☉NAIDA The rumble of thunder jolted me out of my daze. I straightened up, clenching my thighs against the persistent throb of need that had plagued me for days now. It was useless, nothing could abate the rising desire and lust writhing under my skin. The Alpha king was sinfully gorgeous, that was common knowledge, but thoughts of him had me feeling things that were completely out of place. I had only run into him twice, and the second time, he was some demon trying to fuck me in the dark catacombs. My breasts were heavy with twisted arousal, nipples hard and aching with each brush against the fabric of my maid dress. Something had to be really wrong with me if that was what I was attracted to. I had been able to shove these inappropriate sensations away for some time, but recently, they took over my thoughts, my dreams, my every breath. It was only made worse by the suspicion, that I might be experiencing my first rut. It was impossible for a human, but not for a werewolf
☉NAIDA Their yells of outrage echoed down the hallway, but my eyes were strained on the door to the room, my safe haven. I was running so fast that I barely stopped in time when I saw the door hanging wide open. “Are you sure you're not trying to play smart with me, young woman!” Freya's voice boomed out of the room, “Who has been staying on that empty bed?!” “No one else but me, Headmaid,” Eolia answered calmly, “I must apologize for my greed, sometimes the other bed is cooler so I lay there.” Oh no. I clung to the wall, peeking in. Freya, and some poor maid she wrangled as her assistant, stood in the middle of the room. Eolia, Mother bless her, had hidden everything that might betray my presence, away, leaving only her belongings all over the room. Still, Freya was not particularly convinced. She picked something up from the bed, holding it up to Eolia's face. She snarled, “Who owns this hair strand?! Its color is lighter than yours!” What? She had to be a curse upon m
◉NAIDA Nausea bubbled up inside me, and I was waiting to feel that rage. The one that lit me up in flames and burned five full-blooded men. There was nothing. Nothing but the cold embrace of dread, fear, and panic. I was helpless. It only seemed like a few heartbeats before two royal guards appeared from the corner, pushing and cursing at Eolia. She did not look panicked, just calm. She did not plead for herself, struggle with the guards, or curse them for manhandling her. However, that changed the moment our eyes met across the distance. Worry took over her features and genuine sadness. I had never felt more guilty in my entire twenty-three years of existence. She had helped me, and now her life was ruined. Just like the old witch who got her throat slit by the Ivorythorn guards. Everyone who helped me… got nothing but misery in return. “Guards! Throw them out of the castle gates! I want to taste their shame and humiliation! Every swine and traitor who has eyes will see
☉NAIDA Vicious whispers followed me. “The Alpha King picked her himself.” “She was nothing but an imposter. If witches were not extinct, I would think she was one. She must have bewitched him.” “She’s not even special. Nothing but a pretty face. I hope he gets tired of her soon.” “Of course, he will. He never takes mistresses. I heard he rejected even the most exotic and foreign beauties brought to his chambers. She's a mere peasant, lower than a slave, she snuck into the palace for the goddess' sake. She's nothing. Below us, even.” I kept my head high and face forward, as I hurried after the Headmaid. I had to appear calm and unaffected by the whispers, even if I was screaming and panicking on the inside. Beads of sweat rolled down my spine, because the events of today had my head reeling. “Naida,” Eolia whispered. I looked at her. She smiled at the panic on my face. “Relax. The worst is over. The king won't be cruel to you, you'll be okay.” I nodded, trying my hardes
☉NAIDA A single candle flared to life. It illuminated the royal chambers, as I made my way in. I had not really seen anything the last time I was here, but now, I could make out as far as the candlelight allowed me. The headmaid had knocked a thousand rules into my head, whispered a thousand tips and specifics into my ears, and gave me a detailed mental map of the royal chambers. “No mistakes or I'll have your head.” She had said as a way of encouragement. Someday, I might grow fond of that old wench. The royal chambers had six varying, cavernous rooms, all differently built and molded to suit the Alpha King's tastes. The first room, which I stood in, was bathed in the golden light from the flame. On the far window, the dark blinds were half-open, allowing just a few rays of illuminating moonlight. I paused, eyes widening in awe. It was like the night I arrived in Ravthorn. The riches, the wealth, the sheer difference in power from the other packs, stumped me. But that had
☉NAIDA “I'd like that.” He answered silkily, running the soapy washcloth down his abs. Goddess curse me. I made my way forward to grab more soaps from the shelve. I felt his gaze following me. Kneeling at the edge of the pool, I cleared my throat subtly, waiting for him to move closer so I could reach him. He waded closer, and faced me, waiting. An awkward silence ensued, but that just had to be me. His confidence levels had to be through the roof if he could maintain eye contact with me while literally washing himself. I was ready to evaporate into steam, looking everywhere but at his face, or soaking wet body and I wasn't even the one naked. “Um,” I muttered, “I think it would be more effective if you turned around.” “I’d rather have my eyes on you, Naida. You're interesting,” He said, arching one perfect eyebrow. “Never seen anyone get under Freya's skin as much as you did.” I wasn't sure what that meant, but I blushed all the same. Resigning myself to my fate, I
☉ELDARIEN Lightning flashed along the sky with a crack, illuminating Lorthian's crouched body amid this rubble. Even through the distance, and under the pelting storm, I could scent his tears. I remained in my spot, giving him the privacy he obviously needed. Seeing the wet, charred body in his arms, his newly found mate had really been killed. I remembered how excited he had seemed when he passed the message across to me through the scouts. Despite being mostly a brute, Lorthian had a loving heart, towards family, friends, his pack members, and ultimately, his mate. Now she was dead. It was a familiar yet incomparable sorrow. For me, I knew my mate was out there, yet I could not find her. But for him, he had already found her, only to have her ripped away. Thunder rumbled ahead, releasing more rain which stoned against my skin in vengeance. I peeled my eyes away from my grieving friend and looked around the completely destroyed surroundings. It was a sea of black ash, wit
☉ELDARIEN Thunder boomed ahead, as potent as the sudden tension radiating between us. If he was expecting to provoke me, well, that didn't work. I just stared at him with narrowed eyes as he hurled out as many hurtful things as he could. Then he was heaving, glaring at me like he wasn't sure who to focus his anger on. “You could help me have my revenge,” He snarled. “But I won't bother asking, because you won't. One would think you were part of the Eldermagyn, yourself.” He brushed past me, prowling through the ruins of his pack. I stared ahead, feeling the slow rage simmering under my skin. No, my rage wasn't directed at him. But at the Eldermagyn, because I have hated them for so long. I breathe, eat, and sleep imagining how it would feel to drain the life out of the ageless witch and flay her council of werewolves alive. Lorthian was in deep grief, I could excuse his behavior. A severed mate bond was a terrible thing. Many werewolves never survived the pain. But he would
☉NAIDA Clothes and all, he stepped into the water, and I gasped as the delicious heat of it permeated my clothes and skin. My blush was definitely blinding, considering that my face was hotter than the fireplace itself. He perched me on one of the steps and reached for the washcloth and soap folded to the side. “I—I think… you don't have to do this, Your Majesty—” His look told me everything I needed to know. He lathered up the washcloth and ran it down my arm, washing off the dust over the skin to reveal the ugly purple bruise blooming. His eyes darkened, and for a moment, the damper on his aura slipped, letting out a blast of invisible energy that knocked a few things off a shelf in the corner. “It doesn't hurt that much,” I said quickly, and it was a lie, reaching to take the washcloth from him. “Here, let me do it...” I only succeeded in placing my hand on his. The jolt of attraction that barged through that point of contact made me withdraw instantly. “The water has me
☉NAIDA The royal guard was choking. His eyes were wide and rimmed with red, face slowly turning purple as he clutched at his neck with his free hand. He couldn't understand what was happening, and neither could I, but I knew I was responsible. The ugly hate and terror in my chest had morphed into a pungent and venomous desire to see him dead. The urges were so strong that I reveled in every desperate gasp he made, in a futile attempt to get air into his lungs. But then, using his grip on my arm, he pushed me hard against the wall. The impact was so painful that I gasped, and that mere second cut off my concentration. The air rushed back into his lungs, and he stopped choking. He gulped in as much air as he could, until he was laughing at my shriveled-up form in the dust. “You thought you had a chance of escape?” He grabbed my ankles. “The dungeons seem too far at this point! This alley is as good a place as any!” “No! Stop!” I fought him with everything I had, but that onl
☉NAIDA I gaped at her, a smile forming on my face. I knew exactly who she was talking about. It had to be the kind old man who had saved me from the Ivorythorn guards and smuggled me into Ravthorn in the secret compartment of his perfume carriage. I had to see him again and thank him for his help. I told Eolia about him, and we both hurried our steps to his large store on the less busy side of the market. Only to see a small crowd gathered there, and listen to the cries and wails coming from within. “What's going on here?” Eolia inched forward, pulling me through the crowd. My heart had dropped into the cesspool of dread in my stomach. My tongue tasted bitter, a chill taking over my skin. Because instinctively, I knew what had happened here. I had been exposed to death one too many times, that the smell and taste of it were now familiar to my senses. We finally broke through to the front of the crowd and saw what they were gathered around. On a wooden cart, an old man lay
☉NAIDA “He's so—! He knows what he's doing, I'm telling you, Eolia!” I huffed, biting into the fruit bread in my hands. “Or that's just what comes with the position of being his personal maid, Naida. You are sure to see him in various forms of undress.” She laughed softly, holding on to the poles of the open carriage we were riding in. “Many maids would kill for such an opportunity, why are you complaining?” I sighed. She wouldn't understand, after all, other maids barely set eyes on the king. They had no idea what he was like. I did too, but with every second spent in his presence, I uncovered new sides of him. Like the incredible sensuality that roiled off him in thick waves. He was sex personified. Hybrid or not, he was a sexual being. And as a sex-crazed maiden, desperately trying to remain under control, it was torment to be around him. It was unbelievable how he had no mistresses or whores lounging around his chambers for his sole pleasure. After that particularly in
☉NAIDA He got up from his seat and prowled towards me. I remained in my curtsey, staring at the floor with wide eyes. “Rise,” He said gently. I hesitated, because he was standing so close. I was scared that I would unravel if I gazed up at him, give in to my forbidden urges. But he made the decision for me. His finger hooked under my chin and lifted my face. “What's your full name?” “Naida Ashryver.” He was so close, so warm, and the sweet scent of wine clung to him. My eyes were locked to his, and it burned, burned, burned just to behold his magnificence up close. “Naida Ashryver,” He repeated, my name sounding so silky and sensual on his tongue. “Whatever it is that plagues you in your nightmares, it can't reach you here. You're safe.” He was so solid. So strong, like I could melt into him and forget about everything else. But that was not my place. “Thank you for your concern, my king.” I stepped away from him. “Good night.” 🀫🀆🀫 I could not sleep for the rest of
☉NAIDA I was in a pool of blood, in utter darkness. The floor gave out under me, and my entire body sank into the blood. I screamed so hard my lungs bled, scratching the surrounding floors for anchor, as cold hands dragged me deeper into the blood. I kicked, but the blood around my legs felt like quicksand, devouring me faster the harder I struggled. I was trapped. The cold hands climbed higher up my legs, and something began to emerge from the pool of blood. Alpha Cassian, with his dead green eyes, and a knife lodged in his heart. My body flung itself into a sitting position, with a strangled scream shattering the tranquility of the cool night. I curled my legs closer to my body, panting and shivering off the goosebumps from the nightmare. Only after a couple of moments, did I realize that I was curled in a cocoon of soft furs and cool black sheets that felt like heaven. I blinked through the darkness, with the only source of light coming from the rays of moonlight filterin
☉ELDARIEN Thunder boomed ahead, as potent as the sudden tension radiating between us. If he was expecting to provoke me, well, that didn't work. I just stared at him with narrowed eyes as he hurled out as many hurtful things as he could. Then he was heaving, glaring at me like he wasn't sure who to focus his anger on. “You could help me have my revenge,” He snarled. “But I won't bother asking, because you won't. One would think you were part of the Eldermagyn, yourself.” He brushed past me, prowling through the ruins of his pack. I stared ahead, feeling the slow rage simmering under my skin. No, my rage wasn't directed at him. But at the Eldermagyn, because I have hated them for so long. I breathe, eat, and sleep imagining how it would feel to drain the life out of the ageless witch and flay her council of werewolves alive. Lorthian was in deep grief, I could excuse his behavior. A severed mate bond was a terrible thing. Many werewolves never survived the pain. But he would
☉ELDARIEN Lightning flashed along the sky with a crack, illuminating Lorthian's crouched body amid this rubble. Even through the distance, and under the pelting storm, I could scent his tears. I remained in my spot, giving him the privacy he obviously needed. Seeing the wet, charred body in his arms, his newly found mate had really been killed. I remembered how excited he had seemed when he passed the message across to me through the scouts. Despite being mostly a brute, Lorthian had a loving heart, towards family, friends, his pack members, and ultimately, his mate. Now she was dead. It was a familiar yet incomparable sorrow. For me, I knew my mate was out there, yet I could not find her. But for him, he had already found her, only to have her ripped away. Thunder rumbled ahead, releasing more rain which stoned against my skin in vengeance. I peeled my eyes away from my grieving friend and looked around the completely destroyed surroundings. It was a sea of black ash, wit
☉NAIDA “I'd like that.” He answered silkily, running the soapy washcloth down his abs. Goddess curse me. I made my way forward to grab more soaps from the shelve. I felt his gaze following me. Kneeling at the edge of the pool, I cleared my throat subtly, waiting for him to move closer so I could reach him. He waded closer, and faced me, waiting. An awkward silence ensued, but that just had to be me. His confidence levels had to be through the roof if he could maintain eye contact with me while literally washing himself. I was ready to evaporate into steam, looking everywhere but at his face, or soaking wet body and I wasn't even the one naked. “Um,” I muttered, “I think it would be more effective if you turned around.” “I’d rather have my eyes on you, Naida. You're interesting,” He said, arching one perfect eyebrow. “Never seen anyone get under Freya's skin as much as you did.” I wasn't sure what that meant, but I blushed all the same. Resigning myself to my fate, I