Adelaide“No one?” he called out, looking around again. “That’s right!” He laughed loudly. “I’m Elyx, future king of Lyperia—no one can beat me!”I let out a chuckle, not being able to listen to his bullshit any longer. Then I stepped forward. “I can!”Elyx’s eyes snapped to me, his grin vanishing for just a second, but then it appeared again.“Addy?” James whispered as he leaned in closer. His tone sounded worried, but his expression was amused.“Too bad I don’t fight women,” Elyx dropped his shoulders.“Is it that?” I pouted, dipping my head to the side. “Or are you afraid of witches?”The way his jaw twitched made me remember the way Claire had described him. He was like the guys at the fountain, only worse.He laughed out loud, looking at his followers who forcefully joined him in the laughter. “I must admire your courage, witch,” Elyx pointed out. He turned his attention to James. “Is this your girl?”James opened his mouth, probably to answer, but Elyx cut him off with a dismiss
Adelaide I had expected him to look away, but he didn’t. The eye contact didn’t faze him. He smiled faintly, but something about that smile sent a shiver down my spine. The smile was meant for me—he was staring right at me. Someone like that…what did Mom want with him? Our eye contact was broken by one of the guards tapping his shoulder, and then he disappeared. “Your Highness, Prince Alaric is waiting,” one of what I assumed to be Elyx’s guards called out from the side. Elyx nodded and made his way toward me again. I quickly scanned the situation. If even the Lycan prince had to be told that Alaric was waiting for him, it meant getting close to Alaric wasn’t going to be easy. Not at all. “Hey!” Elyx stuck out his hand, and I took it. “I had a good laugh today, Adelaide.” What did he mean by that? James slammed his arm over my shoulder, pulling me closer. “Apparently, she’s been dying to meet you,” he said, his tone overly dramatic. Elyx raised a brow, his lips twitching int
AdelaideI had slept peacefully, knowing today was the day I would get a bit closer to my goal.By now, the feeling of James’ arm around my shoulder was already something I had gotten used to. We walked through the cafeteria toward the special room where Elyx would apparently have his lunch.The area was in the center of the cafeteria, surrounded by glass windows so everyone could see them. Even though I had only interacted with Elyx for a few minutes, I read him well enough to assume it was so he could make a point about being above the rest.Students’ eyes were glued to us as we stepped closer. I ignored the looks, but James glared at those around us.“We don’t have to do this,” he whispered beside me.“Why not?”“I went a few times, and these people aren’t your people,” he said quietly, like he was trying to save me from embarrassment. “This isn’t your thing.”“Says who?” I shot back with a smirk. “Calm your tits, Jimmy. We just met—you don’t even know me.”He responded with a low
Adelaide“Yes,” I glanced up, looking at him properly for the first time. I mean, I tried—but it was almost distracting. His sharp jawline, perfect cheekbones, and those incredible blue eyes that I bet could draw anyone in.The thing that struck me the most was the flustered look on his face, like he had never talked to a woman before. It was…cute.“The witch, right?” he asked hesitantly.My eyes widened at his blunt question.He quickly waved his hands, shaking his head. “N-Not that I’ve got any problem with it! I think witches are amazing. Y-You’re all so powerful, and the magic you do is…incredible. I just mean—”A giggle escaped my lips as he ranted, trying to save himself when he didn’t need to.This had to be a dream. The Alpha Prince, the son of one of the strongest shifters alive, the future king, a stuttering mess?“Do you think he’s funny?” James asked, listening in. All it took for him to pay attention to me again—attention I definitely didn’t needed—was one giggle. Could h
AdelaideIt was the day I was supposed to meet Alaric in the woods. The sun was starting to set, and I stood in front of the mirror in our dorm, getting ready for the night.This was all I had looked forward to. Classes at Starlight were so easy that I already knew I would fly through those four years without breaking a sweat, so that wasn’t any of my concern.My only focus was Alaric and getting closer to my goal for the good of our people.“Hey,” Claire greeted, shuffling out of her bedroom in a cozy onesie. Her blond hair was tied up in a bun, and her eyes looked tired as she plopped down on the couch.“Going somewhere?”I glanced at her through the mirror. “Sneaking out,” I said casually.“To see James?” she guessed, raising a brow.I just smiled, letting her think whatever she wanted. The less Claire knew, the better.We had grown close quickly, and if I wasn’t with James, I was with her. We shared most of the same classes and spent more time together than I had expected. She was
AdelaideIt was a simple yes, no—question. One I hoped she would answer.Esther’s lips curled into a small, smile. “What makes you say so?”“For starters, that ridiculous source of power I feel coming from you,” I said, crossing my arms. “That’s not normal for a shifter.”“Incredible,” her breath hitched in surprise. “You are the High Priestess daughter, and a child of blood indeed,” she said. “Not even your fellow witches could sense it, but you can.”She stood straight, opening the door to her office. “Get in,” she gestured with her hands.I waited for a moment. There was still some time left before I would meet Alaric—so why not?As soon as I entered Esther’s office, she closed the door behind me.“So you are a witch?” I tried again, needing a clear answer. “A dark witch I assume?”I scanned the clean and neat office with my eyes. The place one worked said a lot about a person, and I could tell this was a woman who liked control—hence her reaction when I called her out.“I guess th
AdelaideIt was already dark when I sat on the grass, leaning against the big oak tree in the woods. Cold shivers ran through my body as I thought about the words Esther had used to describe Alaric.The chosen one…the vessel.What did it mean, and why hadn’t Mom told me about it? The worst part was sticking to the plan and doing as I was told without knowing exactly what she was planning.I only knew one thing. It was for the good of the witches—my people.They were my priority, and all I had to do was follow Mom’s instructions. So what was I so worried about?After a while, I started to feel impatient, wondering if I had pushed things too far. Alaric was timid, careful—and maybe I had overestimated him, thinking he would really sneak out to meet a witch he barely knew.Maybe it was time to consider other options, like waiting out that Elite team that Principal Sterling was planning.At least, that’s what I thought—until I heard faint footsteps rustling through the leaves. I shot my h
AdelaideI followed Alaric with my eyes, watching as he walked away, disappearing behind the bush. Not long after, I caught a glimpse of his toned back as he removed his clothes.My cheeks turned red. His back was turned, but it was almost impossible not to notice how strong it looked—the muscles in his broad shoulders, his powerful arms.That guy with the killer smile and killer body could probably really kill someone if he really wanted to. After all, he was the Alpha Prince. I was sure Mom had a purpose for him, one that would make sense eventually.A low growl, followed by the sound of cracking bones, snapped me out of my thoughts. It wasn’t a sound I hadn’t heard before—but it never failed to amaze me.Alaric’s limbs twisted, his breathing deepened, and his body disappeared between the bushes. Then it went silent.My jaw dropped as I stepped forward, anticipating the shift.“Holy shit,” I managed between laughter.A massive black wolf appeared from behind that same bush. The blue
VioletI stared down at the mat, sweat nearly dripping from my forehead as I did another push-up. One wouldn’t have guessed it, but Commander Jorn ran across the training hall, clapping his hands and yelling like always.Strangely enough, I could almost keep up with everyone today. Almost!If I wasn’t so sore and tired from yesterday, I probably could’ve given it my all. It was too bad my arms felt like jelly—and to make matters worse, my brain couldn’t focus with all his yelling.I know Adelaide would’ve pushed through, but I also knew that I definitely didn’t see the old Elite team do any of these exercises when I was in the Veil. The training days in the past were definitely easier than this.I changed the position of my hands, stumbling a bit—and then a soft fist suddenly connected with my back. It was Commander’s…of course.It was just a little touch, but it was enough to make me drop flat to the mat.“Ow!” I muttered, grabbing my nose as I managed to sit up. It hurt like crazy,
Violet“You tell me,” I answered. “You are the Lyperian.”Nate sighed and looked at a still-tense Dylan with a teasing look. “She’s getting smart now.”He tried to involve him, but other than a low hum, Dylan didn’t have much of a reaction.“Actually, I don’t know,” I responded in all honesty. “We should be receiving a message soon. Could be anytime now, I think.”Those were my hopes. I just wanted to get it over with—and quick.“If all goes well, I might have to address you as Your Highness!”“No—”“Do you want a water, Your Highness?” Nate offered, mocking a bow.“Your Highness?” I repeated, laughing. “I’m not…”My words faltered because technically, he was right. I was a princess, but…of what? The common lands? A place no one had ruled for ages?It’s not like anyone knew, for that matter. I couldn’t exactly shout it from the rooftop.“You know what,” I changed my mind, “maybe I do need that water.”“Great,” Nate placed his hands on my shoulders. He gave them a squeeze, but all I co
VioletKylan and I walked through the halls in the early morning, hand in hand, on the way to Elite training. What was supposed to be a regular walk had gathered even more attention than the initial mate reveal.We were still the center of attention, and all eyes were still on us. It even went as far as some students pulling out their phones to take pictures, while some whispered as we passed.I couldn’t even remember it ever being like this for just Kylan before. Sure, people respected him, followed him, stared at him—but this? This was different.I knew what they were thinking.What had a girl from the Bloodrose done in her past life to get mated to the heir of Lyperia? Or maybe not. Maybe they were making fun of me because he was literally dragging me with him as he walked, and I struggled to keep up.I let out an embarrassed chuckle, trying to let go of Kylan’s hand so we would at least look a little less stupid, but he wouldn’t let me.A frustrated growl came from his lips, and h
VioletI nudged his shoulder. “I don’t need you to hold my hand, Kylan.”He shrugged. “Oh, really?”He opened the gates, and we walked the dark and quiet campus ground. Being back on these grounds after experiencing Adelaide’s time was a big difference. Maybe I was insane, but I liked the old Starlight much better.The Starlight before the renovations, when the academy looked like it might collapse any second. The new Starlight was too modern, too elite…“Starlight is slacking these days,” I muttered.“How so?”“Well,” I looked around. “Did you know that back in Mom’s time, people didn’t even dare step out past curfew? The gates were always open, but everyone just followed the rules without even thinking about it…except for our parents of course. They were definitely something else.”“Mom?” Kylan lifted his brow.I rolled my eyes. “She’s my Mom, is she not?”He mumbled something under his breath. Something I couldn’t quite understand or cared for. It still felt strange to know that I
VioletThe car ride back to Starlight was full of stories. I had told Kylan everything I could remember, mostly about Adelaide, Alaric and the royal family, Gloria, Esther—and of course, Baelor.I even told him about the bond between Adelaide and the Elite Team, how much they loved and protected her—but most importantly, how King Elyx ended up betraying her.There were too many details, I could hardly remember. I was certain I might have forgotten something along the way, but for now, it was enough.Once I finished talking, I glanced at him, waiting for his reaction. He didn’t respond, his eyes were fixed on the road, and his expression was unreadable.For some reason, I had expected him to match my energy. I thought we could laugh together about Adelaide or even the king’s nickname, but there was nothing.“So what do you think?” I asked, attempting to get a reaction out of him. Kylan squinted his eyes. “So,” he finally spoke up. “We’ve met before and our parents exchanged names?”Th
Violet“And what does that mean?”I gritted my teeth, trying not to let out a yell. Aelius spoke in riddles, avoided answers, and now he was questioning whether I was worthy? I had just relived Adelaide’s pain, seen flashes of things I barely understood—and since they all came from his beloved granddaughter, having him doubt me was unfair.Kylan must have sensed my frustration because, in the very next moment, he moved. He got up from the cold ground, his eyes sharp as he headed straight for Aelius.“Kylan—“ I gasped, reaching for him, but he was already there.Aelius just sat there and let it happen as Kylan wrapped his tight fist around his cape, yanking him closer. “Listen, you old fuck,” he growled. “Violet said she wants you to teach her, so you will teach her. I don’t care what kind of cryptic bullshit you’re on, but I do know one thing.” He shoved him back, pointing at me. “You’ll do what she asks.”Silence fell over us. I held my breath, waiting for something—anything—to happe
VioletI gasped for air, my heart pounding in my chest. I’d been in the Veil all this time, but now I found myself back in the caves. Everything was blurry. It was just as dark as I remembered, the only source of light coming from the campfire.My mind was still spinning as I sat up straight. I couldn’t get far because a pair of hands steadied my waist. That familiar touch belonged to Kylan. By now, it had been imprinted in my memory—so much that I could bet my life on it.“Violet,” I heard him whisper in my ear, though my eyes were on Aelius, who didn’t seem the least bit surprised by all of this. “Breathe.”Focusing on Kylan’s voice, I quickly regained my vision, but my heart was nowhere near at ease.How could it be?“No!” I choked out, shaking my head. I turned halfway to look at Kylan, those deep brown eyes staring back at me as if I had just said the worst thing possible. “I have to go back—she was there!”No reaction.This time, I tried my luck with Aelius, looking at the man A
AdelaideI ran through the woods, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to get to Violet. Every few steps, my eyes glowed, lighting up the path Alaric had carved out ahead of me.My legs were so numb I could barely feel them, my head was spinning, but I couldn’t—wouldn’t—stop.I had to find her…I had to find my Violet…After failing to keep Claire safe and failing to lock Baelor away the first time, not failing Violet was the least I could do.A warmth spread through me as I finally reached the den I had seen through Alaric’s eyes.Right in front of it stood a rare white fox with bright eyes, guarding my daughter—the same one I had seen through Alaric’s eyes. I didn’t know what it was doing here, how it had gotten here—but I was grateful.“Violet!” I gasped, running toward the entrance. The white fox moved aside as I fell to my knees and crawled into the den.And there she was…My Violet.She was wrapped inside a blanket, her tiny hands reaching for the air as giggles filled the s
Adelaide“It’s okay,” I said, my breath hitching as I fought back tears. I turned the wolf’s head with my hands to take another look into those red eyes. Then, I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his snout.“I don’t regret anything,” I said softly. “You made me live again, and if I could’ve chosen any life, any path—I would’ve done it all over again just to be with you.”The wolf let out a low, broken whimper and nuzzled his head against my hands, as if trying to hold onto me one last time.“I love you.”Then, with every bit of strength I had, I sent him through the Veil, watching him disappear into the small gap of the portal. It flickered a few more times before closing…and just like that, he was gone.My glowing eyes faded.“Claire—please!”I focused on the voice beside me and turned to Greg, who was still holding Claire in his arms, crying as she slipped in and out of consciousness. She wouldn’t have long anymore.Defeated, I sank to my knees. I had to find Violet, Baelor, but