on here?” Nikolai’s angry bark sent shivers of trepidation through my back and I inhaled a frantic breath as his large hands spanned my waist, before crawling up my back and pushing the weight of my body up to cradle his chest.I tried to imagine how we would look to the maidens who were letting out small gasps as my body swayed from his movements, to see us through their beady eyes.The dark prince with his midnight-black ha
ALPHA TOPHI balled the half-shifted claw of my hand in a tight fist and slammed it solidly into the assassin’s staunch face and watched his head snapback, his spine bending at an unnaturally crooked angle.”YOU'RE JUST THINKING TO TELL ME THAT YOU SON OF A FUCKING BITCH?” I bellowed into the man’s face, standing over his kneeled form and feeling the red thongs of anger worm into my eyes as I glared down at him.Nikolai had been here in the palace after all. And riding off in the fucking sunset with my mate! It was beneath him. Cruel.The way he had been as a child, always snatching my toys and thwarting the governess’s attention from me to himself, his gray eyes dancing with mischief.I had never been the favorite son, I had no delusions about that. Not with my father, or with my mother who was lying cold on the ground.Never been the most beautiful either, with eyes too wide apart on my head and a nose too broad for my face. It made me look brutish, like an ogre prince, whereas my b
NIKOLAIThe cool evening air seeped into my joints as I paced outside, the chatter that had been in my teeth earlier returning in full force as I looked up to see that a dark cloud had come over the silvery orb of the moon.Good. It would provide us with much-needed cover if we were going to go running up the Burning City walls like lizards out for blood.“Your Highness, scout troops are on standby, awaiting your orders.” A muscled guard announced behind me and I whirled to face him, surprised to find he was a bit taller than me, and straightening my spine instinctively.I nodded, watching him scamper to the front lines where more scouts had been gathered, all dressed in the same black linen garb that I was. “What are you up to Tophas?” I murmured, trying to picture my brother’s face. I had always been able to take a quick peek into his head by looking at his face. He was one of those men who wore their hearts on their sleeves until our mother’s death caused said heart to be ripped o
ALPHA TOPHThe dungeon boy’s words fizzed like static in my brain before I felt my heart slam solidly against the iron of my ribs.“What did you just say?” I murmured, feeling the waft of something cold brush over the shell of my ear as the ginger-haired guard trembled before me, falling on his knees and face and stretching out his hands on the bright red carpet that snaked through the far double doors to the throne dias. “W-we found him face down in a pool of his own vomit your highness, he-he seemed to have choked on it, and the nursemaids are tending to the body in the dungeon as we speak.” He wailed and I shot out of my throne like a bat out of Hades, my red robe slapping firmly on my shoulders as it dragged on by my sides in sync with the thud of my feet hitting the floor.“You were supposed to be watching him,” I ground through clenched teeth, balling the lapel of the shaking boy’s shirt in my fiat and lifting him from his feet as he shook his head frantically, wide-eyed with f
RAYA BANKSI watched the straight line of the man’s back as he sat on the horse, barking orders at the soldier scouts gathered around him as the linen of his dark garb caught dramatically in the wind.”Fall in line miss...please,” The iron-faced man the prince had put in charge of me whispered, his silvery blue eyes glowing as he loomed over me, staring down his nose at where I was standing and adding the last part when I puffed my chest with an offended huff.I scooted away from the henchman, having no doubts in my mind that Bjorn would have cut me down where I stood. He had the physique of mid-century executioners who wielded the sword as though it was a bread knife.I watched Nikolai’s gray eyes fit restlessly back to me once more, the intensity in his gaze making it so that it was difficult for me to breathe. Like my goddamned chest was expanding.I wondered if it was how Olivia felt when she was getting those implants that seemed to have been slapped onto her chest, before the ma
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