I woke with a dull ache in my head, the kind that made the edges of my vision blur for a moment. Blinking several times, I groaned softly, my tongue sticking uncomfortably to the roof of my mouth. There was a strange, bitter taste lingering… and then it hit me.The taste of Veryon’s alcohol.I grimaced, sitting up slightly, only to stop dead in my tracks. My head turned, and there he was.Veryon’s head rested on my shoulder, his face relaxed and serene in sleep. His damp hair had dried into soft, unruly waves, framing his maddeningly perfect features. He looked so peaceful—so different from the sharp-edged, brooding man I’d spent the night with.I couldn’t help it; my gaze lingered. The sharp line of his jaw, the faint shadows his lashes cast on his cheekbones—it all held me captive. My heart fluttered against my will, and a strange warmth pooled in my chest.What was wrong with me?My breath hitched as his lips parted, ever so slightly, and I felt the rise and fall of his chest again
After her bath, Kiara tugged on the heavy training attire, groaning as the fabric weighed her down. It clung annoyingly to her shoulders, dragging her steps. She was prepared for training__mentally, at least but not for seeing Lucius. Not after yesterday's disaster. And definitely not with Veryon's smirk still haunting her thoughts.Just as she reached for the door, there was a sharp knock. General Asher's deep voice carried through the room. "Milady, Yourhighness regrets to inform you that he's occupied with duties today and cannot train you."Kiara blinked, relief washing over her. "Really? Oh, that's… such a shame!" she called back, barely keeping her tone neutral.She threw herself onto her bed the moment Asher's footsteps faded. The fabric of her robes puffed around her, and she sighed in contentment. Finally, a free day. Normally, Lucius and training would keep her busy, but now? Now she was free to do… absolutely nothing.The sunlight streaming through the windows mocked her. D
Tae’s laughter filled the room, but it wasn’t her laugh—it was deeper, darker, like it didn’t belong to this world. “Yes,” she said, her voice oddly layered, as if two people were speaking at once. “I killed Eleanor in the past. And now, reincarnated in the future, she’s here again—as Elena.”Elena froze, her eyes wide. “You… killed me? What are you saying?”My stomach churned. “Tae?” My voice wavered. “What’s going on? Why would you say that? Why would you—”She cut me off with a cruel, bone-chilling laugh. “Oh, Kiara, you really are a fool. Tae isn’t here anymore. She hasn’t been for a while. I’ve been borrowing her.”“What?” I whispered, stepping back.Her head tilted unnaturally, a sinister grin spreading across her face. “Tae was just a vessel. A body for me to use. I’m not her. I’m Lust, one of the seven spirits of destruction.”My heart dropped as the air around her grew heavy, dark energy swirling like smoke from her body. Her eyes turned pitch black, and her voice deepened, f
"Maybe it's better that he's gone." Lucius's cold words pierced through the heavy silence, each syllable laced with a detachment that made my blood boil."What?" I choked out, barely able to believe what I was hearing. My chest tightened, my grief momentarily replaced by rage.Lucius met my gaze, his expression unyielding. "We need to focus on how that spirit got into the palace. That's the priority now.""What are you saying?" I demanded, my voice trembling with emotion. "What do you mean we won't save Veryon? He's your brother, Lucius!""He's a disturbance," Lucius replied coldly. "He's always been a disturbance. I've been trying to rid this palace of him for days. And now, it's finally happened."My hands clenched into fists. "You're lying," I said, my voice breaking. "You don't mean that.""I do," Lucius shot back. "You should be glad he's gone. He's been nothing but trouble, especially to you.""No!" I shouted. "You don't get to decide that!.Lucius's eyes narrowed, his voice dro
Lust hit the ground first, her body scraping against the jagged, dark terrain. She barely felt the pain, too consumed by the chaos swirling around them. The portal had been a mistake. They were supposed to bring Kiara, but instead, they had pulled in a stranger—this mage, this Veryon.Lust's sharp gaze flickered to the others as they slowly rose from the ground, just as confused, just as enraged. They had all expected Kiara to be there, not him. Their plans were in ruins before they even had a chance to begin."What is this?" Lust's voice was a hiss, barely controlled. "This isn't Kiara. This is nothing but a mage."Veryon groaned, pushing himself upright, blood trickling down his forehead. He looked every bit the part of a man who'd been thrown through hell and back, but he wasn't broken—not yet."I'm not your pawn," he spat, barely able to stand.The others loomed around him like shadows, each one distinct, their very presence oppressive. Lust's hands clenched into fists. She had fa
Wrath wasted no time as he hauled Veryon's unconscious body over his shoulder, his movements swift and methodical."Where do we hide him?" Gluttony muttered, gnawing on his nails anxiously. "We can't leave him out in the open!""Over there." Wrath gestured sharply to a shadowed corner where jagged rocks jutted out like teeth. Without hesitation, he tossed Veryon's limp body into the crevice, covering him with nearby debris to obscure him from sight. The others exchanged nervous glances, their usual bravado replaced by a growing fear.And then it happened. The air shifted, heavy and oppressive. A cold, dark energy seeped into the room, making the already dim surroundings feel suffocating. Pride straightened immediately, his usual arrogance faltering as he muttered, "He's here."The room fell silent as Nihil's presence grew stronger. A figure emerged from the shadows—a towering being, cloaked in an aura of malevolence that made even Wrath take a step back. His eyes glowed with an otherw
The burial of Tae was silent, too silent. I couldn't shake the emptiness that settled deep within me, the heavy sadness that clung to my every step. We had laid her to rest, but it didn't feel like enough. Nothing would ever feel like enough. I stood there, barely able to hold myself together, watching as they covered her with earth. There was something so final about it, something that made the weight on my chest even heavier.When we finally returned to the palace, I didn't even notice the halls as I walked past them. My feet seemed to move on their own, dragging me toward my chambers. I needed to be alone, to breathe, to think—though I wasn't sure what there was left to think about.I closed the door behind me softly, the silence almost suffocating. The space felt too big, too empty, even though it was filled with everything I would need. I dropped onto the bed, feeling the exhaustion catch up to me in waves. Everything felt off, like my mind was scattered, torn between grief, conf
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
The tomb seemed to pulse with a chilling, oppressive energy, the air thick with the spirits' dark magic. Kiara, still in Nihil's unyielding grasp, struggled against the suffocating force. Her body was battered, her energy almost depleted, but there was something deep within her—a spark—flickering with the strength of the goddess she once was."Let me go," Kiara rasped, her voice barely a whisper, but the words carried a strength beyond her physical form.Nihil’s grip tightened. "You can’t escape, Kiara. You are nothing but a mortal now—nothing more than a pawn in this game."The spirits of sin circled around, as if waiting for the final blow, but Kiara was slipping into a trance. The world around her began to blur, the echoes of Nihil’s voice growing distant.Suddenly, the weight of the moment hit her like a tidal wave. She had been here before. This wasn’t just a fight against Nihil—it was a battle she had fought countless times in her past, in a time long forgotten.The memories sur
The air felt thick with tension as the group ventured deep into the heart of the forsaken woods. The search for Leon, the last surviving witch, had consumed their every waking moment. His anger was palpable—frustration burning within him as he sought revenge for the death of his race, his kin. But there was something deeper behind that fury. The promise of resurrection, of vengeance. He was more dangerous than ever now.The moon hung low, casting eerie shadows on the dark forest floor as the group approached an old, crumbling ruin. Elena’s heart raced as she felt the magic stirring around them—powerful, ancient, and alive. It was here that they would find him.With each step, Elena’s grip on her own power tightened. She was no longer just a bystander; she was a force to be reckoned with. Esther—her true self—burned within her, guiding her actions and her thoughts. But she also felt a familiar presence. Leon. He was close.“Are you sure this is where he is?” Kiara asked, her eyes darti
Kiara's POVThe invisible force held me in place, pressing down on my limbs, making it impossible to move. The blond man's grin widened as he stepped closer, his fingers twitching with power."Nice try, gorgeous," he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. "But you're not going anywhere."I struggled, my body trembling as I tried to break free, but the magic was too strong, wrapping around me like a serpent tightening its grip.Then—a sudden crack.The blond man's smirk vanished, his body jerking forward as something slammed against the back of his head with a sickening thud.His eyes rolled back, and before he could react, he crashed onto the floor, unconscious.I gasped.A familiar voice rang out, light and teasing."Hello, gorgeous."My eyes snapped up.Elena.She stood behind him, a wooden club in her hand, her lips curved into a smirk. Her dark eyes shimmered with mischief, and a lock of her hair fell over her face as she tilted her head at me."Miss me?" she said, tossing t
Kiara’s POVThe invisible force held me in place, pressing down on my limbs, making it impossible to move. The blond man’s grin widened as he stepped closer, his fingers twitching with power.“Nice try, gorgeous,” he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. “But you’re not going anywhere.”I struggled, my body trembling as I tried to break free, but the magic was too strong, wrapping around me like a serpent tightening its grip.Then—a sudden crack.The blond man’s smirk vanished, his body jerking forward as something slammed against the back of his head with a sickening thud.His eyes rolled back, and before he could react, he crashed onto the floor, unconscious.I gasped.A familiar voice rang out, light and teasing.“Hello, gorgeous.”My eyes snapped up.Elena.She stood behind him, a wooden club in her hand, her lips curved into a smirk. Her dark eyes shimmered with mischief, and a lock of her hair fell over her face as she tilted her head at me.“Miss me?” she said, tossing t
Kiara’s POVThe old man with silver-striped hair continued his rant, his voice firm, his gaze sharp. His presence was suffocating, overwhelming me as he spoke about things I couldn't understand.“You don’t even know who you are anymore,” he murmured, his voice tinged with pain.I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. This was madness.Before I could speak, the woman returned, holding the little girl in her arms. They stepped closer, and I felt the weight of all their stares pressing down on me.The woman’s eyes shimmered with something—relief? Grief? Desperation?Then she stepped forward, her expression softening.“I’m very sorry, my dear.”Her hand reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. It was such an intimate, motherly gesture, and for a split second, my heart ached for something I didn’t understand.“I’ve lost my daughter once,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I won’t do it again.”I stepped back, panic rising in my chest. “No. No, this isn’t ri
Kael, Ryder, and Asher were already circling the area, their movements synchronized as they continued the search.But I could feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity.“Lucius, she’s out there,” Elena said, her voice surprisingly softer than usual. “We’ll find her. We have to.”I nodded, but inside, the storm raged on. Every second felt like we were losing ground.“Keep looking!” I barked, more forcefully than I meant to. But it didn’t matter. We needed answers. And if I had to tear apart the entire forest to get them, then I would.The moonlight barely reached through the thick canopy above us as we pushed deeper into the woods. Time was running out, and I couldn’t afford to fail her.As we ventured further, the weight of the silence around us seemed to press in harder, almost as if the forest itself were holding its breath. Every step felt more like a descent into the unknown, and the air around us grew colder. The unease in my gut
Lucius’s POVToday marks the second day since Kiara went missing. The frustration bubbling inside me was barely contained, my patience wearing thinner with each passing second. I had ordered my generals to investigate the Dukes of Decresh, especially Grewald. That bastard had the audacity to threaten me about Kiara before. If anyone had a hand in her disappearance, I was willing to wager it was him.Right now, my men were working on forcing the truth out of him in the palace’s underground torture chamber. The room reeked of sweat, fear, and blood. Dim torches lined the walls, casting long, flickering shadows over the instruments of pain. Grewald was tied to an iron chair, his clothes torn and stained with blood. His once-proud expression was now twisted with pain, but despite it all, he still refused to talk.“Where is she?” My voice was eerily calm as I took slow steps towards him, my boots echoing in the cold chamber.Grewald groaned, his breath ragged. “I… I don’t know what you’re
Kiara's POV – The Truth UnfoldsThe room was silent, thick with an eerie familiarity I couldn't explain. My breath hitched as I took a small step back, my gaze darting between the four people before me. Their eyes held something I couldn't decipher—pain? Longing? Recognition?But how?My chest rose and fell rapidly. They had called me Athena. And now, this woman, with trembling hands and tear-filled eyes, had just called herself my mother.I shook my head. "No… No, that's not possible." My voice cracked.The woman's fingers tightened around my arm, her touch warm yet desperate. "We can't lose you again. We lost Athena once, and we will not lose you again."Her words made my blood freeze. My throat felt dry, and a dull ringing filled my ears.Again?"You came back home." Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it slammed into me like a tidal wave. "Can't you see? You can't even recognize your own mother?"Mother.I blinked rapidly, my mind screaming at me to make sense of this. "No," I bre
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