Kiara adjusted her green cardigan nervously, feeling out of place in the throbbing energy of the club. Neon lights pulsed along the walls, syncing with the bass-heavy music that vibrated through her chest. She wasn’t sure why she’d agreed to come. She’d never been a party person, but her best friend, Lena, had been insistent.“It’ll be fun, Kiara,” Lena had said with a mischievous grin, practically dragging her through the club’s entrance. “You need to loosen up.”So here she was, clutching a plastic cup of soda—because alcohol wasn’t exactly her thing—while her friends surrounded her in a chaotic circle of laughter and shouts.Kiara, a college sophomore with raven-black hair and striking green eyes, had always been the practical one. She preferred quiet evenings with a good book or sketchpad over loud clubs and wild games. But tonight, her usual resolve to avoid chaos had crumbled under the weight of peer pressure.“Okay, Kiara, your turn!” Lena’s voice rang out, pulling her attentio
"What the hell is going on?" I whispered, my voice foreign and raspy.My head throbbed as if a hundred bricks had been dropped onto it. A sharp, pulsating pain threatened to split my skull open. I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut, but the question lingered. Where was I? What had happened?Fragments of memories flickered like a broken reel: the party, the laughter, and too much alcohol. A dare stood out—a moment of absurdity when I leaned in to kiss old man Jared, whose presence among the young crowd was both creepy and baffling. But just as my lips nearly met his cheek, a strange weakness swept through me, draining the strength from my limbs. And then... darkness.A sharp scream pierced the silence. My head snapped toward the door just as it flew open, revealing a middle-aged woman. She stood frozen in shock, her hands trembling as the bucket and cloth she held clattered to the floor."She's awake! Your Majesty, she's awake!" the woman stammered, her face pale as she turned and fled do
Lucius stood over the still form on the bed, his chest tightening with frustration. this was not her. The blade had chosen Athena once, but now it refused to be unsheathed by this stranger."Kael," he commanded, his tone sharp and cutting. "Go to the Prophetess. Tell her the ritual failed. The soul is incorrect."Kael's hesitation was brief, but Lucius caught it. "Your Highness, Prophetess Kim is still recovering from yesterday's ordeal. She may not—""I did not ask for your assessment of her condition," Lucius snapped, his gaze icy. "She must try again. Go now."Kael bowed low, the movement rigid. "Yes, Your Highness." He turned on his heel and strode away, his heavy boots echoing in the tense silence.Lucius turned to the maidservant lingering at the edge of the room. "You are to speak of this to no one," he ordered, his voice quieter but no less firm. "As far as the court is concerned, she remains in a healing trance. Do I make myself clear?"The maid nodded quickly. "Yes, Your Hi
I woke with a jolt, my head lighter this time, the throbbing haze from before finally fading. Blinking, I took in the unfamiliar room again—the same carved walls and eerie glow. Turning my head, I noticed the middle-aged woman slumped in the chair beside me. She was asleep now, her face etched with exhaustion. She must have stayed there for hours, maybe even the whole time I'd been unconscious.The memories hit me like a freight train. They'd dragged me from my world, from my time. The sword that wouldn't budge, their desperate pleas for help, and mine to be sent back—it all swirled in my head. I clenched the soft cloth of my borrowed dress, the frustration making my knuckles white as I stood on shaky legs.Running was my first thought, but... where would I go? I didn't even know how to get out of this place, let alone how to return to the life I'd been ripped from. Instead, I crept to the door, cracking it open. The hallway stretched out before me, dimly lit by flickering sconces. Th
The prophetess's voice trembled slightly as she explained the immense difficulty of pulling a soul from the future, especially one from hundreds of years later. She sighed deeply, her frail body seeming to shrink with every word she spoke. "You have no idea how taxing it was," she continued, her tone laced with exhaustion. "The energy required... it's far beyond what we anticipated. The spell itself is forbidden, and attempting it... well, it always comes with consequences." She paused, her eyes flicking to Kael and then to Lucius. "The cost... is my energy. My life force, drained to fuel the spell. I can feel it slipping away, piece by piece."Kael's expression hardened, and he stepped closer to Lucius, offering a silent support. Lucius, still furious, clenched his fists, the tension in his body palpable. He could barely contain his anger at the turn of events, but Kael kept his voice calm. "No one will find out. No one—no guards, maids, or servants. I will inform the generals, and w
As soon as Ariel left the room, her elegant footsteps fading into silence, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Her presence had been a strange mix of comforting and stifling, and now that she was gone, the overwhelming solitude pressed in.I stood, letting the heavy blanket slip from my shoulders. My eyes darted around the grand, ancient room. Every corner seemed to whisper secrets I wasn't privy to. The air was thick, laden with the intense aroma of incense and old wood, like my grandma's room but far stronger—almost suffocating.Unable to sit still, I approached the tall, gilded mirror standing in one corner. What I saw stopped me cold.The reflection staring back wasn't just me—it was her. The goddess they all seemed to worship. She looked so much like me it was unnerving, but the differences were stark. Her hair was longer, silkier, flowing like a dark river. Her features were sharper, more defined, her beauty otherworldly. She looked... perfect. Ravishing. Regal.My h
Lucius's POVI shut the door softly, ensuring she had climbed into bed and was pretending to sleep. I couldn't risk anyone finding her—not now, not ever. The thought of Ariel catching even a glimpse of her made my body stiffen. My daughter hadn't yet seen her mother awake, and she wasn't going to get the childhood she deserved.Guilt gnawed at me as I walked down the hall, my steps heavy with the weight of my failures. My feet carried me to the third floor, where maids and guards on patrol bowed as I passed. I nodded absently, focused on reaching her room. When I opened the door, she was already asleep.I walked over to Ariel's bedside and knelt beside her. She clutched the old teddy bear to her chest—the one I had told her was a gift from her mother. Since then, she had treated it like a sacred treasure, carrying it everywhere. My heart clenched when I saw the faint streaks of tears on her cheeks. She had fallen asleep crying again.I reached out to brush her hair from her face, resi
Lucius's POVI slammed the door behind me, fury still simmering beneath my skin. Only Gideon and Kael had dared follow me from the chamber. The others were still cleaning up the mess caused by Edward's insolence."I told you I didn't want to meet him!" I growled, turning sharply to face the two generals. "You two convinced me to see that miserable man, and for what? More headaches?"Gideon, ever the optimist, tried to placate me. "Well, on the bright side, we now know a spirit might be here in Decresh.""'Might' being the key word," I shot back, my voice laced with irritation. "We have no proof. For all we know, Edward could be lying to sow chaos."Kael sighed, stepping in. "He's a king, Lucius. A detestable one, sure, but he's not stupid enough to fabricate something this serious. A spirit isn't just a threat to your kingdom—it's a threat to his as well."I clenched my fists. "Are you two even on my side?""Of course we are," Gideon replied, his tone calm but firm. "But you need to t
Kiara's POVMy lungs burned. My legs ached. But I didn't stop running.The trees loomed around me, their shadows twisting in the moonlight, casting eerie figures in the dark. The forest air was thick with damp earth and the sharp scent of pine, but beneath it all, I could feel them.Glutton and Envy were still behind me.I could hear Glutton's heavy footfalls—crushing everything in his path—the snap of twigs, the crunch of dead leaves. He wasn't trying to be quiet. He didn't need to be.Envy, on the other hand, was silent. Too silent. That was the part that terrified me.A low, cruel chuckle slithered through the trees.> "You're fast," Envy's voice came from somewhere behind me. "But not fast enough."Panic surged through me.I pushed forward, my body screaming in protest. My throat was dry, my breath ragged, but I knew what would happen if I stopped. They'd take me. And I didn't even want to think about what that meant.Then—Pain.A force slammed into my side, knocking me off my fe
Veryon' POVThe air shifted.It wasn't just the whispers anymore—it was something worse.A presence slithered through the trees, the shadows curling like smoke as a figure stepped forward, slow and languid, as if she had all the time in the world.Lust.She was exactly as I remembered her. Beautiful in a way that was unnatural, her body wrapped in the kind of shadowy silk that clung to her curves, her lips curled in amusement as she tilted her head at me."Hello, Veryon," she purred, her voice dripping with mock affection. "Long time no see."I stiffened, my grip on Kiara's hand tightening as more figures emerged from the darkness. Wrath. Pride. Gluttony. Envy.They were all here.Kiara tensed beside me, and I could feel the way her breath hitched—the way she understood, even without me saying a word, that this was bad.Very bad."Still playing hero, I see," Lust mused, taking a step forward. "I warned you what would happen if you got in our way again. And yet here you are… with her."
Veryon's POVShe didn't understand.Kiara sat there, watching the fire, her body exhausted but still tense, still defiant. She thought she could fight this—them. That she could stay in that palace, surrounded by guards, by mages, by walls that would crumble the moment the spirits decided to take them.She thought she was safe.I knew better.The spirits took everything from me. My throne. My people. Athena.And now they wanted her.I couldn't let that happen.My fists clenched at my sides, my body a storm of tension as I looked at her. She was still so full of fire, still fighting even after she had nearly collapsed from exhaustion. She was too stubborn for her own good. But I admired that stubbornness far more than I should.Far more than I had any right to.She turned her head slightly, her gaze catching mine. "You're staring."I didn't deny it."Sleep," I told her. It was more of an order than a request.She huffed, leaning back against the cold stone wall, rubbing her arms as if s
Kiara POV.I stood there, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps, my body trembling with exhaustion. My arms ached from the strain of pulling water from thin air, and my hands stung where the energy had burned against my skin. I had pushed myself too far, but I didn't care. I had done it. I had fought. I had proven, if only to myself, that I wasn't weak.But my victory was short-lived.Pain flared in my side, sharp and unrelenting, and I gritted my teeth, refusing to acknowledge it. I was fine. I had to be fine.Veryon, however, wasn't fooled."You're hurt," he said, stepping toward me."I'm fine," I snapped, trying to straighten, but the moment I moved, a fresh wave of pain shot through me. Damn it. I must have strained something—or worse.Veryon sighed, shaking his head. "You're as stubborn as ever."I tried to glare at him, but the effect was probably ruined by the way I was swaying on my feet. Before I could protest, he was already beside me, his hands firm but careful as he guid
Lucius stepped out of the bathroom, water still dripping from his hair, his eyes narrowing as he wiped his face with a towel. The warm glow of the early morning sun filtered through the thick curtains, but there was something off in the air, something that made the usual peace of the palace feel unsettling.Kiara should have been here by now.His thoughts immediately shifted to the training session. She was always prompt, always eager to push herself. But today, there was no sign of her.He tossed the towel aside and walked toward the door, his movements brisk, his mind already racing. Something wasn't right. He had felt it the moment he stepped out of the bathroom—the absence of her presence.He moved quickly, striding down the hallway, his boots clicking against the marble floor. His eyes scanned every corner, every empty room he passed, his heart starting to quicken with a sense of urgency."Kiara?"The name slipped from his lips almost involuntarily, but the silence that followed
Veryon's breathing was labored, his eyes darting around as though he expected an attack at any moment. His gaze finally landed on me, softening for a fleeting second before the sharp edge of distrust returned."Kiara," he rasped, his voice hoarse. "I don't have time to explain everything, but you need to listen to me."I stepped back, my fingers tightening around the hilt of my sword. "Veryon, you're hurt—what happened? Let me call Lucius, he can—""No!" he snapped, the desperation in his tone stopping me mid-sentence. He clenched his fists, his entire body trembling. "I don’t trust him. I don’t trust anyone here, Kiara. The only person I trust is you."His words struck me like a blow, and I struggled to process the weight of them. "Me? Veryon, what are you saying? Lucius and the others have been helping me—protecting me—""You don’t understand," he interrupted, his voice breaking slightly. "These walls, this place… they’re suffocating you. The spirits… they will come for you, Kiara.
The morning light filtered through the curtains, painting soft streaks of gold across the stone walls of my room. I lay still, staring at the ceiling, my body aching from the weight of emotions and responsibilities that had piled up over the past few days.Maidservant Tae's death still lingered in my thoughts, a dull ache in my chest that refused to fade. It wasn't just his loss—it was the ripple effect it caused, the reminder of how fragile everything was. I had been trying to find my footing, trying to recover, but it felt like every step forward was met with another obstacle.Lucius, ever the dutiful protector, had brought Yuva and Layla to my side. They were capable, sharp, and intimidating in their own right, but their constant vigilance only added to the tension surrounding me. They barely spoke, their focus always on their duties, and the awkwardness between us hung in the air like an invisible wall.Elena, on the other hand, was my saving grace. Her sarcastic jokes and infecti
The room was heavy with tension as the duke who spoke placed the lantern on the table. It sat there, unassuming yet brimming with the weight of history. I stared at the object, my green eyes narrowing as unease settled over me."This is one of the lanterns Athena used to trap spirits," the duke declared, his voice steady yet charged with excitement. "After her death, they were believed to be lost or destroyed. But here it is—an artifact of unimaginable power, Your Majesty."I reached forward, running my fingers over the intricate carvings etched into its surface. The faint glow emanating from it was almost imperceptible, like the dying embers of a once roaring fire."It's powerless," I said, placing the lantern back down with a decisive thud."Yes," the duke admitted reluctantly. "Its power has faded, but it can be reawakened—if the goddess, Athena, wills it."My jaw tightened at their words. "She's not ready," I replied flatly, meeting their expectant gazes with a firm, unyielding st
Lucuis POVAfter carefully tucking Kiara into bed, I quietly left her chambers. The hallway was still and dimly lit, the silence a welcome reprieve from her drunken ramblings. I shook my head, a small smile pulling at my lips as I thought about her antics. She'd be nursing quite the hangover in the morning.By the time I reached my own chamber, exhaustion tugged at me. The alcohol I'd consumed on the rooftop added a slight haze to my senses, though I'd been careful not to drink too much. As I closed the door behind me, ready to collapse into bed, I froze. Kael was standing in the middle of the room, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable."Don't you ever sleep?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.He smiled faintly, brushing off the remark. "Your Highness, the Dukes of Decresh have suddenly called for an impromptu meeting tomorrow morning," he said, his tone serious.I frowned, already uninterested. "Tell them to wait," I said dismissively, moving toward my bed.Before I could