Today's update arrived earlier. I was awake early because baby girl has developed a routine of waking up at 5 a.m. to tug at my eyelashes, ensuring I wake up too. Thanks to her, I promptly began working on my books after attending to her morning needs. Also, thank you all for your kind words yesterday. I am feeling much better today. :)
Luca quickly snatched up another robe to wrap around himself before hurrying after Zavian, who had already turned and started striding with grim purpose toward the immense central building where the high council's meeting was taking place.A hush fell over the courtyard as Zavian passed, every person dropping to one knee and bowing their heads in utter respect and deference for their king whose eyes blazed with an intensity that seemed to scorch the very air around him.Zavian did not so much as spare a glance at his subjects as he stalked by, Luca scurrying to keep up with his master's long strides.When they reached the council hall's towering double doors, two hulking warriors pushed them open, and Zavian swept inside with all the elegance and majesty befitting his noble bloodline.The cavernous chamber fell utterly silent as his eyes turned toward the dais where the high council was seated."Your Majesty!" The gathered lords and ladies rose as one in a reverent chorus of respect fo
A momentary, deafening silence blanketed the grand hall as all eyes turned to Grandma Eva in shock and disbelief. Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined the revered queen mother to be...an abomination."By the gods, what trickery is this?" an elder exclaimed, breaking the stunned hush."She has betrayed us all by practicing foul sorcery!" another council member cried out accusingly.Murmurs quickly escalated into a rumbling cacophony of outrage and disbelief."How could the queen mother practice the forbidden dark arts?""She has consorted with demons! She has defiled our sacred bloodlines!"Luca swiftly used the brief moment of distraction to whisk away the insolent Thomas Bardot before the irate Zavian lost control and killed him. He grabbed the man in a blur of supernatural speed and vanished from the hall.Eva gritted her teeth in annoyance at Zavian for forcing her to expose this long-guarded part of her true nature. Her icy glare could have frozen even the most ha
It's been four days since Emmeline went back to Richard.Today was Saturday.Emmeline donned her new white top and black shorts athletic set that had arrived the previous day. She'd ordered the workout gear online since she rarely had time to go shopping.Pulling on an autumn jacket, she headed for the gym.She was mid-stride on the treadmill when a familiar figure got on the one beside her with his expression unreadable."I thought you'd given up working out," Zavian remarked coolly. "I don't see you at the club much these days."Emmeline glanced around before pointing at herself. "Are you talking to me? You actually know who I am?"Zavian’s upper lip raised in clear exasperation. "Don't be childish now, Emmeline."He tapped the controls, gradually increasing his speed until settling into a brisk pace. The effort of running lent a breathless quality to his deep voice. "We're neighbors across the street, we go to the same gym and pub. We're bound to keep running into each other whethe
Zavian remained stubbornly mute until they reached a deserted hallway. Then he slammed her back against the wall, his solid chest caging her in."I can see your fucking ass, Emmeline," he growled right in her face, eyes blazing with undisguised jealousy and possessiveness. "Do you want every man here hitting on you?"Emmeline held Zavian's gaze with unwavering bravery. His left hand was clamped around her wrist like a vise, while his right fist remained rock-steady against the wall beside her head from the force of his earlier punch."By what right do you get to police what I wear, Mr. Blackthorn?" Her tone dripped with defiance.Zavian’s jaw tensed until the cords of muscle protruded starkly. Rage caused his grip on her wrist to tighten viciously, but she refused to wilt before him."You're not in any position to criticize me, no matter how scantily I might dress." Emmeline lifted her chin a stubborn notch. "This is my personal freedom, and I don't appreciate strangers meddling in my
The past two weeks had been absolute torture for Emmeline. Sheer, agonizing torment.Zavian had kept his damn word, staying completely out of her life since that day she'd told him to let her move on.She didn't understand what prompted his uncharacteristic bout of actually listening to her wishes for once. Part of her was impressed he'd had the willpower, but mostly Emmeline felt a constant aching longing for him.Whenever a car passed by her house, she'd drop whatever she was doing and rush to the window, desperately hoping it might be him only to be disappointed time and again. It was pathetic, really, how obsessed she'd become with catching even the briefest glimpse of him.Emmeline always made sure to scan the crowds at the club whenever she went there for her usual workout, frantically searching for his familiar face and tall, powerful frame to no avail. The only time she managed to spot him was when he paused to chat with Taehyung outside his home across the street.It was 2 a.
Emmeline woke up the next morning feeling refreshed like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.She had fallen into a deep, blissful slumber on the library sofa – the first decent rest she'd had in two torturous weeks of tossing and turning with her mind plagued by thoughts of a certain infuriatingly handsome man.As the fog of sleep cleared, she recalled the previous night's events – the phone call, the heated words exchanged, the promises made. But she quickly dismissed it as nothing more than an alcohol-induced delusion, a fleeting moment of weakness that held no real weight in the harsh light of day.After going through her usual quick morning routine, she headed to work, wearing a crisp black shirt tucked into a flirty brown skirt, with Zavian's jacket. It was a subconscious move, one she didn't fully understand herself, but the familiar scent that still clung to the fabric was comforting.Richard had left for work early, and Emmeline was grateful to avoid another confrontati
Their gazes clashed like flint on steel. "Who would dare interfere between a man and his wife?"Emmeline's breath hitched at the possessive way that word - wife - rolled off his tongue. "I'm not your wife!" she bit out, anger and confusion swirling through her like a riptide. "I'm just a passing fling in your life."She made a bid for freedom, but he was too fast, shoving her back against the console and pinning her there with his hips."I'm not letting you leave, now that I've got you back." Zavian declared before burying his face in the crook of her neck with his breath fanning across her skin. "Appreciate the effort I went through to get you here for our appointment. If I were like other men, I would've replaced you by now. But you're irreplaceable - that's why I came after you."His words melted the little woman’s resistance and she stopped squirming.Zavian gently stroked her waist. "Forgive me, Emmeline." He murmured.Although his plea made Emmeline want to give in, she pretended
Zavian spent several endless moments simply drinking in the sight of her – disheveled, flushed, and utterly beautiful in desire when he finally tore himself away."How about you teach me how to drive a yacht?" Emmeline asked suddenly.She swallowed nervously when Zavian wiped her cheeks with his hand with malice gleaming in his eyes. "Why don't you ask me to teach you to ride me? Am I not more interesting than this yacht?""W-What? N-No, I just meant...we're on an innocent ride, that's all," Emmeline slurred, her words sticking in her dry mouth.Zavian’s gaze was steady, unlike her vibrating nerves. He leaned in closer, his lips brushing her ear. "I'm much easier to handle than this yacht. All you have to do is grip the wheel...and push whatever buttons I tell you to push." He tweaked her flushed cheek with his fingers. "Or would you prefer to just drive me crazy instead?"Emmeline punched his chest lightly with her fist. "We just made up, Mr. Blackthorn. Give me a few kind words befor
A wave of intense rage crashed over Zavian at that brazen display.He could feel the entities within him straining against his mental restraints - roaring to be unleashed and rip Richard apart for daring to kiss their mate so boldly.A deep, guttural growl bubbled up from Zavian's throat as his fists clenched, every fiber of his being urging him to strike Richard down right then and there.He could feel the snarling and snapping at the mental chains holding his predators back from bursting forth.Zavian's breaths came in harsh pants through flared nostrils as he struggled to maintain control, to not expose the dangerous truth that Emmeline was his mate.His entire world had narrowed down to that revolting sight of another male claiming his mate, of her being violated right before his eyes. The bestial side of him raged and roared for blood, for vengeance against this usurper who thought he could stake ownership over what belonged to him alone.Emmeline raised her hand and lightly but
Emmeline very nearly swayed on her feet from the force of it, her thighs clenching instinctively against a sudden, searing rush of arousal.She had to dig her nails into her palms to keep from visibly reacting, from reaching out and grabbing Zavian and hauling his body flush against hers in a shameless public display.Yuna raised her eyebrows. "You're volunteering to teach Emmeline yourself?" Her tone was laced with reproach, glancing between her husband and Emmeline. "But shouldn't Minnie know her better? As her friend, it would make more sense for Minnie to show her the ropes."Minnie didn't even blink at Yuna's thinly veiled objection. "Don't worry about it. I'll help my husband teach Richard instead. If Mr. Blackthorn can actually skate, he'd better be the one to teach Emmeline."Minnie gave Zavian a pointed look, clearly missing the undercurrent between him and Emmeline. "Thank you for offering to take that on," she said.The subtle curve of Minnie's painted lips suggested she sus
Richard tensed in surprise at her sudden, uncharacteristic display of wifely affection, shooting her a bemused look over the top of her head. "Well now, what's gotten into you?" he asked with an indulgent chuckle, looping his arms loosely around her in return. "Not that I'm complaining about this unusually obedient behavior, mind you..."Emmeline felt her earlier bravado already faltering beneath the weight of Zavian's dark, knowing stare. "I...I just thought we should present a united front," she mumbled, ducking her head against Richard's chest in a futile attempt to escape that burning gaze. "For the sake of appearances, you know? We are on vacation with the neighbors, after all.""Ah, I see." Richard's tone was one of easy acceptance, seemingly oblivious to the heated undercurrents still going on behind his back. "Well, you've certainly made your point then. No need to keep up the charade any longer on my account."But Emmeline couldn't bring herself to release her grip, not yet. N
The snowball caught its target square in the shoulder with a muffled thump, exploding in a puff of powdery white.Zavian didn't even flinch, though his eyes did narrow infinitesimally at her bold move.Yuna, on the other hand, let out a scandalized gasp. "Emmeline! How could you do such a thing?" she cried, hands flying to cover her mouth as if to physically hold back her shock. "You've assaulted my husband!""Oh god, what have I done?" Emmeline's own fake dismay quickly replaced her earlier bravado. "I...I didn't mean to hurt Mr. Blackthorn, I swear!""Have you lost your damn mind, woman?" Richard growled, rounding on her with ill-concealed anger simmering in his eyes.They hurried over to the two men. Emmeline's steps faltered, shame and lingering defiance swirled within her.Yuna rushed to her husband's side, fretting over him with an exaggerated concern. "She didn't mean any harm, darling," she soothed, shooting Emmeline a reproachful look over her shoulder. "She was just trying to
The group gathered at the cable car station.Minnie turned to face everyone with a mischievous grin. "Alright, here's the deal - the cable cars only hold four people max. I think it would be fun to split up by gender for the ride up. Ladies in one car, fellas in another!"Yuna's brows knit together in a frown of annoyance. "Why on earth would we do that?" she scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Wouldn't it make much more sense for each couple to share a car, just the two of us?"Feeling uncharacteristically defiant, Emmeline jumped in to argue against Yuna's prim suggestion. "What's the point of taking a group trip if we're just going to stick with our own partners the whole time?" She shot Yuna a pointed look. "Minnie's idea is way better - it'll give us all a chance to mingle and get to know each other better!"The words were barely out of her mouth before Emmeline felt the weight of Zavian's penetrating stare.A flush of embarrassment crept up her neck as their eyes met, her cheeks
The winding mountain road was blanketed in snow, forcing them to take it slowly. It took another full hour before they finally arrived at the luxurious ski resort.As soon as the vehicle rolled to a stop, everyone eagerly piled out into the picturesque winter wonderland surrounding them.Taehyung went to the trunk first, unloading the luggage - he and Minnie shared one large suitcase, just like Emmeline and Richard did.Zavian strode over next, dragging his sleek silver suitcase behind him while Yuna trailed after, clutching her own bag.The group naturally arranged themselves with Taehyung and Minnie at Zavian's right, Yuna and Richard to his left, and Emmeline lingering slightly behind.Zavian's domineering presence and deep, velvety voice immediately commanded her full attention. "Let's plan to regroup in the main hall in fifteen minutes," he stated, sweeping his gaze over the ladies. "I trust that will give everyone ample time to get settled into their suites?" His deep eyes sparkl
After a leisurely breakfast of fluffy Belgian waffles and crisp bacon with Zavian, followed by a long, steamy shower where they'd indulged in one last lingering tryst, Emmeline finally returned home.Her mind was utterly consumed with the memories of their intimate Christmas Eve together - every scorching caress, every sinful whisper, every moment seared into her memory with perfect clarity.Luckily, Richard didn't seem to suspect a thing when she arrived. Minnie had covered for her brilliantly.Emmeline had barely managed to exchange some words with Richard before practically sprinting up the stairs, murmuring some excuse about needing to freshen up after her night out.She locked herself in the bathroom and braced her trembling hands on the vanity, staring at her flushed, desire-glazed reflection for a long moment as the memories washed over her again in dizzying waves.The way Zavian had pinned her against the wall, one hand fisted in her hair as the other roamed hungrily over her b
Emmeline woke up to something wet and warm trailing across her cheek.Blinking her eyes open slowly, she found Zavian peppering her face with soft kisses, his hard morning wood pressing insistently against her stomach.Memories from their passionate lovemaking the night before came flooding back. How he had absolutely ravaged her until she felt the air knocked out of her lungs and stars danced behind her tightly squeezed eyelids. How she had almost passed out from the mind-blowing pleasure, leaving her aching core throbbing with need, wishing it was there he was pounding his thick, monstrous cock into instead. How she had silently begged him to finally pop her cherry and open her up completely.But then the bizarre, inexplicable incident replaced those yearning thoughts, making her breath hitch in her throat.Emmeline’s mind was at war with itself. She truly didn't know how much longer she could pretend she hadn't made such a mind-blowing discovery about Zavian last night.As much as
The sinful duo were both wiped after their intense lovemaking session.Emmeline was still snuggled up against Zavian's broad, muscular chest, but no matter how utterly drained she felt, she just couldn't drift off to sleep. Her mind kept replaying the intense scene from earlier on an endless loop.She could have sworn she heard deep, animalistic growls and roars rumbling from Zavian's throat as he ravaged her body like a ravenous beast. Emmeline had also seen strange, shimmering lights seeming to emanate from him in waves. As bizarre as it sounded, she knew she hadn't just been hallucinating from the mind-blowing pleasure and pain. No amount of ecstasy could conjure up such vivid visions.Her thoughts then turned to when Zavian had asked if she would be okay dating a supernatural being, and the hurt look on his face when she hadn't given him a definite answer. Could he truly be...not human? Some kind of monster? She had always heard the saying that the devil has the most angelic featur