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The Man in the Cave
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2024-03-26 02:15:25
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The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย The Lost King
*Alpha King Karl Striker*โThank you for your help with the rogues,โ I say to Sophia.โIt was my pleasure. I canโt stand the idea of them terrorizing that poor family,โ she replies.We step into the shower together, covered in roguesโ blood.โThey wouldnโt have stopped there, either,โ I tell her. โThey would have gone on to another family. And another.โโVultures,โ she says harshly. She starts to scrub the blood out of my hair and I groan.โBabe, shouldnโt I be doing you first?โ I ask.โYouโre perfectly welcome to โdo meโ anytime, anywhere, just as soon as I get you cleaned up,โ she teases.I growl and pull her against me, my cock hardening between us. โI can think of other uses for that smart mouth of yโโโYour Majesty!โ a man yells into the bathroom. Marcus?โYes?โ I reply, putting Sophia behind me even though he wouldnโt be able to see her with the shower curtain in the way. โWhat are you doing, barging in here while weโreโI mean IโmโโโIโm sorry, Your Majesty. But Dr. Lawrence tol
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-03-27The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย Heartbroken
*Ainslee*I pace Drakeโs nursery, holding his teddy bear. I find myself humming to it, even though it isnโt Drake. He is still missing.Sobs wrack my body. My heart aches for my son. I curse Riley for taking him away and let out a broken howl.Rafe comes into the nursery moments later. โOh, love,โ he whispers and pulls me into his arms.โI know Zeke told us to stay here just in case theyโre planning to do something to you, but I canโt stand it, Rafe. I canโt stand not being out there looking for our baby,โ I sob.โI know.โ He rubs his hands up and down my back, trying to comfort me. โI canโt stand it either. I think I will call Zeke back to the castle and tell him weโre going to take over. I feel like Iโm climbing the walls.โโWeโll watch over each other. Then there wonโt be any reason for Zeke to worry,โ I decide.โI like that plan.โ He kisses me. โCome to bed for now. You need rest.โI sigh and set Drakeโs teddy bear back in the rocking chair. โIโll only rest if you do.โโAll right.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-03-27The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย The Longclaw Position
*Alpha King Karl Striker*โHoward,โ I say as he sits down across from me at my desk in my office, โhow are you feeling?โโBetter,โ Howard Bleiz replies. โIโm feeling much better, thank you, Karl.โ Indeed, the open lesions on his skin have closed, and he is clothed and already looking more well-fed. The dent in his forehead has been lessened to nothing but a long pink scar.โDr. Lawrence tells me your brain is healing well. I can only assume heโs right. What do you remember, besides your name?โ I ask.He looks down at my desktop, running his fingers over the oak. โI remember I should be Alpha King of Longclaw,โ he says slowly.That gives me pause. โAre you sure youโre ready for such a responsibility?โโNot yet. But I will be.โ He looks back up at me with intense green eyes. โI will be asking you for the Longclaw lands back soon.โโAnd I will wholeheartedly hand them over,โ I reply. โIโm just worried about your health and your leadership skills. Not to insult you or your father or grand
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-03-28The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย The Good and Bad News
*Rafe*A messenger runs into our tent, breathing hard. โYour Majesty,โ he gulps. โAn urgent letter from Alpha King Karl Striker.โ He looks around. โWhere is Her Majesty Luna Queen Ainslee?โโShe is out on the hunt. She wonโt be back for hours. I will open the letter myself. Thank you.โ I take the letter.โBut itโs addressed to Her Majesty,โ the messenger says uncertainly.โIndeed it is. You may go.โ I slice a finger under Alpha King Strikerโs seal.The messenger still looks worried but leaves our tent. I sit down on our cot and begin to read.Ainslee arrives not ten minutes later, excited. โWe bribed a border soldier from Rallegrad. He says Riley crossed two weeks ago, probably right when we lost her trail. Drake is in Rallegrad. Weโll have to come up with a disguise or something to look for him thereโฆ. Darling, are you all right?โI look up at her.She cocks her head so she can read the back of the letter. โYou know that was addressed to me, right?โ She sounds a little annoyed.โI kn
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-03-30The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย The What Else That Could Go Wrong
*Ainslee*It is a tense two days, but finally the jewels come from the castle along with a messenger and two messages, one for Annamarie and one for Rafe.Annamarie clutches hers and runs off to read it.Rafe takes his as though wondering if it might explode and goes back to our tent.Since the women are busy packing up the jewels, I decide to find out what the letters are about. I go to Annamarie first because, like Rafe, I am concerned about what might be in the letter he received and want some good news first.But when I find Annamarie, she has her letter bunched up in her hand and is sobbing.โWhatโs wrong?โ I ask, quickly sitting down beside her in the grass.โZeke misses me,โ she says.โAnnamarie, thatโs a good thing.โ I smile.โHeโs begging me not to go with you.โ She sniffles, coughs, then hands me the letter. โRead it.โBewildered, I take the letter and begin to read.My beloved Annamarie,Iโm sorry we fought. Iโm just so worried about you. I donโt want anything to happen to
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-03-31The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย Laying the Trap
*Rafe*Ainslee and I arrive at the main tent to see a lycan grinning at us and holding a letter. When we approach him, his jaw works, and I hear a cracking sound.โWhat theโ?โ I mutter.But itโs too late. Whatever the lycan has done, it causes him to foam at the mouth and convulse. He drops the letter and seizes on the ground until his eyes look up at us, empty and lifeless.โWhat the hell?!โ I finish my earlier exclamation.The scout runs to the lycanโs side. He presses his fingers to the his throat. โHeโs dead,โ he informs us unnecessarily.โI suppose to keep us from torturing Rileyโs location out of him,โ Ainslee says softly.I hiss and smack my fist down on the table. โDamn it!โShe bends and picks up the letter. With a shaking hand, she gives it to me. โI donโt think Iโll have the strength to read it on my own,โ she whispers.Iโm reaching out with my mind to Jerim to tell him to make his way to the camp to see what killed the lycan, though Iโm guessing it was a poison capsule. I
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-04-01The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย The Doctor Is In
*Rafe*When Jerim arrives driving a horse and carriage filled with gold, I take him immediately to the medical tent to see the stinking carcass of the lycan messenger.โPoison?โ I ask.Jerim puts on gloves and starts examining the body. โSo it would seem. You said you heard a cracking sound before he began convulsing?โโI think from his mouth,โ I say.With a nod, he pries open the lycanโs jaw. โHmm. Cracked false tooth. Definitely poison.โโDo we know what kind? Is there an antidote?โ I ask.โA poison as fast-acting as you described? An antidote wouldnโt matter,โ he replies grimly. โBut no, Iโm not personally familiar with this one. I will have to consult my books. I brought every book I have on poison with me.โโGood thinking.โ I gesture for us to leave the tent.Both of us take a deep breath of fresh air away from the smell once weโre outside. โI wonder what would make a man so gleeful about poisoning himself to death?โ I muse aloud.โGleeful?โ he asks.โHe had the widest smile on h
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-04-02The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย Into Rallegrad
*Ainslee*We make love that night. Rafe gives me all the empty promises and reassurances I need to be ready in the morning.As a group, there are eight of us: Rafe, Annamarie, Jerim, four guards, and me. We donโt dare risk bringing any more. We dress in plain peasantsโ clothing and even go so far as to rub dirt on our faces to disguise ourselves.The Rallegrad guard is easily bribed and stands aside for us. We step into Rallegrad, all of us holding our breath.Lightning doesnโt strike us down, so thatโs a good thing. I let out the breath Iโm holding and look at Rafe. โYouโre really going to do this?โHe shoots me a glare. โWeโve been over this, Ainslee.โโI know. Iโm just so scared for you, thatโs all,โ I say.He shakes his head. โIt has to be done.โ He looks at the others. โI want you all to be ready to accept Drake if they let him go. If none of us are back within three hours, well, youโll know what happened. Try to pick up the trail from there.โโYes, Your Majesty,โ the guards all
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-04-02
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The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย A Hopeful Future
*Ainslee*Sophia and Karl kiss, and the ceremony is over in a cacophony of cheers.The High Priestess sets the goblet of blood Karl had grudgingly shared with Sophia back on the altar, and the king waves at the crowd to be silent. โI know you are all excited to begin your celebrations. But we would also like to thank the Moon Goddess for the miracle of Paisley Poeโs birth.โRafe squeezes my hand and waves while I hold Paisley against my chest.โAnd for the fruitful union of Marcus and Lucia Lightfoot,โ the king continues. Itโs kind of him to do this during his wedding ceremony.Lucia blushes, and Marcus pats her belly fondly.โAnd, let us not forget, Zeke and Annamarie Winters, who were unable to join us today, but I hear are expecting a beautiful baby themselves,โ Karl concludes.Everyone claps.โNow, you may all adjourn to your celebrations.โ The High Priestess waves us all off.Karl kisses Sophia passionately, and they walk hand-in-hand down the aisle.โWere we that cute when we we
The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย A New Life
*Ainslee*Drake blinks down at Paisley, who is nestled in my arms.Rafe holds him just close enough to get a good look at her but not close enough to reach her nose, which he is trying to grab anyway.โThis is your sister,โ he says to Drake, pointing a finger. โYouโre going to torment each other terribly.โI laugh. โOh, come on. It wonโt be that bad.โโIt sure will be. Siblings this close in age are notorious for tormenting each other. Didnโt you see it with Brock and Sinead?โ he asks, referring to my half-siblings.I think for a moment then grimace. โYes, they do torment each other quite a lot.โโExactly. Theyโll fight over toys and chase each other around. Itโs going to be chaos,โ he says.โWell, thereโs nothing we can do about it now,โ I remind him. โTheyโre both here, and we adore them.โHe chuckles and kisses each little head, then kisses me on the mouth. โIt will be the best kind of chaos.โDrake gets a hold of Paisleyโs nose and our little girl squawks in protest.Rafe grins. โ
The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย Back at Shadowmanor
*Rafe*The ride home gives me a mix of elation and sorrow. Being by Ainsleeโs side in the carriage with our son on her lap makes me feel complete, and Ainsleeโs family was so happy to get to spend a few days with her and the baby before we left for home. Weโre met along the way by my people celebrating our victory and sharing our joy, but among those are those who have lost so much.We stop the carriage when we notice a young girl crying as she is comforted by a woman whom I learn is her aunt. She explains that the girlโs home is in the north and was destroyed in the carnage. Her parents were killed, leaving her with nothing.โI think the gods that she was staying with us,โ the woman tells me.Ainslee speaks to her while I pull Zeke aside. โEnsure this family is taken care of.โHe nods with understanding. Anger churns inside me at this encounter and dozens more like it along the trip. It makes it that much easier to deal with the evil men responsible upon return.The day after our ret
The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย Feels Like Home
*Ainslee*โWhy does it still hurt?โ I ask after weโve been holding each other for a while. This is the second thing I ask Rafe after I demand to know where Drake is. While Iโm aching to see my baby, Rafe explains to me that heโs the only reason my father is allowing us to be together, so Iโll have to be patient a bit longer. Just knowing that heโs safe and near me is a comfort.โMaybe because we were separated for so long,โ Rafe replies. He strokes my cheek. โBut I have an idea of how to make it better.โI raise an eyebrow at him. โIโm sure you do.โโHonest. Itโs not about sex, itโs about reuniting,โ he tells me.โHmm.โ I wonder if either of us have the energy for sex.โItโs worth a try,โ he says.โAll right,โ I agree. I sit up with some effort, and he scoots out of bed to start taking off his clothes.When he looks over at me, he blinks. โI didnโt realize you were in full ballroom attire.โโThis was for the mating ceremony that was supposed to happen yesterday,โ I explain.His eyes n
The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย A Final Plea
*Rafe*โAre you ready?โ Percival asks.The man looks ragged. Whatever he does to make sure I donโt keel over is really taking its toll. For that reason alone, I need to make sure Howard sees the light. Iโm afraid Percival is going to die instead of me.โIโm as ready as Iโll ever be,โ I admit. I step out of the carriage as it rolls to a stop in front of Howardโs very luxurious looking home.Karl is there to greet me with a wide smile and a warm arm clasp. โRafe. You look like shit.โโThanks,โ I reply with a laugh. โYou look great.โHoward stands off to the side, eyeing me contemptuously.We are already off to a bad start, it would seem. โAlpha King Howard,โ I say with a slight nod.โKing Rafe.โ He responds coolly. โShall we retire to the conference room? It seems we have a lot to discuss.โโWhere is Ainslee?โ I ask.โIn her bedroom. Lying down. I didnโt think she needed to be here for this,โ he replies.My heart thumps in my chest, screaming to tear past the two Alpha Kings and find he
The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย The Marriage Ceremony
The wind swirls the skirt of the emerald dress around my ankles as I walk to the temple with Lucia at my side. She is somber and silent. I think she has finally accepted the inevitable. Rafe isnโt here, and my father will have his way.Marcus stands at the door of the temple, looking just as somber as Lucia. He is wearing Longclaw black and silver and looks quite nice in it. It should be Lucia approaching him now in a dress suited to her. But instead, itโs me, and my father, standing at the other side of the door, is the only one who looks happy about it.โYou donโt have to be here, Lucia,โ I whisper to her. โThis is going to be terribly difficult for you.โShe squares her shoulders. โI would walk through fire for you. Do you not remember the temple where you saved me? I know itโs been a long time, but you hid me in a spot just like that one over there.โ She points to a little area near the back of the building where thereโs a statue of the Moon Goddess that sort of reminds me of the
The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย Broken Hearts
*Ainslee*I sleep more now. Lucia is concerned, as is Marcus, but my father is convinced once I marry Marcus, all of this will change. I know it wonโt.The ceremony is tomorrow. I know I have to go through with it. I donโt want more people of Shadowglade or of Longclaw to die. This constant war business has to end.Iโm glad that my mother hasnโt seen me since my illness worsened. Sheโs been so busy helping with the troops. I donโt want her to see me like this. Only now I realized that on the same occasions that she visited since Iโve been here, my father found excuses to be away. Heโd insisted that he felt no pain since sheโd remarried, and I wonder if his brain injury had some effect on the severed mate bond.Iโm staring at my canopy again when Lucia comes in with tea. โThis is chamomile,โ she says, helping me sit up and then pressing the teacup into my hands. โIt should help your stomach and settle your nerves.โI look at her, and my heart sinks. โIโm sorry, Lucia. I promise, I wonโ
The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย The End of a Claim
*Geoffrey*Boris tells me we are within a day and a half of Shadowmanor Castle when we meet a real force to stop us. Soldiers in three different liveries come up over a hill as we are marching through a valley. They are very angry, and we are in a bad position, not having the high ground.โWhy are there Longclaw and Warfang uniforms among them?โ I ask Boris who, thus far, has kept me off the battlefield.โI guess because theyโre fighting with the Shadowglade forces,โ he replies as though Iโm stupid.โIf weโre liberating Shadowglade, why would the wolf shifters join forces with Shadowgladeโs soldiers?โ I ask, confused.Boris looks at the armies bearing down on us, looks at me, then laughs. โOh, boy, King Maximus said youโd be easy to manipulate, but you really are an idiot. Weโre not โliberatingโ anybody. Weโre taking Shadowglade by force.โMy blood runs cold. โWeโre the aggressors?โ I gape.He pats me on the shoulder. โWelcome to reality, Your Majesty. Shadowglade is actually well kno
The Luna's Vampire Princeย ย ย Disturbing News
*Rafe*Zeke, Percival, and I lean over my desk in my office, looking at the new numbers. โI think you should also push into Tormentia,โ Percival says.โYou just want King Dartmoth Croft to get it right up the ass,โ Zeke snorts.โWhy not? He deserves it,โ Percival replies.โIโll have the army push forward into Tormentia,โ I agree. โKing Dartmoth doesnโt deserve to be responsible for a pet rock, much less an entire people. Reports say soldiersโ families are being threatened. Iโd like to take that off their chests so they might surrender instead of fighting for a king who abuses his power.โ I rub my chest.Percival puts his hand over my heart again, and the warmth spreads, taking away most of the terrible pain. But I can see it costs him as his shoulders droop when he finishes.โThank you,โ I say. โReally. I know whatever youโre doing isnโt easy on you.โโIโd rather have my king fighting fit and take a few more naps than have you curled in agony on the floor while Zeke and I try to strat
