Sylvan-Cloverdale Luca and Arlen got lost one too many times, their leads dwindling. To obtain the final piece of the puzzle, they needed one last scroll, rumoured to be lost in a mountain called Mystic Peak. "Mystic Peak? Is that where we're headed?" Arlen longed for a break from their relentless searching, but Luca remained steadfast. "It was the dwelling of the mysterious cultivator, the one who authored the scrolls- Lian Xiu," Luca replied. "Mystic Peak was sealed off after the plague. We won't find anything there," Arlen argued. "Not if we search diligently. Let's keep going," Luca insisted, his focus fixated on an old map rather than seeking guidance from the locals. Arlen, however, decided to take matters into his own hands. He approached anyone willing to spare a moment. "We're adventurers who enjoy hiking. Can you direct us to Mystic Peak?" he asked, accompanied by a humble smile. Surprisingly, he received various responses, but they all ultimately discouraged their ques
"You came for the truth, and I'm being gracious enough to tell you!" Lian Xiu snapped his fingers, unleashing spirit strings that wove around the room, causing tiny particles of rocks to coagulate into moving pictures. The images emulated faces Luca was familiar with. And visions Arlen had long forgotten due to trauma. Lian gave himself space from the visitors. He was about to perform a technique that earned him his reputation as the now-twisted Whispering Jade. He could fish out anyone's past, and dig out people's greatest flaws. Lian Xiu's heart tickled with delight as he was about to unveil a shameful secret that ruined the peace in Slora.Years Back - DamarisA caravan arrived at the King's Castle with treasures and livestock. Scores of people abandoned their duties, dying to get a peek at the strongest alpha of their time. A hunter who made men weak in the knees at the mere sight of her double-edged blade."We're here, my liege." A warrior knelt as the soon-to-be head of the Br
Ellen would host Pandora when her husband had to break an appointment or leave before time. They went on long walks, picnics and canoe rides. Pandora's jovial personality and reckless adventures were just what Ellen needed to escape the monotonous life within the Castle. They even inspired her to share tales of her own- of when she was not yet Theoden's property. Pandora confirmed how much the Queen trusted her after earning the pet name, 'Dora.' "The Princess seems uninterested in my proposal. I might as well return to my Kingdom and search elsewhere," Pandora opened up one day. Having an interest in someone else had wanned down her efforts to pursue the Princess of Damaris. As much as she adored Ellen, she wanted to stay friends with Theoden. "Roxanne hates the thought of her family planning her life," Ellen glanced at Pandora. "If you want her to take you seriously, you'll have to go to her- woman to woman.""How do I achieve that when she won't even meet me?" Pandora's eyes fli
It was raining. Servants covered their heads, skipping past the guards who had to remain at their posts. There would be many sneezing and coughing by nightfall if the downpour did not cease soon. Pandora remained indoors, finding rest in that compulsory leisure time. Zariah did not despise a nap, and Pandora did not deny her that right at that hour.Pandora had rid herself of her leather and silver armour, wearing a long-sleeved blouse coupled with a pair of brown pants. With the way she held her hair back, one could easily mistake her for a handsome man. After staring out of the windows for too long, sketching in a hand-sized book, Pandora fell victim to her thoughts. Things were moving smoothly with Roxanne Beaumont since their date, and she could not deny her intelligence, but Pandora was more consumed by her interest in the Queen.The alpha pulled out of her seat when someone entered her room without permission. She was going to rant, as no one but Zariah would do that, but her wo
Ingram Five weeks after Pandora had departed from Damaris, an invitation arrived from Sutcliffe. The Prescotts were celebrating the King's birthday. It promised to be a festivity not to be missed. "Your cabinet has approved of this trip. If we set off in two days, we'll reach Sutcliffe in time for the festivities," Zariah sat across from Pandora, reviewing land deeds and new projects she had been tasked to oversee. Pandora displayed no enthusiasm. Three of Theoden's messengers had approached her castle with veiled threats and messages. She had exercised patience and dismissed them from her kingdom to maintain peace. The Beaumonts were also invited to the upcoming celebration, and it was no surprise that Pandora wished to avoid it. "I understand your desire for isolation, but there could be many benefits to attending. Imagine a huge, stunning castle lodged in a beautiful valley. It's made of smooth, shiny stone and has tall towers with colourful flags. To get inside, you cross a bi
"You insolent fool! How dare you play such cheap tricks on my future Queen!" Zariah's eyes blazed with anger, her deep voice echoing through the hall, sending chills to those present.Caesar struggled to regain his composure, humiliated by his actions. His face turned crimson, and his confidence waned."It's alright, Zariah. It was an accident," Pandora stood tall, attempting to diffuse the tension in the room. She scanned the crowd for Roxanne but realized she had already left."No, Your Majesty, please permit me to teach this idiot a lesson," Zariah insisted, her determination unwavering. But Pandora dissuaded her from doing so.With all eyes on him, Caesar found himself speechless and defeated. He made a hasty retreat, his dignity in tatters.Later, after the banquet, Caesar, determined to make amends, sought out Pandora. He was met with resistance from the guards at the door, but with their leader's intervention, they let him through.Caesar found Pandora without her heavy armour
Ingram When Caesar set foot in Ingram, he couldn't help but feel powerless. His brother's mother had played a decisive role in convincing the King to accept Pandora's proposal. Once again, Caesar found himself downgraded to a mere pawn, a piece that could be traded or cast aside for the highest bidder. Whenever Pandora made her presence known, his emotions boiled over with anger and helplessness. On the other hand, Pandora seemed to derive amusement from his desperate attempts to evade her, often goading Caesar with her commands. She took delight in witnessing the proud alpha struggle to conceal his frustration each time she intentionally encroached upon his day. ***** After a long debate with her father's cabinet, Pandora finally found peace in her room, free from interruptions- except for Zariah, who seemed ready to vent her grievances. "You need to end this absurd proposal before it's too late," Zariah had nothing positive to say about their guest. "Mhmm," Pandora would only
Her fingers curled around his hand, tightening with each jolt as the carriage crossed the bumpy road. "Caesar, don't fall asleep. Look at me," Pandora's voice was a soothing drizzle after the tempest.But the storm was far from over. There was a festering corpse lurking within Caesar's gut. Pandora rallied all the healers she could find in Sidioak, but their efforts yielded little hope. The best course of action was to reach the capital. To prevent the rapid spread of infection, she cast a spell to infuse Caesar with spirit energy, keeping him alive.A messenger rode ahead to prepare the physicians. After another day fraught with fear and despair, they finally arrived at the royal infirmary. Letting go of Caesar's hand was one of the hardest things Pandora had ever done. What if he needed her to be there? What if he didn't make it? Nevertheless, she had to leave the room so the healers and physicians could help.Zariah rushed in as Pandora paced anxiously in the courtyard. "How did it
By the time Reed realized he had been used- again- it was too late. Julius gently set him on a shabby bed of hay, crouching beside him with an expression of childlike curiosity. "Are you feeling better?" he asked, patting Reed’s head."What happened? What time is it?" Reed groaned, pressing a hand to his throbbing temple. He tried to get up but found his legs numb and unwilling."Wait, don’t try to move. You're still recovering," Julius said, pressing him back down."How could I sleep so deeply? My men… the carriage…" Reed’s voice was dazed, his words scattered.Julius dismissed Reed’s fragmented concerns, believing him to be rambling. "It’s alright, Owen. This will be the last time I take your energy, I promise." He leaned in, brushing a gentle kiss across Reed’s lips.Reed’s brow furrowed as he pulled away. "What did you do, Julius?"Julius’ smile faded. "What are you implying?""What did you need my energy for?"Julius’ face hardened. "If you must know, I collapsed the fog at the b
"Did you miss me?" Arlen asked as Luca thrust into him for what felt like the hundredth time."Every hour, every minute… every second," Luca replied, voice thick with longing."Then kiss me harder. Show me the depth of your despair," Arlen cooed.Luca held Arlen close as if he could disappear at any moment. The memory felt lucid, almost unreal. It was harder for him not to bury himself deeper. It was in an alpha's nature to bite and knot his cherished omega, and Luca was nearly numb with excitement as Arlen wrapped around him like a vine, making desperate, teasing sounds that ignited every instinct within him."Arlen, if we keep going like this, I might fall into a rut.""That's not... fair," Arlen murmured between breaths.Luca lifted his gaze to meet Arlen’s. "Is this not to your liking?""No, that's not what I meant. I have to claim you, Luca.” Arlen averted his eyes, his voice dropping to a whisper. “What if you woke up and changed your mind?"With a steady rhythm, Luca pressed g
Arlen led David to the guest quarters, leaving him in the care of capable servants. He then continued along a different path, Luca close behind. Every now and then, Arlen glanced back with a smile, ensuring that Luca stayed close. As they neared a large compound, Luca presumed the inevitable meeting with his father-in-law was approaching. He braced himself. It was unlikely to be a pleasant encounter given their family history, but it had to happen. The structures of this place felt different from the cold, mechanical landscape of Damaris. The statues here were immense, fearsome, and far removed from the serene ones back home. Guards stood at every corner, their expressions stern and lacking any warmth. For Luca, walking side by side with ‘the’ Arlen Braddock still felt surreal, and yet his heart was overwhelmed with love. When they entered a large room, the doors shut behind them with a quiet snap. Luca turned at the sound, only to notice a faint blue hue glowing over the ex
For a moment, Arlen studied Luca’s face as if caught in a daydream, focusing on all the features he longed to touch- his eyes, ears, cheeks, lips. Luca, however, stood motionless, like an old tree rooted in place.But Arlen dropped to his knees. Luca clenched his fists as he struggled to find a way to redeem himself. The sight of Arlen touching his feet, as though a lowly servant, made Luca feel like the monster Rufus had always claimed he was. It was a sharp reminder of the blind hatred he’d harboured for over a decade before their paths had crossed. “I should’ve told you the truth. I tried, but…” Arlen’s voice was frail. Somehow he couldn’t shake the fear that Luca had come to end his life. His heart sank further when Luca hesitantly pulled his feet away. However, Luca had other other plans. Arlen watched, confused, as the alpha knelt, lowering himself until their eyes were level. His breath caught when Luca’s forehead dipped to touch the hem of his robe. “Forgive me, Your Highn
Naturally, Rufus and the others followed the royal family closely after the celebrations with the people, but they couldn’t get too near due to the barricades of soldiers. Seeing this, Rufus suggested an alternative. “We need to separate my uncle from that imposter.” David: "But how do we do that? There are so many guards around that jerk. Did you notice he’s gotten taller since the last time we fought him? And his voice-“ "Focus, David!" Rufus snapped. Luca cut in, “Rufus, go after the King. Leave the imposter to me.” Rufus nodded at the logic. The King would recognize him easily. “In that case, go with David. Nathan and I will follow the King.” *** Zariah took Arlen under her wing after the main event, leading him to mingle with their subjects. Believing there was no danger, Caesar did not object. Arlen wore a solemn expression as the celebrations continued. Earlier, his speech had lightened the atmosphere, making the people feel important and remembered. They laughed and c
Arlen approached his father’s study. Caesar was obsessed with having his wife’s ghost roaming about, but when Arlen mentioned someone else as the source of his troubles, Caesar listened."Son, be honest with me. Why is that slave still alive?""He’s not a slave, Father. He’s my best friend, someone I consider a soulmate.""Well, what about your mate? Do you dote on this Julius more than them?""Not that kind of soulmate. Julius and I share a bond that even I can’t break- the kind that would make him do anything for me without hesitation.""Like trying to kill your uncle? Do you think he would’ve stopped there?""He wasn’t himself," Arlen said with a sunken voice."Then maybe you don’t know this Julius as well as you think you do.""You’re not listening to me. I exploited my best friend’s loyalty. I recklessly tainted his soul with demons. He tricked you because I made him that way.""And you still haven’t learned your lesson. You cannot put one man- a beta, above Ingram." Caesar shook
Arlen sat under the pavilion with Zariah, working on his speech for the upcoming festival."That’s terrible, toss it out. You can add this line to the last one... Come on, kid, didn’t you learn anything from me?" Zariah’s tone was firm."This isn’t like dealing with omegas, Aunt," Arlen sighed, already bored with his first duty as Prince."Of course it is! The people need to believe you're committed to your role. You’re an omega- hasn’t anyone ever said something that made you feel special?" It turned out Zariah’s nagging could be worse than Basma’s."How would I know? My mate... he barely says anything sweet. He’s the stiffest alpha you’ll ever meet.” “Worse than your father?” “Far worse!” Arlen stressed. “Half the time, he said I was trouble. On lucky days he expressed how much he wanted to keep me by his side." Arlen blurted, then paused, realizing he might never hear Luca say those words again. "But I can’t say that to my subjects."Arlen refused to reveal the identity of his ch
Reed could not accept reality. A new Arlen Braddock had replaced the one he knew. He was astonished that this was the servant his person nearly killed him for losing.As a high-ranking warrior, the men guarding Julius' cell allowed him to pass without questions.Reed's hands went around the metallic bars. "Is it true?" His usually gentle voice sounded scratchy. Sitting on the floor at the far end, Julius answered without looking at him, patiently drawing secret symbols. "I am not my master," he said."Then who are you?""It would be best if you were disgusted by me," Julius chuckled under his breath."I meant what I said. Even if you were not a noble, I'd still stand by you." Reed pulled on the bars, stating to whom his allegiance belonged. That did surprise Julius. He looked at the alpha, and a laugh burst out of him. "Hahahaha, did I bewitch you too much?"Reed unlocked the prison door and entered, his footsteps heavy and hasty. "Can you look into my soul and tell me what we had was
Julius tried the same trick on Arlen twice, using pheromones borrowed from his special pet, but it failed. Arlen's mind had grown stronger. "Master Arlen, I-" He gasped, peering around for the weapon he dropped. He gathered himself and quickly dashed for it, but Moon intentionally rolled away, making his attempt useless.'I'll distract him. Run, you fool!' Sephire screamed, right before leaving Zariah's body.“Sephire, don’t!” Julius watched in horror as his guardian opposed his maker.Sephire, unbothered by the consequences, did not hold back. Arlen caught her by the neck. "There is nowhere to run," he said, sinking his hand into her skin.Julius felt the impact of losing one of his demons. He slumped in a corner, trying to salvage his last strength. Even then, he could not take his eyes off Sephire. For once he got a better glimpse of the woman whispering into his ears. Her maniacally soothing voice was befitting of her frame. Despite the scales covering half of her face, Julius sa