LOGINVioletThe doors opened, and the ballroom went quiet. All heads turned to Kaelis as she entered, and her presence alone was enough to draw every eye in the room.She looked beautiful.Right behind her came the queen and Kiora, both smiling with pride. It took a second before everyone around me stood, and applause filled the room as the guests clapped in unison. I didn’t know what to do, but since this was what they apparently did at a howl, I joined in too.I felt Kylan’s eyes on me and knew what he was thinking.How could I press my palms together so easily after what I had just heard? Well, he wasn’t the problem here. The king was.I turned my gaze toward King Elyx. He was clapping the hardest and only looked at his daughter, but not even that was enough to make me believe such a man could ever be capable of being a good father. A good father wouldn’t try to sabotage his son’s mate bond.Between bringing up Chrystal and now announcing another mistress, I couldn’t help but wonder wha
VioletMy arm was sore from shaking too many hands, and the sides of my lips ached from smiling so much. The greetings never seemed to end. Elders, lords, ladies, distant relatives, and people who smiled like they actually enjoyed being here, while we all knew better.I had to admit the celebration itself was something special. The palace had outdone itself once more. The ballroom glowed under soft lights and lanterns, tables were decorated with flowers and filled with fresh food, and music floated through the room. It was packed.Even though we had helped plan parts of it, seeing it still made my breath catch. Everyone had poured their whole hearts into it for Kaelis.“We should take our seats,” Kylan whispered after shaking some elder’s hand. “I don’t want them to bother us again.”His eyes drifted, and I followed his gaze to the back of the room. There was a long table, much like the one from the feast. If not for the single presence that made it feel full, I would have had no issu
KylanThe room went silent, except for a weak sigh from the queen, who rubbed her temples as if she were reconsidering every life decision that led to this moment.Then the sound came. A loud scream from Kaelis as she yanked one heel off her foot and threw it straight at my head. “Asshole!”I ducked and chuckled as it flew past.“Kaelis!” Madam Renata said, rushing to her side before she could take off the other heel. “That is not proper behavior!”I thought we could joke around like we used to, but this definitely wasn’t her day. The queen waved a hand at me to get out, but I caught the smallest smile from her and Kiora, one they tried very hard to hide.I raised both hands in surrender and backed away, still laughing. Once the door closed behind me, I leaned against it. My head lowered as another guilty chuckle slipped out.It would be wise to apologize to her later.“What’s funny? Why are we laughing?”The sweet voice that filled my ears made my heart kick hard against my ribs. I d
KylanMy chest tightened the second the words left her mouth.Kayden, tied up, kitchen pantry…I stared at her, lifting a single brow while hoping she would back down. Of course, she didn’t. The queen lifted hers higher, urging me to give her an explanation.“What did you do to him?” I asked carefully.A scoff left her before she pointed at herself, her mouth falling open in disbelief. “What did I do to him?” she gasped. “No, Kylan. What did you do to him?”As soon as the worry in her voice hit me, my stomach dropped. “Did you free him?”For a split second, my mind ran through every possible disaster. Kayden being loose meant an angry Kayden, and having that walking around with that look in his eyes and whatever he had planned for that Lord Baelor of his would simply be too tiresome.The queen rolled her eyes. “Of course not,” she said. “I couldn’t give a shit about what happens to the boy.”She made a gesture with her hands, inhaled, then exhaled, calming herself. “But I do care abou
KylanJack and I shared a look.It had become clear that neither of us knew what was about to happen, but knowing the king as we did, it was easy to assume it would not be pleasant.What did he even want, and why now?He clasped his hands behind his back and began pacing. “I’ve been meaning to discuss something with the two of you,” he said. “Something important, and it really can’t wait.”As always, Jack obeyed. “Sure, Elyx.”He walked closer, leaving me no choice but to follow. “Make it quick,” I said when we reached him. “I’m actually in a bit of a hurry.”“Oh, please,” the king chortled. “The Hastings girl who moves at a snail’s pace with those tiny little baby steps of hers?” he said. “Don’t worry, son. She’ll be exactly where you left her.”I glared at him, hard. This was what he did. He poked at people just to see them react, and no matter how often I reminded myself not to entertain him, he almost succeeded this time.His brow lifted as soon as he didn’t get a response, and he
KylanI glanced at the clock, thinking it might move at the pace I wanted it to if I stared hard enough.Six.The celebration would start soon, but that wasn’t why I wanted time to move faster. I just wanted it all to be over. The howl, the sealing, Kayden, everything.I stood in line with my eighteen brothers, waiting as the king walked slowly down the row. He fixed cuffs and ties, straightened collars, and adjusted everything to perfection like we were all pieces on a board he wanted perfectly aligned. Today was one of those days where he would pretend to care.I had already known today wouldn’t be normal the moment I saw Kayden walk again, and it had become even weirder when I saw him tied up in the kitchen pantry.Knocked out by Sora of all people?A quiet laugh slipped out of me, and I managed to cover it with a cough. I had to give it to her, just a little. That little stunt of hers was something, and she had gone up at least a full percent in my book.I had already sealed off a







