The images slowly faded, leaving me with a lingering ache in my chest. I sat on the bench, my fingers trembling as I tried to steady my breathing. The courtyard, once a place of focus and possibility, now felt like a haze of confusion. My thoughts kept drifting back to the memories—Nyx’s memories—that had invaded my mind.I watched Kael and the others as they trained, their movements fluid and precise. But my attention wasn’t on their sparring; it was on the whispers of a past that didn’t belong to me. The fragments of Nyx’s life, her emotions, her love, her heartbreak—they had seeped into my consciousness, and I needed to know why.I needed to see her spell book again.Pushing myself up from the bench, I crossed the courtyard to where Kael was finishing a sequence. He noticed me approaching, his expression softening as he lowered his stance.“Ares?” he asked, wiping his brow. “Everything alright?”“I need to see Nyx’s spell book,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me
As I traced my fingers over the delicate runes, the warmth beneath my touch deepened, wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. The magic thrummed softly, inviting, as if it recognized me. I let my hand linger on the page, drawn into the intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer in the dim light.Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over me, and my vision blurred. I closed my eyes, the world around me fading into darkness. When I opened them again, I wasn’t in the library anymore.I was standing in a moonlit clearing, the soft rustle of leaves and the chirping of distant crickets filling the air. Before me stood Nyx, her dark hair flowing freely, her eyes alight with joy. She turned, smiling warmly at the figure beside her—Harrison.He was watching her with a tenderness that made my chest ache, his hand entwined with hers. The love between them was palpable, a bond that seemed to glow in the cool night air.“I have a surprise for you,” Nyx said, her voice soft and filled with exci
As Kael and I continued studying the spell book, a soft knock at the door drew our attention. A maid entered, carrying a tray laden with an assortment of dishes—freshly baked bread, roasted vegetables, and a steaming pot of tea. She set the tray on the table with practiced grace, offering a polite bow to Kael.“Lunch is served, my lord,” she said before turning to me with a gentle smile. “Miss.”I nodded, murmuring a quiet “thank you,” but my mind was already spinning. As the maid left, I glanced at the tray, then at Kael. The contrast between our worlds was suddenly stark and undeniable. He was accustomed to this life—fine meals delivered with care—while I had grown up with far less.Kael must have noticed my hesitation because he leaned in, a curious smile tugging at his lips. “What’s on your mind?”I hesitated, then sighed, feeling a little embarrassed. “It’s just… all of this. The food, the service. It’s so different from what I’m used to. I come from a place where meals like this
The Stars never lied, at least they had never lied in Ares experience.For as long as witches had walked the earth, they had looked to the stars for guidance. The heavens, vast and infinite, were believed to be the ultimate map of fate, each constellation a marker on the path laid out for every soul. Witches of old taught that the stars did not merely predict the future—they shaped it, their light weaving through the fabric of time and destiny. They whispered secrets to those who could hear them, offering glimpses of the trials and triumphs to come.Ares had grown up hearing these tales, the idea that her life was written in the stars both a comfort and a burden. She had always been told that while witches could wield immense power, they were ultimately bound by the celestial threads that connected all things. No matter the choices made or the paths taken, fate would always guide them back to where they were meant to be.Lately, Ares couldn’t shake the feeling that she was walking in
Ares and Kael were still sitting at the table, the last of their lunch scattered between empty plates and half-finished cups of tea. The quiet hum of the room had settled over them as they continued discussing the next steps in breaking the curse. Ares was distracted, her thoughts lingering on the warmth of Kael’s presence, the way his eyes met hers when he spoke. But the lingering thoughts of Nyx, of the curse, and of the stars kept trying to pull her focus back to the bigger picture.It wasn’t until a knock on the door interrupted their conversation that Ares snapped back to the present.The knock was soft, almost tentative, but it made her heart skip nonetheless. The door opened slowly, and a maid stepped inside, holding something in her hands that caught Ares’ attention instantly.Her spell book. Why? What happened? Ares’ breath caught in her throat as the maid approached. The sight of the book—the one she had been studying so fervently—brought a rush of confusion and unease. She
Kael opened the book, his fingers turning the pages with a familiar ease, but Ares couldn’t shake the feeling that the words written in that book held more than just spells. There was something deeper in the ink, something that resonated with her, but it wasn’t clear yet. The curse was still looming over them, heavy in the air, and the presence of the book—the one thing she had kept locked away from everyone—made her feel like she was teetering on the edge of something dangerous.As Kael began to read aloud from the pages, his voice steady and focused, Ares found herself unable to concentrate. Her eyes drifted to the edges of the book, her fingers grazing the corners of the pages as though she could feel the weight of Nyx’s past still clinging to it. She couldn’t help but wonder about the noblewoman who had sent the book. What did she want? Why had she intervened in a matter that seemed so personal to Ares?The questions lingered, but she pushed them down, focusing on Kael instead. He
Kael’s steady gaze met hers as she spoke, and for a moment, Ares could see the resolve in his eyes, the quiet determination that had drawn her to him in the first place. But beneath that resolve, she also saw something else—a flicker of concern, a hint of something he wasn’t saying. He didn’t press her, though. He simply nodded, closing the spell book with a soft thud before pushing it aside on the table.“Alright,” Kael said, his voice even. “We’ll take it one step at a time.”Ares wasn’t sure if he truly understood what she was going through—if he knew what it was like to feel the weight of fate pulling at your every move—but for now, she appreciated his calm. It was grounding. She needed that grounding more than ever.She watched him as he gathered a few of the documents they had been working on earlier, his hands moving in practiced motions as he sorted through them. Ares shifted in her seat, her mind still buzzing with everything that had happened in the past few minutes: the str
The hours stretched on as Ares and Kael pored over the spell book, its yellowed pages heavy with the weight of ancient knowledge. The words blurred in Ares’ vision, a jumble of incantations and symbols she couldn’t quite make sense of. She had been so sure that this was the way forward, that breaking the curse would be as simple as deciphering the right spell. But the deeper they dug, the more elusive the answers seemed.Kael sat across from her, a furrow in his brow as he flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning each line with a kind of intensity that made Ares’ chest tighten. His focus was unwavering, but even he was starting to look frustrated. Ares could feel the weight of his frustration, the tension hanging between them like a storm cloud. Each failed attempt to break the curse felt like a personal failure, and the pressure was mounting.Ares leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. The symbols swirled in her mind, and the words of the spell felt more like a riddle tha
Ares lingered in Kael’s arms for a moment longer, the warmth of his embrace grounding her as she tried to steady her thoughts. But as much as she wished she could hold onto the quiet peace between them, Kael pulled back slightly, his expression shifting, more serious now. “Ares,” he began, his voice low and purposeful, “there’s something I need to tell you.” She tilted her head, sensing the change in his tone, a knot of concern settling in her stomach. “What is it?” she asked softly, already fearing the worst. Kael took a slow breath, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of determination and caution. “My scouts—some of them were out near the borders today, watching for any unusual activity. And they reported something strange. There were a few vampires in the area. They didn’t engage, but they were circling the territory. Watching.” Ares felt her heart skip a beat, her pulse quickening as she processed his words. “Vampires?” she echoed, dread creeping into her voice. “What were
Kael hesitated for a moment, his hand still resting gently on the back of her neck as if to keep her close. His gaze softened, and the intensity that had been there just moments before seemed to fade, replaced by something more tender. He looked at her, as if considering how to phrase the words that were on his mind.“I wanted to make sure you were alright,” Kael said, his voice quieter now, almost as if he were testing the truth of the words as they left his mouth. “I know you’ve been through a lot, Ares. And I know the burden you’re carrying isn’t easy to bear. I just—” He paused, his lips pressing together for a brief moment. “I wanted to remind you that you’re not alone in this. That I’m here, and I’ll be here no matter what happens.”Ares felt the sincerity in his words, and her heart warmed with the truth of them. The weight of the world seemed a little lighter now, knowing that Kael’s presence was a constant she could rely on. Despite all the fear, the uncertainty, and the curs
Ares gazed up at Kael, her heart racing in her chest, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She could feel the warmth of his touch lingering on her face, a silent reassurance that made her feel both safe and terrified at the same time. There was something raw about the connection between them, something she hadn’t fully understood before but now seemed impossible to ignore. It was as if their fates were intertwined, the very air between them charged with a force neither of them could escape.“I…” Ares began, but the words failed her. She opened her mouth again, trying to find the right thing to say, but she couldn’t. Her heart pounded, and her thoughts were tangled in a mess of fear and desire. What was this? How could she possibly navigate the weight of this moment when every part of her felt like it was on the verge of breaking?Kael’s thumb continued to trace gentle circles on her cheek, grounding her in the moment, pulling her focus back to him. She could see the sincerit
Ares stepped out of her room, the cool air of the hallway hitting her with a shiver. The shadows seemed to stretch longer than they should, and the silence felt heavy around her, as though the house itself was holding its breath. She hesitated for a moment, her hand lingering on the doorframe. It was almost as if she could feel the weight of her uncertainty hanging in the air, a tangible force pulling at her chest.She took a deep breath and pushed forward, her footsteps echoing softly in the hallway. The castle was eerily quiet at this hour, the servants no longer bustling about, the usual chatter and clattering of dishes replaced by a stillness that made her feel even more isolated.Kael. The thought of him brought both warmth and a pang of fear. Was he really waiting for her in the study? Or was it just another part of the nightmare she had woken from? What would he say to her now that she felt so fragile, so full of doubt?The closer she got to the study, the more her nerves seeme
Ares woke with a sharp gasp, her heart racing, eyes wide in the dimly lit room. The lingering shadows of her nightmare clung to her, vivid and raw. She could still feel Nyx’s mocking voice, the cold, cutting words. Kael’s rejection echoed in her mind like a haunting refrain.She sat up quickly, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she looked around the room, her heart pounding harder with every passing second. The sheets around her were tangled, as though she had been thrashing in her sleep. But Kael was nowhere to be found.Her hands trembled as she reached for the side of the bed, her mind spinning. He’s not here.Her stomach twisted at the thought, the sudden loneliness pressing down on her chest. She had felt his warmth just hours ago, his arms around her offering comfort and a promise of safety. But now, in the cold silence of the room, it felt as though that reassurance had been a fleeting dream, a fleeting moment of peace she couldn’t hold on to.Ares swung her legs over the s
The darkness of the night was thick, oppressive, and Ares tossed and turned beneath the covers, the sheets tangled around her body as she fought against the pressure closing in on her chest. Her dreams were no longer peaceful; they had become something darker, more twisted. Tonight, it felt different—heavier.She found herself standing in a vast, empty void, an eerie, suffocating silence surrounding her. The air was thick with magic, but not the kind she was familiar with—this was darker, malevolent. As she took a step forward, she saw her reflection in the stillness, but it wasn’t her. It was Nyx. Her face, her eyes—everything about her was a perfect mimicry, yet Ares could feel the coldness emanating from the image.Nyx smiled, but it was empty, chilling. “You think you can escape your fate?” she asked, her voice smooth, almost seductive. “Your body will be mine soon enough, just like it was always meant to be. The bloodline will fall. The Alpha King’s reign will end with your hands
Ares moved toward the bed, her body aching with exhaustion. The soft rustle of her nightdress against her skin was the only sound in the otherwise quiet room. She reached for the edge of the blankets, about to pull them back and finally rest her weary body when something caught her eye.A small, folded piece of parchment was lying on the floor next to the bed, as if it had been slipped under the door without her noticing. The paper was pristine, its edges sharp and unruffled. It seemed out of place, too deliberate in its positioning. Ares frowned, her heart suddenly picking up pace.She bent down and picked it up, her fingers brushing against the paper’s smooth surface. Without thinking, she unfolded the note, her eyes scanning the words written in sharp, black ink.“Stay away from Kael. He is not yours to claim.”A chill ran down her spine, and the words seemed to blur for a moment, the weight of them settling heavily in her chest. She read the rest of the note:“You are trying to st
The light from the flickering candles cast a soft, warm glow over the room, but to Ares, the shadows seemed to stretch longer with every passing minute. Her eyes were heavy, her mind thick with the swirling weight of the day’s failures. She could barely keep her focus on the pages in front of her anymore. Each word seemed to blur together, and her body felt like it was shutting down, unable to keep up with the mental and emotional strain.Kael, too, was showing signs of exhaustion. His normally sharp eyes were clouded with fatigue, his shoulders slightly hunched as he leaned over the spell book, his focus wavering. He had been silent for the past few minutes, and Ares had noticed the subtle tension in his movements—his fingers tapping lightly on the book’s edge, his breathing just a little more shallow.Finally, Kael let out a soft sigh and closed the book, the finality of the motion lingering in the air. “I think we’ve hit a wall for today,” he said, his voice low but gentle. His han
The hours stretched on as Ares and Kael pored over the spell book, its yellowed pages heavy with the weight of ancient knowledge. The words blurred in Ares’ vision, a jumble of incantations and symbols she couldn’t quite make sense of. She had been so sure that this was the way forward, that breaking the curse would be as simple as deciphering the right spell. But the deeper they dug, the more elusive the answers seemed.Kael sat across from her, a furrow in his brow as he flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning each line with a kind of intensity that made Ares’ chest tighten. His focus was unwavering, but even he was starting to look frustrated. Ares could feel the weight of his frustration, the tension hanging between them like a storm cloud. Each failed attempt to break the curse felt like a personal failure, and the pressure was mounting.Ares leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. The symbols swirled in her mind, and the words of the spell felt more like a riddle tha