As soon as we returned to the palace, I rushed to my room without a backward glance. I didn't wait for Lucius to say anything, nor did I bother calling for Maidservant Tae to attend to me. My only goal was to shut myself away from everything—and everyone.But as I slammed the door shut, a sharp pang of unease settled in my chest. Tae wasn't there. She usually greeted me the moment I came back, fussing over me like a mother hen, asking about training, or bringing me something warm to drink. Her absence felt... odd.Still, I didn't have the energy to dwell on it. My mind was a mess, and if I let myself spiral down yet another rabbit hole, I'd never pull myself out. Instead, I went straight to the small stash I'd hidden behind the wardrobe—some leftover beer from Elena's party.I grabbed a bottle, popped it open, and made my way to the rooftop. The night air hit my skin like a balm, cool and bracing, but it did little to soothe the storm raging inside me.As I sat there, feet dangling ov
I sent the generals away before I could change my mind. Their presence grated on me this morning, their expectant stares like needles against my skin. I had no interest in their reports or strategies—none of it mattered. Not today.Lying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling, willing my mind to stop racing. But it didn't. It never did. My hair fell in disarray across my face, and I made no effort to push it away. The weight of it all—the kingdom, the council, her—it pressed down on me like a suffocating fog.The kiss haunted me.I closed my eyes, but the image came rushing back. Kiara… kissing him. My disgusting excuse of a brother. The sight was burned into my memory, a wound that refused to heal.Just yesterday, I'd argued with the council to have Veryon banished. They refused, of course. "He's a prince," they said, "the former crown prince." As if that justified his presence. As if that justified his existence. It didn't matter—I would find a way to get rid of him. It would be a long,
As she unsheathed the sword, I called out to her. "Come back," I said, my voice steady despite the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. She turned, her steps slow and deliberate as the water rippled around her.But just as she neared the edge, something shifted. Her body tensed, her footing faltered, and suddenly she was sinking."Kiara!" I shouted, panic slicing through me as I watched her struggle. Without hesitation, I moved toward the water's edge, ready to jump in.But then, her hand shot up, stopping me. "No, don't come in yet!" she called out, her voice strained but firm."What?" I froze, confused and alarmed."You need to—" she gasped, her words breaking apart as she fought to stay afloat. "You need to take off your clothes."Her words hit me like a slap, and I paused, stunned. My mind reeled, trying to make sense of what she was saying."What are you talking about?""No one can enter Lake gayank with their clothes on," she managed to say, her voice trembling but insistent.
Kiara's thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and guilt as the carriage rolled onward, the tension so thick it was suffocating. Every moment felt more excruciating than the last, especially with Kael and Asher sitting just a few feet away, their glances far too knowing for her comfort.She kept her eyes glued to the window, praying the awkward ride would end soon. But it seemed fate had other plans.The carriage hit a slight bump, jostling her forward, and in that instant, her hand brushed against his. It was fleeting, barely a touch, but her heart skipped wildly as if it had been something far more.She pulled her hand back instinctively, but before she could retreat completely, his fingers closed around hers, firm yet gentle. His hand enveloped hers, rough and warm, and her breath hitched.She turned to him, wide-eyed, but his gaze remained forward, his expression unreadable. Yet, his grip didn't waver; instead, his fingers intertwined with hers, locking them together in a silent d
I blinked, stunned by his words. "You and Athena… you go a long way?"He nodded, his eyes distant, swirling with emotions that seemed too raw to contain. "We met long before Lucius did. Before she became his master."I frowned, trying to piece it together. "What are you saying?""Actually, she was my master first," he said bitterly, his voice tightening. "She was mine in every way—every damn way—before…" His words trailed off, but the weight of them lingered."Before what?" I pressed cautiously.He let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. "Before she met Lucius. Before she decided I wasn't worth it. She claimed I was a bad student, all because I killed…""Killed?" I repeated, my voice barely a whisper."A spirit," he said flatly. "A powerful one called Nihil. Stronger than all the others. Even the spirits bow to it. It possessed a woman's body, and I figured it out. I killed it."I stared at him, trying to process the information. "And that's why she cut you off?"He scoffed bitterly
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
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