Alexander sat in his lavishly furnished bedroom, the golden chandelier above casting a dim glow over the space. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and faint traces of burning incense—remnants of the chief priest’s visit from the previous day.On the polished mahogany table in front of him lay a small, dark vial.He picked it up, rolling it between his fingers. The chief priest had promised him that this would change everything. One drop of the sacred potion, and Daniela would no longer resist him. She would no longer see Gabriel. She would no longer refuse his love."Daniela, you will be mine again. You don’t have a choice."The thought sent a wicked thrill through him.He leaned back in his leather chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. He had spent the entire night thinking about how things had spiraled out of his control.When he and Daniela were together, he had never once thought she would leave him. He had been confident—too confident—tha
The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting soft golden hues through the curtains of Daniela’s cozy apartment. The room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional chirping of birds outside. It was her day off from work, and she had planned to rest, maybe even do some cleaning, but she hadn’t expected a visitor.And certainly not him.Alexander stood at her doorstep, his usual confident smile in place, holding a neatly arranged gift bag. Daniela's brows furrowed in mild surprise. She hadn’t seen or spoken to him in weeks. She had moved on—at least, she thought she had.Still, curiosity got the better of her."What are you doing here?" she asked, crossing her arms.Alexander let out a small chuckle, his deep voice smooth. "Relax, Daniela. I just wanted to check on you. No pressure, no trouble. Just... an old friend bringing a gift."Her eyes flickered down to the bag in his hand.She hesitated.She knew Alexander too well. He was never one to do things wit
The city was wrapped in silence, the streets nearly empty except for the occasional flicker of headlights cutting through the night. The digital clock on the bedside table blinked 2:13 AM in bold red numbers, casting a faint glow in the dimly lit bedroom.Gabriel lay beside her, deep in sleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. The rhythmic sound of his breathing should have been comforting—it always had been. But tonight, it suffocated her.Daniela sat up slowly, careful not to make a sound.Her mind was a tangled mess.She didn’t understand what was happening to her. A few hours ago, she had been living her normal life—working, loving Gabriel, planning for their future. But now, all she could think about was Alexander.His voice.His face.His presence.It was like an invisible thread was pulling her toward him, tightening around her chest, making it impossible to breathe unless she was closer to him.Her heart ached for him.And she had no idea why.Shaking off the confusion, s
Gabriel stirred in his sleep, shifting slightly as he reached out for Daniela, expecting to feel the warmth of her body beside him. His fingers touched nothing but cold sheets. His brows furrowed as his eyes flickered open. The dim glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the empty space beside him.“Daniela?” he called groggily, his voice thick with sleep. No response.His heart pounded slightly as he sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. He reached for his phone on the nightstand and checked the time—2:37 AM. A strange sense of unease crept up his spine.Maybe she had gone to the bathroom? He swung his legs off the bed, planting his feet on the cold tiles before standing up. He walked toward the bathroom door and knocked lightly.“Dani?”Silence.His chest tightened as he pushed the door open, only to find the bathroom empty. He frowned, stepping out into the dimly lit bedroom. His eyes darted around, his mind struggling to stay rational.“She must be in the kitchen,” he murmure
Gabriel stood frozen, his entire world crashing down around him. The wrumpled note in his trembling hands felt heavier than it should, as if it carried the weight of all the emotions swirling inside him. His chest tightened, his breathing uneven as the words replayed in his mind. I’m sorry. I don’t expect you to understand, but I have to go. Please don’t look for me.His throat left him and before he knew it, hot tears welled up in his eyes. His hands trembled as he wiped his face, but the tears kept coming. He let out a sharp breath, gripping the edge of the dining table for support.Why?Why would Daniela suddenly leave him like this? After everything they had been through, after everything he had done for her?He staggered backward, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. His mind reeled with unanswered questions. This wasn’t just a simple breakup—it didn’t make sense. Daniela had given no signs of being unhappy. She had never complained. If anything, she had seemed happy
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the vast, fertile lands of the village as Alexander’s convoy approached. The air buzzed with excitement, and the entire community had gathered in anticipation of the arrival of their new king and queen.Alexander sat in the back of his luxurious black car,his fingers joined together as he stared out of the window. Beside him, Daniela sat quietly, her expression unreadable. She was dressed in a flowing royal blue gown, adorned with intricate golden embroidery that shimmered in the fading sunlight.She had not spoken much since they left the city. Alexander had noticed the distant look in her eyes, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that she was here with him, and soon, she would be crowned as his queen.The journey had been long, winding through dusty roads and dense forests, but finally, they reached the grand palace at the heart of the village. The palace, though ancient, stood with an air of majesty—its walls adorned w
Gabriel sat in the dimly lit living room, staring blankly at the wall. The silence of the house was suffocating, pressing against his chest like a heavy weight. The absence of Daniela felt like a gaping hole in his life, one that he never imagined would exist.Just days ago, this house was filled with warmth, laughter, and the familiar presence of the woman he loved. Now, it was just an empty space—lifeless, cold, and unbearably quiet.He let out a long, shaky breath as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. His eyes, bloodshot from lack of sleep, flickered toward the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table. He had never been much of a drinker, but tonight, the burn of alcohol seemed like the only thing keeping him grounded."Why, Daniela?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you do this to me?"The pain in his chest tightened as memories of her flooded his mind. The way she used to smile at him, the way she would rest her head on his shoulder after a long da
Gabriel stared at Daniela's name on his phone screen, his thumb hanging over the call button. His mind screamed at him to stop, to delete her number and erase her from his life. But his foolish bleeding heart refused to listen. He pressed the button. The phone rang once and then twice then also the third time. His ear began to shake as he imagined her reaction. Would She scoff at the sight of his name? Would she Ignore him completely? Or worse still was she Lying in Alexander's arms, Laughing at his desperation?. On the fourth ring, The call connected . A cold, detached voice filled his ears. “ Hello?”. Gabriel's breath almost left him. He hadn't really prepared for this . Now that She was on the line, the words tangled inside him, choking him. He had imagined her reaction when she saw his name on her screen. Was she smiling at his call?Would she groan in annoyance and cut the call while rolling her eyes at Alexander? But now that she had picked the call, all he could do
The palace was quiet—too quiet. Even the birds that usually fluttered outside the grand windows of the king’s chamber were absent, as if nature itself mourned the weariness of the man within.Alexander sat on the edge of his bed, the heavy robe of royalty pooling around him like a shroud. The golden crown, once proudly perched upon his head, now lay abandoned on the floor, its polished surface reflecting nothing but a broken legacy.He had sent the servants away hours ago, requesting solitude. But truth be told, he had been alone for far longer than that—ever since Daniela left, ever since the boy vanished. Ever since he traded his humanity for power.The voices from the past echoed relentlessly in his mind."You want her to be queen? There is a way…""Put this powder in her drink. It will cloud her mind and draw her to you.""Rub this oil on your palms before you touch her—she will not resist.""You must act fast. The elders are watching. You need an heir."At the time, it all seemed
The palace was quieter these days—too quiet for a man who once ruled with noise, power, and pride. Alexander sat by his window, fingers toying with a half-filled goblet of wine. Outside, the moonlight brushed the edges of the thatched palace roof, casting ghostly shadows on the walls. Chisom had long drifted to sleep, her breathing soft, steady. But Alexander was wide awake—again.It had been six moons since she was brought to him, her skin soft as silk, her smile gentle, her body yielding. Each night, she came to his bed, and each night, he held hope in his loins and in his heart. But morning always came with the same bitter emptiness. No signs. No whispers of cravings. No swelling belly. No child.He had tried everything—spiced roots, fertility herbs from the palace medicine woman, and even late-night rituals performed by the native priest. Still… nothing.Alexander rose from the bed, pacing the cold marble floor with heavy feet. A fire burned in the hearth, but it did little to tha
The morning sun filtered through the bright white curtains of their new apartment, casting golden rays across the hardwood floor. Lydia stirred beneath the duvet, her hand instinctively reaching out to the other side of the bed.Empty.She blinked, sat up, and glanced around. The soft scent of brewed coffee and toasted bread teased her nose. A smile curled on her lips.He’s in the kitchen again.Throwing on a light robe, she padded down the hallway and into the warm, open space where Gabriel stood shirtless, wearing joggers and flipping pancakes with an exaggerated chef’s flair.“You’re going to burn them,” Lydia teased, leaning against the doorframe.Gabriel turned, spatula in hand, and grinned. “And good morning to my beautiful wife.”She walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. “Good morning, chef husband.”He kissed the top of her head, then plated a stack of fluffy pancakes. “I thought we could eat on the balcony today. The sun’s not too harsh yet.”They
The early morning sun filtered through the intricate lattice windows of the palace, casting golden shapes across the polished floors. Drums beat faintly in the distance, signaling the dawn of a new day—and a new queen.Chisom sat quietly on the edge of a carved mahogany bed, her feet barely touching the polished ground. Around her, the royal maids fluttered like bees, tying her hair into delicate loops, rubbing her arms with perfumed oil, and whispering instructions she barely absorbed.“Your new robe, my queen,” one of the maids said, presenting a cloth woven with silver threads and royal blue patterns. “You must wear it before you greet the king.”Chisom nodded faintly, still unsure how to wear the title of "queen" in her heart. The palace air was thick—not just with incense, but with the weight of expectation. She could feel it in the walls, in the eyes of the elders who measured her with unspoken judgment, and in the stiff bow of the guards who had served another before her.As sh
The palace air brimmed with anticipation, thick like a brewing storm. Inside the grand hall, the scent of burning incense drifted from gold-plated bowls, curling in the air like whispers from the ancestors. Soft drums echoed in the background, played by two palace boys, steady and ceremonial. The marble floors had been scrubbed to glass-like shine, reflecting the rows of candles burning along the corridor.Alexander sat on the throne, robed in deep crimson, his royal crown resting heavy on his head. His face was unreadable—a mask of calm, yet behind his eyes, something stirred. Pain. Memory. Resignation. This was not how he envisioned choosing a queen.Beside him, a guard stood silently, holding a scroll with the names of the maidens. The chamberlain motioned, and the doors opened.One by one, the virgins began to enter.The first maiden, Awele, stepped forward with her head lowered, her feet bare, anklets chiming with each timid step. She was beautiful—smooth dark skin, full lips, an
The sky above the palace bled into a melancholic gray, the sun hiding behind thick clouds as though mourning with the king. The royal garden, once Daniela’s favorite place, stood untended. Wildflowers grew in stubborn defiance through cracks in the once manicured paths. The scent of blooming hibiscus clashed with the scent of time—that old, dusty silence that lingered in places where laughter had died.King Alexander stood still on the palace balcony, arms crossed behind his back, cloaked in heavy velvet. He wasn't the same man he was two years ago. The weight of loss had carved lines into his once-youthful face. His shoulders drooped beneath invisible burdens. Power still clothed him, yes, but it no longer fitted him like pride—it clung to him like grief.His eyes scanned the horizon—the same trail Daniela had once fled down with the child. The same trail the guards had failed to watch. His jaw clenched at the memory.Every now and then, he imagined seeing her figure walking back, ch
The evening of the engagement party felt like a dream to Lydia. The grand ballroom was bathed in warm, golden light. Crystal chandeliers hung high above, their glimmering reflections dancing across the polished marble floor. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, depicting stories of love, fortune, and legacy. Every corner of the room was carefully designed to evoke luxury, but it was the people who made it truly come alive.Guests murmured and laughed in soft clusters, champagne glasses clinking as they raised their toasts to Gabriel and Lydia. They had all come from different walks of life—wealthy socialites, business moguls, close friends of the family. But tonight, there was one thing that united them all: the promise of the future, the joining of two lives. Gabriel stood at the center of it all, a striking figure in a tailored suit, his posture confident but warm as he greeted guests. He was the picture of a man who had everything under control. But as his eyes scanned
The soft light of the morning sun was seen through the blinds, spilling its warmth over the living room of Gabriel’s apartment. Lydia sat on the sofa, her bare feet tucked under her as she scrolled through a wedding magazine, lost in thought. The room was filled with the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee, and the faint hum of the city outside only added to the quiet peace of the moment.Gabriel had just stepped out of the shower, a towel draped low on his hips, his hair still damp. He smiled as he saw her lost in the magazine, the occasional flutter of the page drawing her attention. It was one of those simple, perfect moments that made him feel like everything he’d ever wanted was right here.“You look like you’re plotting world domination,” Gabriel teased, stepping into the kitchen, his voice a warm caress.Lydia glanced up from the pages, offering him a playful scowl. “I’m plotting the perfect wedding, thank you very much. There’s a difference.”“Ah, my mistake,” he grinned, lean
Dark clouds thickened above the palace like a warning, casting long shadows that crept along the courtyard stones. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional rustle of dry wind against the banana trees that lined the palace fence.Alexander stood stiffly near the throne room window, eyes fixed on the sky. When the priest finally arrived, the guards ushered him in with reverence. The old man’s steps were slow, but his presence demanded respect. His hair, thick and snowy white, spilled down to his shoulders like ancestral feathers. His robe, dyed deep maroon with sacred herbs, carried the scent of ancient incense.He bowed slightly, then looked up. His eyes—milky but sharp—settled on Alexander’s face. “You sent for me, Your Highness?”Alexander gestured toward a mat. “Sit. There is trouble in the land.”The priest slowly lowered himself, folding his legs under him. “I know,” he said softly, voice like wind brushing through dried leaves. “The spirits whispered last ni