☉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 “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 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 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 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 I heard the drums first. The sounds of celebration filtering in from the windows set off a splitting headache between my temples. Groaning, I peeled my eyes open, realizing that my entire body was aching. The room was dim, and it took a few blinks to get accustomed to the fact that meager rays of moonlight were the only source of light in here. I tried to sit up and realized that I was holding something solid. My head felt so hazy, coupled with the headache, so I was too disoriented to even realize what it was. A metallic smell hung heavily around me like a shroud and it intensified with each passing second. Then it finally clicked. It was blood. “W-what…?” I croaked, bringing my hands closer to my face. There was blood coating my skin, and a large, sharp knife wrapped within my fingers, caked with blood. My heart pounded, as I looked around me, noticing that there was blood… everywhere. All over the floor, congealed, darkened pools of it… and to my horror, my eye
☉NAIDA A warm hand touched my freezing skin, and I jolted out of my stupor, cowering away, only for my entire body to seize in pain. I whimpered, swiping blindly at whoever was trying to touch me. “Shh. Shh.” A womanly voice whispered. “I'm here to get you out of here. I need you to be quiet.” She was holding a dim lamp, the flame obscured by the big black cloak she had on. I squinted at her, my eyes already used to the paralyzing darkness of the dungeon so even that tiny flame was too bright. “You're freezing, poor girl.” She held my arm, trying to help me up. “Come with me. We don't have much time, your execution is in a few hours. You can't be here when the guards return.” It took a moment for me to realize who it was. “Nuala?” I croaked weakly. “H-how did you get in here—” “You can ask your questions later, girl. Now, get up.” She sounded more stern, forcing me to my cramped feet. I groaned, quickly biting my lip to keep any more sounds of agony from escaping. I mu
☉NAIDAScreams echoed through my head, coupled with distorted images of Alpha Cassian. First, it was his flashy smile, illuminated by the moonlight. Then it was a bloodied face with the skin peeled right off. The peeled skin lay at my feet, with a dripping knife in my other hand. The next image that filled my vision was Cassian's lifeless green eyes, with blood flowing out of them. Execute her! It was Nysa's voice, so warped and guttural, with a barrage of screams, roars, and bloody flashes that jolted me awake. I sat up from the bed of hay I was curled in, gasping and clenching my heart. It was pounding so hard that the sounds were deafening against the silence of the night. I looked around the small cottage, trembling and trying to calm myself. The old witch was lying in her bed, seemingly fast asleep but it was hard to tell. I had spent two days with her, and realized that she led a very weird lifestyle, sleeping at odd times and staring into
☉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