CILLIAN'S POV
I couldn't believe Rosalind was here in my quarters. She sat at the edge of my couch looking like she felt out of place.
"I apologise for my brother. He can be a handful sometimes."
But personally, I felt she belonged here. And if I would have it, I would keep her here with me safe and sound.
She averted her gaze from mine. "It was nothing, Prince Cillian. I am a mere omega to his royal lineage. He can treat me however he pleases."
The words sparked even more anger within me. It wasn't like she had said anything wrong. It was the law.
We were the higher authorities in this kingdom but the thought that Killian could treat Rosalind however he felt sat ill with me. For a mere mistake, he had wanted to kill her. A world without Rosalind wasn't possible.
"No, he can not."
"Prince Cillian?" Rosalind seemed puzzled.
"I will not allow anyone to treat you less than you are worth, Melody." My words became a growl and once more that day, my wolf fought to rise to the surface.
There was something about Rosalind that made him want to give her the best he could and protect her from those who wished to hurt her including my brother.
"No," Rosalind seemed disturbed. "You cannot pick a fight with your brother for my sake. It is not right. I would not feel good about that. Both of you are flesh and blood."
I was dazzled by her kindness. If only she knew things weren't that simple with Killian and that it didn't feel that way. Sometimes looking at his face which was a replica of mine felt like a betrayal.
"How can you still want to preserve our relationship? He tried to kill you."
If I hadn't come in time… I shuddered to think what he would have done to her.
"But he didn't," Rosalind said emphatically. Then she looked away as though she had done something wrong.
"He had no way of knowing. It was my fault. I should have asked for your name when you told me to come to the palace. Then I wouldn't have gone to the wrong Prince and riled him up."
"Rosalind."
She had done nothing wrong. I didn't think it was possible for her to do anything wrong.
Her alluring blue eyes rose to meet mine. "Please forget this. For my sake."
"Rosalind. You are a good person."
She had not tried to put a rift between me and Killian. Killian felt she gas dubious motives meanwhile she was trying her best to convince me of his
"You honour me, Prince Cillian." Her cheeks coloured, the blush spreading all the way down to her neck.
My eyes tracked the redness hungrily as I suddenly realised we were alone. I wanted her to call me by my name. I wanted to teach my lips across her soft skin and watch her blush for my touch alone.
I looked away from her beautiful innocent face with her thick-rimmed lashes and pouty kissable lips.
Cillian, focus.
"How is your sibling? Did you get something for him with the money?"
Her smile suddenly dimmed and her blush disappeared.
"Some. But most of the money was used on the transport here."
I was a fool. An idiot. I had acted like an absolute prick. How could I have forgotten the cost of travel simply because I could just hop in a car and be wherever I wanted.
I should have sent the driver to pick her up.
Rosalind seemed to blink back tears as she spoke.
"I felt the job would be worth the expense. We would finally be able to afford Bast's treatment. But at this point, I just want to return home." She forced on a tight smile. "Please can you help me arrange a suitable means of transport?"
"Then what will you do?"
She shrugged helplessly.
"Live my life the same way I have all these years. By finding work and doing it."
"And Bast?" He must be her sibling.
Tears filled her eyes but she didn't let them fall as she gave a brave smile.
"We will treasure the little time we have left with each other."
This was disastrous. In trying to help her, I had put her in even more trouble.
I sat next to her on the couch and took her hand in mine. She looked at me, her eyes wide.
"I'm sorry you went through all this because of me. I gave you hope of a better life but all I did was put your life in danger."
"No, Prince Cillian don't say that." She shook her head. And placed her second hand over mine. "Twice now you have saved my life. I could never repay you."
"You don't need to. I don't want you to."
Somehow we were already sitting extremely close. I leaned in and even if her eyes widened imperceptibly, she remained still. Very still.
I stroked her chin and her eyes fell close. We were sharing a breath and our lips were only about an inch apart. I dropped a kiss on her cheek and I felt her hand tightened in mine.
"I need to get going." She whispered hotly but she didn't move.
I dropped another kiss on her jawline. And another on her nape. I felt her breathing change but it could have been mine. I was losing control. My wolf wanted to bite down on her neck so that everyone knew she was ours.
I needed her desperately. I needed more of whatever this was. I hadn't even known her for up to forty-eight hours. The depth of my feelings in such a short time scared me.
I stood quickly. Rosalind looked surprised then she looked away as well.
Maybe it was better if she left. If she stayed I might be unable to control myself around him. I could mark her and it could prove dangerous.
If I were a normal person perhaps we could have been something more but I was a prince. They would never accept someone from the district as my mate. If I forced it, she would have had a terrible 'accident' the second I left her alone.
Politics was dirty. I couldn't bring her into something like this, yet…
Rosalind stood up on unsteady legs.
I would have loved to believe it was from my kisses but she was probably tired from all the travels she had made today and an almost-death situation.
"Could I do anything to convince you to stop?" I asked desperately. "If I offered to pay for the treatment of your sibling, would you think of taking on the job again?"
"The job?" She asked with an edge of confusion.
"The one you came here for."
"Prince Cillian, I don't understand how the both of them correlate. You know I don't take freebies. My brother's treatment would cost a lot of silver, probably even gold. I can't collect much from you. From anyone."
"That's why I asked you to take the job. You will get food, a roof to sleep under and with your every paycheck you will pay me back for Bast's treatment."
Cillian, let her go. This cannot end well. I tried to caution myself. If we couldn't stay alone in a room together without keeping our hands off each other then in months of working here…
Rosalind's voice tore me out of my musings.
"But Prince Killian…"
She was right to be bothered. Killian never forgot a grudge. I was almost certain that our current animosity was in a way related to the little mistake I had made as a child of mistakenly pushing him into the palace pool.
"Let my brother be my responsibility," I said persuasively. I would do and say anything to make her stay. To make her life easier. "But if I were to take care of that would you stay?"
She hesitated and then looked at me, uncertainty shining in her eyes.
"Yes."
She was trusting me to keep my word. To keep her and her sibling safe. Then I would do whatever it took to keep her safe. Even standing against my twin.
*******
Immediately after she left, I was in Killian's hall.
"Cillian." He said gruffly, probably still angry that I hadn't let him execute Rosalind.
"I am done with putting up your selfish and cruel ways. I hoped that in time we could become brothers in truth but with every passing day, you have proven that will always remain a dream."
Killian moved a piece of tile in the strategy game he always played with himself. He never invited anyone to sit with him. No one was smart enough, he would joke snidely.
"So? I never asked you to live in your dreams. You have always been a weak-minded person. That isn't my fault, little brother."
He had come out barely a second before me but he never failed to call me 'little brother' whenever he felt I was being particularly stupid.
"Rosalind will live here with us." As a servant but that was beside the point. "And if you mistreat her or touch one lock of hair on her head, I will forget we are brothers and I will unseat you from this throne that you don't deserve."
I had never seen Killian surprised but it flickered across his face before it disappeared.
Then he laughed.
"Why little brother, you are growing up. You almost scared me."
He stood up and met me where I stood.
"I can't wait to see what you do."
Rosalind's POVI couldn't believe that I was now working in the palace. Prince Cillian has ordered his driver to bring Bast in from the districts and though I had to speak with him using Prince Cillian's phone, to get him to come out, he had. Prince Cillian had then taken both of us to the specialist and I was in awe of the place. Bastien had just watched everything with wide eyes and when we were alone he looked at me with wide eyes. "What do you think about all this?" It was such a sudden change and he would be admitted here for the treatment. I didn't want him to be in an unfamiliar place that made him anxious."All of this looks so cool," He hesitated. "Can we afford this?"Bastien was so sensible for a child. I smiled and took his hand. "The prince can and he wants to help us."Bastien looked thoughtful."The prince seems nice, does he like you?"I was appalled. What if Prince Cillian heard?"Bast!""It's just… he is doing a lot for us. What is he getting out of it?"It was
Rosalind's POVHe looked almost as surprised as I was to see him. Almost. Why was it raining princes today? At this time?Did they have nothing to do apart from wondering about looking hot to fluster unprepared girls like myself?"You work here now?" Prince Killian's voice was gravelly and slightly deeper than Prince Cillian's. I scrambled to my feet feeling surprisingly prone in my sprawled position. "Yes, Prince Killian."I felt his gaze rake down my body unashamedly and I was surprised to feel my body trembling ever so slightly in reaction to this. What was going on with me? Was I…was I attracted to Prince Killian?His next words broke whatever spell his sudden appearance had cast on me. "You must be exceptional in bed for you to have gotten the attention of a prince so easily and quickly."Right, he was an asshole. How had I forgotten? It was probably something about seeing him in riding gear that had almost all of his chest bare. He stepped so close to me that I perceived hi
Rosalind's POV.The next day was unique as no one in the kitchen apart from Somei met my gaze. Umi and Gladheart were no longer in their corner. In fact, I couldn't see them at all.Somei took me to the section that dealt with deliveries at the edge of the kitchen. "You will work under Mia and Theresa from now on."I think those were the only words Somei said to me that entire day. Come to think of it, the entire kitchen was more silent than usual. Was it because of what Prince Cillian had done the day before?I smiled brightly at the new workers."Good day, I'm supposed to work under you."They ignored me then suddenly a tray was shoved in my hand. "Guard quarters, room twelve.""What?"It turns out it was a location. My new job was easy. Mia and Theresa would get trays together and once they were done with that, I was called to make the delivery. That was how the day went. I delivered so much food that my legs hurt. My partners didn't speak to me as I did all this. I also had to
Rosalind's POVWhen I returned to the kitchens, I was still rattled by what Prince Killian had just told me. So much so that it wasn't until Somei asked me the question for the second time that I heard her. Her voice was uncharacteristically harsh. "Where were you?" "I was making a delivery.""To the wrong room." She looked at me from head to toe and I suddenly patted my hair realizing how bedraggled I must look. My low ponytail was scattered from Prince Killian's fingers and my clothes weren't any better. "You must think because you know Prince Cillian you are above the law here but that isn't how it goes. You can't just slack off and go to your room to rest whenever you are tired."Thank goodness she thought that was what I had been doing. If she knew the truth about what I had been doing during work hours then…"Somei, I'm truly sorry and–"She interrupted my apology before I was finished, her face a mask of annoyance and indifference. "You will work for an extra hour after ev
Rosalind's POV. "Does it hurt?" I looked at Prince Cillian who was using ice on my partly swollen face. I couldn't believe he had been on his way to see me when he had intercepted the assault.I wondered what he had come to see me for so late then I flushed more. I didn't need to know. I didn't even want to know. He looked so handsome and good-looking this up close that it was dizzying. So dizzying that I didn't respond immediately. His close-shaven jawline was so smooth that it could cut glass and his cheekbones could have been that of a capital model. "Rosalind?" His hazel eyes met mine questioning. I flushed. I had forgotten to answer the question. "No, not really. It's mostly numb." It was. Only dull pricks still came from the area and I resisted the urge to touch it. I would heal fully later tonight or tomorrow morning due to the slow omega healing that I had. Prince Cillian didn't seem to buy my explanation."Then why are you wincing?"I'm not wincing. I'm trying to mov
Rosalind's POVIn case you were wondering, I slept in the bed after blushing for what felt like hours. Even though I had been reluctant about using the bed I was surprisingly comfortable and I had fallen asleep immediately my head touched the pillow as the stress of the day caught up with me.I had slept so deeply that Prince Cillian had gotten dressed, had a shower and even served me breakfast in bed. It was the scent of the food that had woken me up. "Prince Cillian."It was surreal. I was the one meant to be serving him but he was the one serving me.His hazel eyes sparkled with warmth and I was glad to see he didn't hold a grudge about last night. "Rosalind, good morning. I hope you had a good night's rest?""Good morning, I did." On his very comfortable bed, he had given up for me. Battling the warmness in my chest, I turned to leave the bed. "Thank you Prince Cillian for the breakfast and the bed but It's already late, I need to get to the kitchens." He caught my arm. "You
KILLIAN'S POV"Get lost."Her beautiful blue eyes widened with surprise as though she had been expecting something other than what I had told her. She lowered her gaze and bowed before leaving. I watched her against my will. She was irritating, aggravating, annoying and yet… yet there was just something about her that triggered me and my wolf.I went to get changed. The meeting had gone on for far longer than I thought it would. The council had seemed more on edge for some reason. I wondered what I was missing.I heard a knock on my door then Talon stepped in. He was my second and my most trusted person. As much as I trusted anyone really. I pulled on my shirt. "Have you delivered my warning?""Yes, Prince Killian. No one will touch her from now onwards.""Good."I had intended to send the girl out of our lives by making life difficult for her. After all, she was here to make her life easier by shacking up with Cillian. I did not doubt that she had given some sob story and convinc
Rosalind's POVIf I saw one more underwear, I would lose it.I had been cleaning for almost one full week now and Riara was still good to me. She didn't make my life difficult even if she was strict about whatever work I did for her. Prince Cillian was still teaching me and I had proven to be an adept learner. In two weeks max, I would be able to take in my assistant duties fully.And while Prince Cillian and I still had one or two heated moments, like the time when I had fallen off a chair while trying to shelve something and he had caught me bridal style and instead of him dropping me, we had stayed suspended staring at each other and when he had finally dropped me, the movement of his hand over my body had undone me so much that I needed the entire afternoon to cool down. We have stayed strong and we weren't letting our emotions get the better of us. Life was good which was why Prince Killian had to ruin it naturally because Goddess forbid I have a breather. It was like every o
ROSALIND'S POV"I will not stand by this." This is just not…Councilman Arthur was saying."This is not just what, Arthur? Spit it out." Killian dared. His eyes flashing menacingly at the older man.Arthur shook his head and sat back down. He glared at the high priestess who had her normal expressionless look on. He faced the elders.They too were short of words. "I love Rosalind, she is my mate and I will marry her." Cillian said unexpectedly and for a second, I thought I would scream out. My legs shook at those words. His sheer determination alone was so sexy.Cillian held my hand in his as a way of showing that no decision made there would stop him from doing what he wanted. I almost melted from his warm touch. It took everything in me to still keep my composure and just smile when he looked at me lovingly.Killian stepped forward as well.Dear Councilman, Rosalind is betrothed to me so there's not really much you can do. I intend to marry her and I will. Not just because she won
CILLIAN'S POV She looked at me with hatred in her eyes when I walked in but said nothing.Her chains rattled. She was muttering something under her breath, a spell. But the chains neutralized everything. "What do you want?" She asked.I looked at her, at the chains and then at her palm. Suspicions were correct. I had seen the same mark on Rosa's palm earlier. A mark that appeared after she was taken by the rogues.I bent and grabbed Estella's hand."What are you…?"I brought out the silver dagger and slashed at the black mark in her palm.She winced in pain and cursed me but she was still in chains. Nothing happened. There were drops of blue blood before red blood oozed from the wound.I gave her a towel to stop the bleeding "Your days are numbered." I said.And without another word, I left the dungeon.ESTELLA'S POVThe pain from that silver cut still stung even after he left. He had broken the magical bond I formed with Rosalind to siphon her powers. I was so angry. How did he k
CILLIAN'S POVAfter some time, the sapphire stopped glowing but it was already confirmed. Rosalind was one of them. I didn't know exactly how I was feeling. The elders were all looking at me, waiting for my input on what to do next.The law was clear. Wolves with magic were abominations, they were unstable, unpredictable and very dangerous. They always went rogue. They were threats. But this was Rosalind, my Rosalind. She couldn't hurt a fly. How the hell did she have magic and I didn't know all this time? I didn't sense it or anything. Was I that blind or did she just hide it so well?So many questions were floating in my mind. It was a mix of pain, betrayal, helplessness and anger. I did not know what to do. Rosalind stood before us with the now normal looking sapphire on the table, waiting for me to say something. The elders were still murmuring and having side talks.Councilman Arthur cleared his throat and decorum returned. I knew that whatever he was going to say would not be i
ESTELLA'S POVI was bound in silver chains, I couldn't save myself, couldn't defend myself against these pigs, I could do absolutely nothing as I stood before people eager for me to die. I had never been more powerless in my entire life.But I knew what to do. The key was the princess that they loved. The prophesied link. Irony and poetry mixed in one. It was so ironic that I didn't even know when I burst out laughing until I noticed that the noise had died down completely.My laughter usually had that effect on others. But to think of it, I was going to die but my niece whose magic I siphoned to do the things I did, gets to just watch and do nothing?That was insane. They needed to know how powerful she was. It was time for these pigs to know the real truth. It was time for them to hear it.I stole a glance at the prince. All the blood had disappeared from his face, his eyes were wide open, staring at me in disbelief. He would never believe me. I had to keep speaking. I was going to
KILLIAN'S POVI didn't remember much from what happened before I got to the hospital.I had felt someone by my side throughout the period when I was unconscious, taking care of me, humming to themselves. Always quiet and caring. It was all a bit weird, I knew I was unconscious, and I knew I had to wake up, I just didn't seem to have enough strength to do so. I could feel people around me and I could vaguely hear what was going on around, like conversations and monitor beeps and footsteps. My wolf could detect people's presence but it just couldn't jolt me up.I tried everyday for what seemed like eternity but I couldn't, so I did the only thing I could;Wait.The time spent waiting gave me an avenue to think, to go through everything that had happened over and over again, to spend time with myself and try to see something I hadn't been able to before.I had tried to replay the events of the fight in my head but most of the time, it was all blurry and unclear. My own thoughts and memo
CILLIAN'S POVI watched Killian fall face down. There was blood, and he wasn't moving.My chest caught fire and I went full primal again. The rage I felt was like none other. I combed through the enemies, crushing them in numbers. Estella was my target but she was surrounded by too many people.She opened a portal and disappeared into it. Oh no you don't. I leapt over the crowd and chased after her but the portal was already closing slowly. The witches swamped around me, attacking from all angles. Casting spells and poking me with weapons. My necklace glowed brighter and brighter.I couldn't take it anymore. I roared with everything in me and I felt a great surge of energy encapsulate me and then…Boom.There was a big blast. When I looked around, all the rogues were on the ground. Dead.I ran to that portal, it was almost closed but I could still get in.I turned and saw Killian, still in the same position and not moving. I looked at the portal again, and I jumped in. I grabbed the
KILLIAN’S POV“This is wrong, your highnesses, you cannot lead a war from the frontlines. It is never done. As the only offsprings of your father, you are the heirs to the throne. It is just too risky!”Councilman Gordon kept on whining like a baby.“And if we refuse to heed your advice, are any of you going to stop us from fighting for our pack?”The silent murmurs came to a stop. The councilmen in the Great Hall, devoured by their selfish interests, were looking for a way to stop Cillian and I from leading the battle. Typical fools.“My prince, you just need to understand,” Arthur began in his sweet tongue.“I know that both of you are seasoned warriors and your prowess remains a thing of awe in Southern Paw, your father made sure of that. But if anything should happen to the heirs of the throne while fighting, even for the right cause, it will pose an enormous problem for the pack. That is what my councilmen are looking to avoid. Unless maybe one of you has a child that we are not
CILLIAN’S POVI sat at the council meeting as we deliberated on the next step with the councilmen of the pack. It had been almost two days since Bast was taken and up till that point, there still had not been any development whatsoever on what to do. I wondered how Rosalind would be feeling. I started to fantasize but shook it off immediately. There were serious matters arising, I needed to focusAcross the long table from me was Killian. He just sat there with a straight face. Probably with his mind already made up for what he was going to do when the time was right. “...But they could harm the little boy, it's risky.” I heard Councilman Gabe say. Probably a reply to someone's comment. I was not paying full attention, my mind also was troubled with thoughts of what the high priestess had said before. Many things didn't make sense at this point.“That's true. Although it could just be a bluff, these creatures still have to be taken care of nonetheless.” Said Councilman Arthur.I coul
ESTELLA’S POVI was back in my chambers after going for a walk when a visitor was announced to. I told the guard to let them come in and shortly, to my surprise, Malia walked into the living room.The guard refused to let her come in with her staff at first, but she was adamant, classic Malia.I waved to him that it was okay and he reluctantly let her in and left us alone.“I've come to talk, Estella.” She said, without much expression on her face.“How long has it been since you last visited, old friend? Twenty five, twenty seven years.” “I believe it's been about thirty years. You have set up the place quite nicely.” She commented, looking around.“I see you still wear your bracelet all the same and…”“I have come to talk, Estella.” She said cutting me short.“Not small talk, but real talk.”“Oh Malia. Always so uptight. When was the last time.you did anything fun, like a party or even sex?”She stared at me with a strange expression and continued;“What happened in Southern Paw wa