Cyrus POV "Let her go, or I will tear you apart," I growled, my voice echoing menacingly through the hall. Rage consumed me, and all I could see was red—blood and his severed head in my hands. I will kill him for laying his filthy hands on her. "King Cyrus..." I heard Draven mutter, but I didn’t tear my gaze away from her. My eyes stayed locked on the rat as his widened in fear. His hand trembled as he pressed the knife closer to her throat, drawing blood that trickled down her neck. She was scared. I could see it in her eyes, no matter how calm her expression appeared, and that only fueled the surge of killing intent within me. "Don't kill him... not yet," Hades' voice echoed in my mind, forcing me to narrow my eyes. My muscles tensed as I wrestled for control, using every ounce of my strength to rein myself in. It was a battle, but I refused to lose. Not now. “I will kill him, Hades,” I said, standing my ground as a slow smirk spread across my lips. Tilting my head, I continued
Davina’s POV I managed to open my eyes and groaned as I sat up, trying to recall what had happened yesterday. When the memories came rushing back, I frowned. I had been held hostage yesterday. So much had happened—it began with Draven announcing someone’s execution, followed by the agonizing gasps of the condemned, which left me trembling. Before I knew it, I was taken hostage, a knife pressed to my neck. Of course. Another thing I remembered was Hades threatening the man to let me go, and then— I held my head and groaned. Everything was so fuzzy. I raised my hand to my neck, fighting the urge to curse my luck. I would have died if it hadn’t been for Draven. I couldn’t recall the last thing that happened, but I remembered that just before the knife could pierce me, Draven had saved me. His voice whispered that everything was okay, and then I passed out. I stretched out my hands, feeling around me. I was in my room. Did that mean everything had turned out okay yesterday? Eva. Her
Evangeline's POV“Daddy, please. Can I just come with you? I promise I won’t do anything, I would just be a good girl,” I pleaded, my lips forming a perfect pout as I stared at him. But, as usual, he didn’t even look up from the papers on his desk.“Daddy, I’m talking to you! Please, I really want to meet the king today. Can I go with you to the palace?” This time, I clung to his arm, swinging it side to side with a sheepish smile, hoping to break his resolve. Yet again, I was ignored. Like I was invisible!I hated being ignored. What I despised even more was not getting what I wanted.“I’m talking to you! Stop acting like you can’t hear me!” I shrieked, my frustration boiling over as I grabbed the files from his desk and flung them to the floor. Papers scattered in every direction, but I wasn’t done. “Listen to me when I’m talking! I already said I was sorry for last time!”I reached for more things to throw—pens, folders, anything within reach. When there was nothing left, I turned
Davina’s POV“Come in,” I heard Hades' cold voice from behind the door, and my heart involuntarily skipped a beat. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped inside.“Your Majesty, I’m here to bring your shirt,” I murmured under my breath, my voice barely audible. I felt his sharp gaze flicker toward me, but then he turned away, acting as though I wasn’t there. Keeping my head lowered, I walked to the bed, my hand stretching forward as I carefully set the freshly ironed shirt down from the tray I was holding.I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me in my tracks. Quickly, I turned around and bowed, though his next words made my eyebrows arch in surprise.“Come here and help me change.”I gasped at the unexpected request. Helping him change wouldn’t have been unusual—I was a servant, after all, and assisting the king with his needs was part of my duties. But what startled me was that Hades had ignored me for the past three days since the attack. Whenever I came to his chamb
Davina’s POV A scream tried to escape my lips, but all I could manage was a sharp gasp. I shut my eyes and braced myself for the inevitable fall, but before I could hit the ground, a firm hand seized my arm, halting me mid-descent. “Oh goddess, you have to be careful,” an unfamiliar female voice said lightly behind me. “It could be really dangerous if you fell, you could break a bone or two, or worse, you could die.” It wasn’t a mistake. That was the first thought that came to my mind. It couldn’t be—because it was a deliberate shove from behind. “Are you okay? You were just about to fall,” the person asked with a sigh, pulling me to safety. I would have believed it was a sincere question if it weren’t for the slight excitement and mockery dripping from her voice. I clenched my fist by my side and took a deep breath to calm myself. I didn’t want to react, not like I did with Stella and Marie. I couldn’t afford anyone finding out about my identity, so I had to be careful. “Thank
Draven’s POV 10 years ago. “Is she here?” The prince whispered, his eyes darting around like a squirrel on caffeine. He jabbed me in the side with his elbow, nearly knocking the wind out of me. “Well? Is she here?”I groaned, clutching my ribs. “I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. Last time I checked, my job description didn’t include bait for little demons.” I whispered and his highness turned to me, his eyes narrowing like he was plotting something. “Go check, Draven.” “Nope. Not happening.” I shook my head so hard it was a miracle my neck didn’t snap. “I can’t do it, Your Highness. Please I like being alive.”He jabbed me again and smirked with an eyeroll. “You’re exaggerating. Just go look!” “I’m not exaggerating. Last time, she threw a rock at me because I didn't want to tell her where you were hiding, A rock, your highness! And then she laughed like a tiny, maniacal goblin. I’m still traumatized.” He rolled his eyes yet again but didn’t get up. He peeked from behind the
Draven’s POVPresent day.“Oh dear, you haven’t changed one bit, Evangeline. You’re still the spoiled brat you always were.” I remarked, stepping out of the shadows and into the scene where the drama was unfolding."Beta Draven," everyone murmured in greeting as I approached. My eyes flicked to Davina for a moment, and I couldn’t help but scoff slightly. This girl was a magnet for trouble—every time I saw her, she was either being assaulted, bullied, or caught up in some kind of chaos.And every time, I knew she was only pretending to be weak, as if she couldn’t fight or defend herself. The reason? I didn’t know, and that was exactly what intrigued me. I wanted to uncover the truth, and I was determined to find out."Beta Draven!" Evangeline’s voice snapped my attention away from Davina. I frowned as my gaze landed on her, instantly assaulted by the blindingly bright pink she was wearing—or barely wearing, to be more precise. The color was so loud it could probably be seen from space.
Hades POV“This is the file you requested, Your Majesty,” Ethan said as he handed me the folder. I didn’t bother looking up, my attention fixed on the pages as I flipped through them, my expression cold and unreadable.“The previous king noticed changes in Thorne immediately after the prophecy and began investigating him. But it wasn’t long before Thorne orchestrated the attack on the late king and queen to seize the throne.”“Is this all the information you’ve gathered?” I asked, my tone icy as my eyes narrowed, a frown forming on my lips. “There’s something missing. I distinctly remember Father mentioning Thorne’s source of wolfsbane, but there’s no mention of it here.”Ethan shook his head “He wasn't able to find the source before the attack, your majesty”.I took a slow, deliberate breath, tapping my fingers rhythmically on the armrest of the throne. My gaze locked onto Ethan, a single brow arched, the corner of my lips curling into a sharp, knowing smirk.“You know what happens t
Evangelina pov.“How could this be!?” I screamed at Liam, who immediately dropped to his knees, bowing his head in submission. His face remained expressionless, his silence only fueling my rage. But I wasn’t going to calm down—not this time.This time, I had messed up—really bad.“I told you to hire someone to scare her a little, to create a scandal so they’d be seen together in the changing room—not for someone to assault her like that!”“Please forgive me, madam,” Liam apologized again.My eyes narrowed into a glare, and I fought the urge to pick up something and throw it straight at him.Ugh! This is bad.So bad that, for the first time, I felt fear creeping into my chest.Earlier at the boutique, I had come up with a simple plan—to ruin that blind girl’s reputation by hiring a thug to sneak in, making it seem like she had been caught cheating on the king again. That was it.He wasn’t supposed to hurt her. He wasn’t even supposed to touch her.I shivered as the image of her unconsc
Kian pov.I felt restless. Uneasy. And—damn it—I felt scared.Fuck! What the hell was wrong with me? No, it had to be Caleb. That dumb wolf had to be the reason I was feeling this way.“Kian! How dare you agree to this? How dare you, after I warned you not to harm her?!” Caleb’s furious growl echoed in my head, and I felt him fight for control. This time, he was serious—dead set on taking over. His force was relentless, making it harder for me to resist.I kept my expression blank as Evangelina, Ethan’s daughter, spoke, clearly trying to divert Theo’s and my attention.“I love the new collection this season. It’s so pretty! I’m going to buy a lot of clothes from you this time, Theo.”Theo, a man with long black hair, simply offered a polite bow.“I’d be honored to have you do that, Lady Evangelina,” he said, the corner of his lips tilting into a smile.Almost instantly, Evangelina’s two friends blushed at the sight of the strikingly handsome man.I frowned, my hands clenching at my si
Davina pov. Disclaimer: Attempted mention of assault. "Scream, and you die." My body went deadly still, my heart pounding so hard against my chest that I could hear it. The stranger’s hand covered my mouth—my nose. I could barely breathe, but what terrified me even more was something else entirely. Eva had been outside when the stranger entered. Which meant the thud I had heard earlier… Had been her body hitting the ground. Eva… Was she okay? “Fuck… you’re really something. Your body is to die for,” the stranger murmured, and my eyes widened as I felt his hand on me. That’s when I realized—I was naked, only in my underwear. Shit. Shit. This was bad. Really bad. I groaned as his filthy hands roamed over me, touching everywhere—my waist, my butt. He was practically seizing me, taking his time. “Mmm—” I struggled, trying to move, but it was useless. He was twice my size, his grip unyielding, his strength undeniable. I knew, just from the way he had lifted me into the air earl
Davina pov.“Oh my goddess! That dress looks so beautiful on you. You should definitely buy it, Evangelina. It makes your eyes pop.”One of Evangelina’s friends, Camille, squealed in delight as the sound of fabric slipping on and off their bodies reached my ears.“Anything looks good on Evangelina, but yes, that dress really suits you, babe. You should definitely get it.” The other one, Esther commented.“Oh really? Thank you, girls. You’re too nice, haha,” Evangelina said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.I sighed, resting my head on my hand as I sat uncomfortably on the couch, forced to listen to their mindless chatter.Eva stood not far from me, and I could tell she was just as uncomfortable, but she remained silent.I didn’t say anything either.For the past hour, Evangelina and her friends had ignored me as though I weren’t even there—which, honestly, was fine by me. But what wasn’t fine was them refusing to let me leave.When I brought up the idea of leaving, Evangelina,
Davina pov. “Oh, don’t say that. That’s mean. Anyone can shop here. Plus, she’s the king’s mate, right, Davina?” Silence. I could feel everyone’s gaze on me, especially both Sebastian and Theo. They were all waiting to see how I would respond, anticipating a reaction—waiting for a show. But I don’t give them the satisfaction. I’ve learned that the best way to keep your emotions and thoughts hidden is to remain unaffected by provocations, and so… “How could you—” “Good afternoon, Lady Evangelina. It’s lovely to see you here. And yes, I am shopping for clothes. I assume you are doing the same?” I smile, cutting Eva off while giving Evangelina a light bow, maintaining the poise of a dignified woman. I didn’t want any drama, especially in a place like this. According to Eva, this was where all the elites came to shop, and if I reacted or did something wrong, it wouldn’t just reflect badly on me but also on the king. I couldn't give them the satisfaction, couldn't let their words aff
Davina pov.The car came to a stop in front of the building, and almost instantly, I straightened up, my body going rigid. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing nerves, but it was easier said than done—especially when I knew I was about to get into trouble. No, not about to—I was going to be in trouble.Eva had told me that all kinds of people shopped here—Ministers, Alphas, Beta wives, and their children. That meant I had no right to step foot inside. Even if I had once been an Alpha’s daughter, that life was long gone. Now, I was nothing more than a slave—a slave who had to keep his identity a secret.“We’re here, madam,” Sebastian’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I took a deep, steady breath as the door beside me opened, and a hand stretched out toward me.I blinked, momentarily caught off guard, my gaze drifting downward in hesitation.“Davina, his hand…” Eva prompted, urging me to take it.Reluctantly, I reached out, my fingers brushing against Sebastian’s. Almost ins
Davina pov.Awkward.That was the only way to describe whatever was happening right now. As the car moved down the road, silence filled the air. No one spoke—not even Eva, who sat beside me, as if she could sense the tension radiating between me and Sebastian.I fiddled with the hem of my dress, biting my bottom lip, my head lowered in an attempt to distract myself. But it wasn’t working. Sebastian sat in the passenger seat, his gaze flickering back and forth from the rearview mirror. I could feel his eyes on me and it made me uncomfortable.Thinking about it, it actually felt like I had met him before. Now that I no longer associated him with my Sebastian, it was as if I had come to my senses and could finally see clearly (the irony).His voice and scent, especially, felt familiar. Yet, for some reason, I couldn't place them—where I had met him before or if I truly knew him.“We are almost at the boutique, madam. Should I park in front or at the back of the boutique?” The driver’s vo
Hades pov."The Lunaria grace is a flower known for its powerful healing properties. It is rumored to cure any disease, and some even claim it has the ability to bring the dead back to life. However, that last claim is likely baseless, given that the Lunaria’s Grace hasn’t been seen for centuries.""The flower is believed to be extinct, with no recorded sightings for years. However, if anyone were to possess it, it would be the Veil Auction House—the most influential auction house in the kingdom, known for acquiring rare and priceless artifacts. Still, the Lunaria’s Grace is so rare and powerful that I highly doubt they actually have it. The doctor may have simply mentioned it in a desperate attempt to save his life. That is my assessment of the matter, Your Majesty."My fingers paused as Felix fell silent, his head slightly bowed as he sat in the front seat of the car, his tone respectful yet cold.I had asked for his opinion on the Lunaria’s Grace—whether it was real and if it could
Davina pov.I sat on my bed, a light expression on my face as a smile tugged at my lips. The night had gone well—I had enjoyed myself, and for the first time in a while, I had celebrated my birthday with laughter, drinks, and cake. It was a rare moment of happiness."Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother, for coming back. You gave me the best present today," I murmured, setting aside all the gifts except for Eva’s and Rylie's, telling myself I would open them tomorrow.Remembering Eva’s gift was smaller, like a box, I reached for it. Carefully unwrapping the present, my fingers traced over the contents. A cold surface met my touch, and I instantly recognized it—a bracelet.A soft smile curled my lips as I held it up before slipping it onto my wrist, feeling a deep sense of gratitude.It must be beautiful. Such a shame I couldn’t see it.I reached for Rylie’s present, remembering how he had bragged about it earlier. He had insisted I would absolutely love it and even told me to thank hi