“learning to smile, with eyes gleaming with pain.”Daisy’s POVThe crowd gasped. Their soft whispering caused Alec to smirk.This was what he wanted. Rubbing it in their faces that the Alpha King couldn’t protect his mate, how much more his subjects.He was swaying their hearts towards him.To crumble a king, take away his subjects.This wasn’t just a test for Hades, but for everyone who lived and called Hades their king.“Smile Daisy, you are happy to be with Alec, show them that,” Eve hissed beside me.Alec had placed her as my custodian.My fingers dug into my palm, my way of focusing on one pain and not the other, “sure,” I gritted out, plastering a wipe smile on my face.My heart fluttered, Hades stood in his full regalia, welcoming the packs and Alphas that came.I was nauseous, my stomach twisted in knots. This would be the first we are meeting since our fall and my abduction.“I can’t do this,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I spoke.“You don’t have to, but you must, think
Daisy’s POV“Are you okay?” Priya whispered in my ear, her voice in a low tone.My body felt at peace in their embrace, I was home.Alec’s eyes remained fixed on me, waiting to hear my reply.“I am okay,” I said in a monotone.They frowned pulling away from the hug.Alec smirked at my reply, “good girl,” he mouthed.I kept a stoic expression, hiding the look of irritation that was itching to show.Priya held my hand, trying to veer my attention to her. Her eyes had questions, that I wasn’t allowed to provide answers.“That’s good to hear,” Brittany cut in before Priya and throw a fit.“Let’s get you settled in,” Brittany’s voice filled with hospitality and warmth, welcoming me home.“This is your room,” Brittany said Pushing the door open for Alec to step in.“Daisy’s room is down the hall,” Brittany muttered.I kept myself from smiling, trust Britt to always find solutions in unruly places.“That won’t be necessary,” Alec muttered, raining on my joy.“We are a couple, it’s easier to
“I hope you see that it’s not so easy for me.”Daisy’s POVThe tension in the room was palpable. The only sound was the punitive weight of silence.It was customary to have breakfast with the Alpha King before joining the rest of the pack in preparations for the goddess night.It wasn’t significantly important for the wives of the Alphas to be present. But in my case, Alec wouldn’t give me such luxury.My mouth was in a constant bitterness, the food tasted bland as it slid down my throat.Alec sat by my side, his hand wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me impossibly closer to his side.“Thank you Hades for the warm welcome,” he muttered, his eyes gleaming with mischief.The cutlery snapped in Hades’ hand, his eyes narrowed in anger, watching Alec play with a loose strand of my hair.Through all this torture, a smile was still plastered on my lips.“smile till your teeth bleeds or Blair bleeds,” Alec’s gentle reminder echoed in my mind.I could feel Hades eyes trying to find mine, bu
“your façade can’t disguise the fact that you are in misery.”Daisy’s POV“What are you doing?”I turned slowly, discreetly wiping my hands on my skirt, cleaning my fingers of the dirt from the soil.“I am not going to ask again,” Eve hissed.“Does it bother you that I just wanted to have a minute alone with myself?” I yelled.“Away from you, Alec and the sick control you both have over my head! I just need a moment to exhale, can I do that?” I uttered, staring at Eve with a hard glare.It had a low success rate, but I was willing to try.I was playing the offense, going for her inner self.Eve’s stance faltered, “I am just tired, and I needed just a minute to find myself,” I whispered, my voice cracking.I was laying it on thick, I couldn’t hive her the space to discover herself.“You can check around, no one is here, it’s just you and I,” I said in a broken voice, sitting down on the garden floor.“Does Alec know you are here?” she asked in a much calmer tone.“No, I left immediatel
Daisy’s POVThe goddess night ritual had gone without any hitch.Alec looked respectful, staring intently at the moon, setting his intentions.He barely paid Hades any mind. I could see the confusion on every ones faces. To an outsider it would look like Alec had a change of heart, but I knew better.Alec’s weapons were easy to decipher. He would bait till he doesn’t and then he just attacks.I could feel priya’s eyes on me through the ritual, and I ignored her, it was easier to avoid eyes that have to think of ways to tell them you couldn’t exactly move until Alec said jump.Alec had it all perfectly planned, he had pretended to be busy with the bottle of whiskey at the bar, while I discreetly told the maid the practiced message to Hades.Alec had made a show of being light on the feet from intoxication. I watched from the corner as he picked a fight with an Alpha, an ally I would assume. Alec’s guards rushed towards him, taking a shouting Alec out of the room.Eve winked at me as
“you had to kill me, but it killed you more.”Hades’ POV“They are leaving,” Lucien said.I could feel the judgement in his eyes. I would have judged me too but each bottle of rum didn’t send to have judgment at the bottom and I had searched through five bottles.“What happened last night?” Lucien asked.His eyes had followed me as I sneaked out, following Daisy to the library.I shook my head slightly, trying to rid myself of the thought. Her words hurt but I couldn’t get over the look in her eyes, like she couldn’t bare the thought of standing in the library.I could tell something was off with her, but there wasn’t a way to tell.Her words were a blow to my chest, each word slicked through my already broken heart, breaking any hope I had.“Hades,” Lucien growled, slamming his fist against the surface of my table.“I choose Alec,” her words echoed in my ears.I was too late.“Enough of this sob party,” Lucien yelled.“what fucking happened?”“everything!” I shouted.“Every fucking
“strategy sets the scene for the tale.”Daisy’s POVI knew my words had hurt.But I had wished they would at least stand outside to watch us leave.I wasn’t expecting Hades to stand outside, but Brittany and Priya, would have at least tried.“Don’t look so broken, he is just getting over the heart break,” Alec taunted, wrapping his hands gently around a sleeping Eve.In some moments, I would see his demeanor crack and his resolve would falter as he stayed at Eve with so much gentleness in his eyes.Blair squeezed my hand gently.I kept my eyes focused on the building that was slowly getting out of sight. My eyes widened, seeing Hades rush out of the building, just before our carriage passed through the gate.“I love you,” I mouthed, praying that the wind would take my message to him.Blair’s thumb rubbed soothing circles on my hand, reminding me of her presence.The gate had closed but Hades eyes still followed me.“you are alright,” Blair whispered.I nodded my head, her words comfor
“a chain reaction of counter moves, I have become the mastermind.”Daisy’s POV“Do you think he knows?”My face brightened, watching Blair emerge from the tree shadows.Alec’s greatest weapon was the power of surprise.It was the night he held her on a choke hold that brought everything to light. A plan had formed in my head when she told me everything she had gone through under his ruling.Alec underestimated me, and that was my weapon.“A narcissist never sees past his shadow,” I muttered, pulling her inti a deep hug.“I was so scared he would hear how loud my heart was beating,” she whispered in my ear, her voice trembling.Blair was still shaken up, after Alec had brought up her dead lover.“you are fine now,” I whispered in her ear, rubbing her back soothingly.One thing about our massive fall out was the fact that Alec had lost his bargaining chip.Blair was free.“how are you feeling?” I asked, taking in her tired face.“it’s better, knowing that I don’t have to be looking over