JasperWell, I had not really thought of it and somehow welcomed the pain as it could serve as a distraction from the pain I felt when I saw her hugging someone else, somebody that was not me.Only I knew how it had felt to see her crawl on her fours and beg for someone to recognize her, to want her…and that someone was not me.I reminded myself.“Why are you suddenly concerned about my well-being, young lady? For the last time, I am telling you this, if you do not walk out the door right now, I am going to make you wear that necklace again.”I warned her. I wanted so badly to kiss her senseless, to just part her legs and bury myself into her so that she won't think of that Vasil again. “Well, there is something else I noticed that I wanted to share with you. Something that makes me wonder what is going on.”I rolled my eyes but stated, “Go ahead”“I was thinking about the night at the Vampire Castle…” My eyes flared as I stepped dangerously close to her and she hurriedly added, “Th
CeliaJasper left me in confusion and I looked at the necklace for some time. It was beautiful and I could not part with it.‘Yes that is the reason, I can’t let go of it’ I told myself as I wore it and a sigh left my lips. In this short debacle between us that seemed to have gone on and on for eternity, I had been trying to check if my feelings for Jasper had changed.If he repulsed me and the thought of being close to him horrified me. It did not.And that left me even more confused. Just what was going on and what kind of tricks was the moon Goddess playing with me?I hoped once I met Vasil again when he was in his senses, I would see what I felt for him. This was getting so confusing.Right now, I had to focus on something else. I recalled the task he had given me and thought of how to go ahead with it, giving me something to do. The sun was now shining brightly, indicating it was noon. I had not been able to catch up on much sleep.And returning to my room with all these confusin
CeliaI blinked.“I am afraid all you have heard is basically a rumor” He stepped closer and asked, “I see that my little brother is clearly infatuated with you. And now that I look at you, I understand why”I looked him in the eye and asked, “Why?”He gave a small smile, “So naive yet so resilient. You are like a cat, you look cute and harmless but when you take the claws out, your opponent bites the dust”I was not sure where he was going with this.“I think…you and I…we can form an alliance of sorts.”“Alliance?” I raised an eyebrow and he continued, “Yeah, I am elder than Jasper and everybody knows Edriel doesn’t have much brains. I am a much stronger contender for the throne”“I am not sure right now the throne is something you should be worrying about, Prince Draken”I reminded him. His father was ill and there was an unknown attacker on the loose but here the prince was scheming for the throne.Really?But then he said something that made me want to slap him.“Oh do not worry,
CeliaI rolled my eyes at her in my mind and she decided to fall silent again. Ever since we had found our mate, she had gone even more quiet.The topic was very touchy for us both, especially her, and I knew that seeing her mate on all fours as he sucked blood and grime from the dirt was not an ideal way she would have wanted to find out about him.Like me, she had been unable to resist the mate bond and ignore the pull we felt for Vasil. Though, it felt strange to see our mate bearing his fangs at us and not even realizing that same pull.She was as confused as I was and did not know what to think or feel. Thus, she retreated even farther into the corner of my mind.Meanwhile, now that my task was done I decided to look for Grace and went down towards the servant floor. Grace was not in her room so my feet turned to the kitchen.I was about to step in when I heard the whispers of the maids.“Yes, I heard Prince Jasper has already left for the South with some of his trusted advisors.
CeliaI did not have to look long for her and soon enough found her outside a room, barking orders at a few servants who were cleaning rooms.She was standing sideways and had seen me approach her but showed that she was busy and continued ordering them.I slowly approached her and gently cleared my throat, wanting to catch her attention. But she was still ignoring me.Getting annoyed, I stepped nearer and greeted her.“Good evening, Matron”She turned to look at me and I saw her features that had been a scowl quickly morph into a forced smile.“Oh, hello. I almost did not see you there”Matron replied. I noted the way she did not say either ‘Celia’ or ‘my lady’Not that I wanted to make her respect me but I had no idea why she had any contempt for me. I had barely spoken to her a few times and in our last meeting, she had poked me quite a lot already.She turned her attention back to the servants and began walking away from me a bit.But I followed her and asked, “So, I was told that
Celia“No no, there will be no such need. Well, maybe if we both try, we can open it?”She offered and I saw the hesitation in her voice. It was taking her a lot of effort to say that out loud.After boasting about her place in the palace and how powerful she was, asking me for help, a lowly slave that the prince had brought in for his pleasure, seemed to be beneath her.But, she also feared I would tell the prince how she had either misplaced the key or never opened the library to get it cleaned.That was all I could gauge based on her reaction right now.Either would get her a nice scolding from the King and the Princes, something she would want to avoid at all costs.So, I stepped forward and replied, “Sure, go ahead”She retrieved the bronze key again and pushed it back into the lock. After failing to make it budge, she let go of it as she panted a little.I tried not to chuckle as she said, “Maybe you can try”I nodded my head and stepped forward. The key’s head did not allow me
CeliaIt was bound in dark leather, with intricate symbols etched on the cover. The symbols somehow looked familiar but I could not quite recollect where had I seen them.Feeling curious, I reached out to take it from the shelf, my heart racing with anticipation.It was quite heavy and required me to hold it with both hands. I somehow pulled it out from the shelf, balancingits weight between my two hands before placing it on the reading table with a thud.Viktor came running forward and asked me with a frightened face, “My lady are you okay? I heard a thud”I waved my hand to indicate I was doing fine. “Just some dust”I replied and he came near, “Looks like you found something interesting”I nodded my head, my eyes gleaming in excitement. He too gave me a bright smile.“Well, if you would not need my assistance, can I take a short nap? I have been feeling very tired”He asked me hesitantly. I chuckled and nodded my head as he clapped his hands together and spoke, “If anybody comes l
CeliaI walked towards the bookshelves again but they all looked the same to me.Then I recalled what Viktor had said earlier about the special section of books that were only deemed to be read by the royals.Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to wander through the library, looking for an indication of where that section might be.‘This place should come with a map’ I grumbled to myself.I thought of asking Viktor but I saw him bundled like a cat, sleeping in a corner by resting his head on top of a small pile of books that he had turned into his makeshift pillow.I slowly approached him and called out to him. “Viktor”He was snoring softly, lying on the floor like a drunkard. There were hard lines of work etched on his palms, and his blackish nails held dirt and grime.I felt sorry for him and let the poor bloke rest.Straightening myself, I wondered where to go next when my eyes landed on something.Just across the shelf, I was standing was a special glass case. Thinking
To all my lovely readers, I cannot thank you enough for staying with me on this wild roller coaster of emotions until the end. You cannot pick a favorite child but writing this book was magical, simply because, I got so many of you who were invested to read. I sincerely hope I've improved as a writer when compared to my old books and continue to write stories that touch your hearts. Last year was especially tough for me with fighting depression and a few other issues that I do not want to make public. Some of you loved the story, others not so much. But I want to thank every single one of you for giving this story and this author a chance. If my story managed to provide a temporary escape from reality or simply added a sprinkle of joy to your day, then my mission as a writer is complete. And to those who patiently endured the plot twists – I promise, I only did it because I love you all. Okay, maybe that is not the complete truth. Perhaps there was a hint of mischief in the twis
Jasper I turned my head to look at her from a distance. I could see the nervousness in her gaze, in her body language. My gaze flicked to the guests, all of whom were looking at her. She cleared her throat, “Today is going to be a big day of my life. But before I take that step…I…I wanted to tell you all something.” Her gaze found mine and I only smiled at her. Before she could speak another word, one of the many people in the crowd placed a hand on his chest and bowed down to her. Celia was stunned and watched him In surprise. Behind her, Nymeria, Xenos, and Vasil were slowly descending the stairs too. Following the first person, a few more did the same- place a hand on their chest, their heart to be precise, and bowed to her, going down on one knee. “What is going on?” She asked In a low voice. Soon, everybody followed suit. In a matter of minutes, the entire crowd was on its knees, bowing to her. Her eyes flicked to me and I too did the same gesture. Placing my hand on my
JasperI cleared my throat and looked down at the crowd of people who had come to witness the wedding. There had been no happy event or celebration in the palace after my birth.That day had been a day of celebration but Isadora had turned it into a nightmare. And after all those years, finally, we were having a moment to rejoice.But as I watched the hopeful eyes of the people surrounding me, I could not shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at me.I had to get rid of it. And the only way to do that was to be honest.For a confused moment, I stood on the stairs, looking at the excited faces of the people around me.My gaze flicked to my father and brothers, all of whom were smiling proudly at me.“Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please?” I asked in a loud voice, turning even those heads that had been momentarily distracted while looking at the grandeur of the palace.“First of all, I would like to thank you all for being present today. Frankly, I did not expect so many of
JasperThe huge room suddenly felt too small and the air in the world did not seem enough to fill my lungs.Celia had spoken something, but I was too busy staring at her.My heartbeat was roaring in my ears as I took in her beauty that shone radiantly, nothing short of a thousand lanterns.Her face looked distraught and her eyes were red, her cheeks puffed up. Her makeup had smeared a little too.But despite that, she looked like an angel. A Goddess.I had only seen her in her usual gowns and training clothes, but this marvel…this was just for me.For a minute, I simply stood in front of her, drinking her features. How could she be so blissfully ignorant of what she was doing to me by just standing there in that beautiful dress?I took a step forward, and I saw a tear trickle down her eye.“Shh, don’t cry,” I said softly, reaching for her face and cupping it. And when I did, a surge of electricity rippled through me.My Lycan roared in my head, feeling exhilarated to see her all dolle
CeliaDread settled in my heart when Xenos and Nymeria revealed my life’s biggest secret. My whole life had been a lie?But then what about the people I grew up with thinking they were my parents?Nothing made sense anymore, and I only stared blankly at Xenos.“Is…is that true?”I asked, and he nodded. “There is a reason I never found the courage to tell you all of this earlier. And to be sure that I was not guessing it all wrong, I asked Nymeria to allow me to show her that memory, too. I touched her and with her permission, I looked through her memories…childhood memories, to be specific. There was no trace of me or Isadora in it.”My heart felt like it would break into a million pieces.“But then, how could I never do magic? I never sensed it and…and then why was I not able to fight her when she…she killed me?”I was sobbing hysterically and Nymeria’s face looked like she was cursing herself for ruining my day.She apologized over a thousand times that she did not want me to learn
Celia "Are you going to tell her, or should I?" Nymeria's question hung in the air like a storm cloud, casting a palpable tension in the room. I looked from Nymeria to Xenos, confusion and a growing sense of foreboding twisting in my chest. Their solemn expressions conveyed that something grave was afoot. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my heart beginning to race. "Tell me what?" I pressed, my voice laced with unease. Xenos, usually a man of few words, hesitated for a moment. His eyes held mine for a second longer than I expected, and I could see a mix of guilt and apprehension in them. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again, the weight of his unspoken words lingering in the room. Nymeria, her expression torn between sympathy and responsibility, finally broke the silence. "Celia, there's something you need to know." I felt a shiver crawl down my spine. The room, once filled with warmth and camaraderie, had now become suffocating with uncertainty. My thoughts raced as
CeliaThe grand lycan palace was alive with anticipation, every corner adorned with flowers and delicate decorations in celebration of our wedding day. Two weeks had passed in a blur since the night Jasper had proposed to me in front of my pack.And every day after that seemed like a dream to me. I would wake up and pinch myself, wondering if it was all my imagination.But it was true, every single moment of it…just like today.The air was thick with the sweet scent of blooming roses, and the palace echoed with laughter and the sound of joyous conversations.In my room, the one I used to live in before I moved in with Jasper, a sense of nervous excitement filled the room as I sat before a beautifully crafted vanity mirror, surrounded by my maids and my dear friend, Nymeria. Their skilled hands moved with grace, tending to every detail to transform me into the radiant bride I aspired to be.The maids began to braid my long, dark hair, weaving flowers and jewels into it.As their nimble
"Are you guys ever coming out?" Jasper called with a good-natured grin, standing a few paces away from the porch.He had his hands placed on the doorframe and looked at us with his eyes furrowed as he saw Vasil holding my hand which I gave a gentle squeeze.“Don’t forget what I told you. Think about it,” I added, looking at Vasil while getting up from the chair.Jasper folded his hands over his chest and asked, “What secret are you guys discussing?”Vasil too got up from his chair and gave my arm a light squeeze.“Of course. And just so you know, if he ever hurts you or makes you sad, you know where to find me.”“Ha ha ha, very funny, bloodsucker,” Jasper replied humorlessly and looked at me to indicate that he wanted me to come out of the room.Vasil outstretched his hand as if to say, “After you” and I looked at him with my eyes wide, “Why are you always mean to him?”Jasper grinned, “He tried to take you from me. Am I not great for letting him live?”Vasil, who was just behind me,
CeliaAs Jasper walked beside me, his very presence filled my being with warmth and comfort. His scent, a heady mixture of earthy woods and his own unique, intoxicating fragrance, enveloped me like a protective embrace. I observed him, my heart overflowing with gratitude for the incredible man who had become not just my love but my lifeline, my mate.Isadora had tricked me into believing Vasil was my mate but the true pull of the mate bond was poles apart from the confusion she had tried to insert in my head.It was as if whenever I saw Jasper, my heart filled with hope and the promise that if he was around, nothing would ever go wrong.Every time I recalled the way he had jumped up and down the floor when I called him my mate and the way he ran through the palace telling everyone excitedly that I was his mate, my eyes would grow moist.What had I ever done to deserve him? I barely tried to fight Isadora but he literally fought both the devil and the Goddess, just like he had promised