NeemI have gotten better at acting. I had to, since it did not get easier to be fed from. Something else that has not stopped is the hungry eyes on me. I hear the whispers going around, the cupbearers before me were game to any of the officials that cared to feed. They lived exponentially worse lives than I do, sometimes being fed from so exhaustively the meat is peeled from their bones. They whisper that I’m different, and they want nothing to do with me. What feels like ages since I stepped foot in the palace, Mia is still my only friend, if I can call her that. I’ve not seen or heard from her at all, not since Prince Ismir escorted me back to my chambers and we ran into her in the hallways. There was a look on her face, something she quickly stifled and something I only noticed because I was paying her that much attention. I’m not sure but I wonder if she really does like the prince and feels possessive of him. If so, I don’t have the chance to explain to her that there is nothi
Neem“From here onwards, you must be quiet.” The prince says and my eyes widen with anticipation. I nod my head enthusiastically and sign. “I’ll be as quiet as a mouse.”“Remain close to me and we must move without being seen. Do you think you can do it?”I’m smiling wide as I nod. I’m so excited I could jump but I settle for taking his hand, right before I realise I just touched his royal body without permission. I freeze and drop my hand, berating myself but he suddenly takes it back, interlacing our fingers.“Let’s go.”He pushes the door in and we make our way inside. The first thing I notice is the deathly silence and immediately, my eyes feed on sights that I’m sure are forbidden for me. The cells are made of unbreakable glass which appears to be one way. The first one has a cheetah pacing restlessly in his cage and I look at the prince in question. “Our scientists have tried to engineer the gene that allows us to shift. Thanks to the power of the Mizuki crystals, there have
Neem“Who put you in there?!” I try to ask, dropping to my knees in front of him but only a croak comes out. I’ve never regretted not having a tongue as I do right now. His little face is stained with tears from his brilliant green eyes but he stops crying and cocks his head. No way... did he hear me? I wave frantically at him but then I remember the glass is one way, that is why his eyes are not focusing on me. He sniffles as if concluding no one is with him and more tears pour down his face. His little face breaks down into tears again and my heart hurts. With everything in me, I want to hold that little boy close and comfort him. “Hey!” I croak and pound on the glass. Can he hear me?His cries cut off again and he looks around in confusion as if to locate the sound. He must have some really sharp hearing because I’m sure the glass is sound-proof. I pound harder on the glass and he startles, his eyes sharpening. He peers into the glass and raises a palm to rest on the smooth sur
LorI walk away from my Luna’s screams that seem to ricochet down the hall. On the first day, her screams couldn’t be heard. She was chained underwater and she drowned as many times as she revived, her immortality saving her each time, only to welcome her into fresh torment. Her screams could be heard on the second day when the drill started on her toes. Today, her screams are even louder. Three days for the three days that my mate has been unconscious thanks to her scheming and her betrayal. Killing her may be impossible but I wasn’t joking when I said there are worse things than death. I’m on my way to my chambers, where I’ve had Dan relocate her to when Tate falls in step beside me.“Alpha, your attention is needed.”“Speak.” I say without breaking stride. “Alpha Reenan has asked for an audience.”I come to a stop and glare down at my beta even though he is only the messenger. “Tell him he should have thought of that before he dared to surround my men on my territory. He will lo
CelineI jerk upright in bed and for a second, my head takes a dive for the ground.“You’re awake.”I startle and look to the side to find Dan, the head physician looking down at me with a smile. A few other physicians flutter around the room. Where is Lor? I remember the last thing I felt before going unconscious, pain that did not begin or end, pain that crippled me. My mind shies away from fully remembering that, it must be as bad as I remember if I needed this many physicians. “Where am I?” I ask, looking at my strange surroundings with awe. “In the Alpha’s chambers.” She says. This is my first time being in here and the grandeur of the bed chamber alone surpasses my imagination. “Where is he?” I ask. The door bursts open in that moment and while Dan backs away, he crosses the room to me in long strides. “Lor.” I whisper, tears springing to my eyes at the sight of him. I’ve been holding it together through sheer will but seeing him here after I wished so fervently for him ma
EmmaI grin, my little legs pumping as I race for home. The little sea shell is clutched in my chubby hands and I can’t wait to show them to Ma. I found it! One of the treasures of the sea. For as long as I can remember, the sea has always called to me. I’m just like Ma in that. Werewolves however, have no business on the sea so we stay here on land. Father says we can be protected here on land, amongst the pack. I hate the pack. They look at me strange, and they don’t like playing with me. I prefer the sea anyway. Ma says I should be patient and grow strong first. When I do, I’ll show Father I can protect all of us and we can finally go to the sea. Today, I finally found my first treasure and I can’t wait for Ma to see it. I turn the corner and run towards home. It’s at the end of the street, and other wolves refuse to live close to us so we’re the only ones on the street. I like to pretend Ma and Father are just so rich they bought the whole street. “Ma!” I’m yelling long before
Celine“Are you sure you’ll be okay here?” Nessa asks, casting a glance around my room and finding it wanting. “I think you’ll fare better in the Alpha’s chambers.”“You have nothing to worry about, Lor took care of everything. In this room is a door to a secret underground chamber that I’ll go to if I feel threatened. It even leads to Lor’s chambers. Go on and stop being such a worrywart.”She huffs. “Fine, but keep the door locked.”“Yes mom.” I say and she laughs and shakes her head. “Don’t let me keep you from chasing the man of your dreams.”“Ken? He’s hardly the man of my dreams.” She says with a laugh. “But the male can fuck, so I’ll guard him jealously.”“Well then don’t let me stop you from getting laid good.” I say and bid her bye. I close the door behind her, high on the thrill of the coming full moon. It is not even night yet and I can already feel its power in the air, working to strengthen my limbs and sharpen my mind. I must hurry or lose my chance to free that male. N
Neem“I’ll be fine, take me to my room.” I sign to the prince but he pretends not to see me. We pass by so many servants on the way, and the entire time my heart is beating so loud it deafens me. We have long left the servants’ wing and we are surely headed to his chambers and despite myself, I wonder what the others think. The prince is carrying me in his arms, and people bow and curtsy to him as he passes, their silent judgement following me. For some strange reason, I want to defend myself. I never asked him to carry me and I surely never asked him to bring me to his quarters. We enter his chambers and the weight finally lifts off my chest. I don’t know what I would have done if we came upon the king. I don’t want to find out how much of a capital offence it is to have the prince carry me, a mere servant in his arms. He carries me into his bedchamber and puts me on the bed but I stand right back. “I can’t.” I sign. I’m his servant, not his equal. “Lie down. I insist.” He comm
Neem "I thought you would be done dressing up. We are going to be late." I tell Aden. "These buttons are hell." He mutters. "There should be about a hundred buttons on here.""Hardly." I say, amused. "There are only fifteen."Our clothes in Lyria never had buttons and it's always amusing that something so simple always gives him so much trouble. "Might as well be a hundred." He mutters and shaking my head, I go to help. He stares down at me as I work one button to the next. "You are staring.""I can't help it, you're beautiful." He says and I smile. "One would think you were only seeing me for the first time.""It feels like that sometimes." He says. "Sometimes I wake up amazed to have you by my side.""Only sometimes?" I tease him and he laughs. "Come here." He pulls my lips to his and kisses me and I forget about the buttons as I hold on, revelling in the movement of his lips on mine. I moan when his tongue darts in to taste me and his hands clench conclusively on my ass. "D
EmmaOne of the creatures runs at us, foaming at the mouth and bleeding from a dozen cuts. Celine intercepts him and kills him and I stare at her. “They said you controlled these creatures. Control them and end this wretched war.”She shakes her head. “It’s not that easy anymore. I was able to control them when my cat was dominant, when they absorbed my wolf. Someone donated her energy to bring back my wolf, but she neglected to mention that I would lose control of the soldiers when she is restored. I wouldn’t have it any other way anyway.”I sneer. “How pathetic. Of what use are you with your wolf then? You should sacrifice her to save hundreds of lives if need be but you are nothing but selfish as ever.”Her brows rise. “I’m not receiving a lecture on selflessness from you, am I? Now I have seen it all.”Behind us, Lor finally rips the king’s heart out with a roar. The war seems to stop for a second, everyone watching as he twists his head off his throat and sends it flying. And t
Celine They are unending. It is as if the entire world has moved against the Island. My soldiers are not enough, and so people of Lyria have joined, fighting against the enemy but they are lacking in spirit. Perhaps because they have been broken down by the economy but they fall like corn stalk against the enemy. I keep soldiers on their leader constantly, but he is not the only one to be worried about. My soldiers tear into most of the soldiers before they have a chance to defend themselves but too many of them are experienced killers, cutting through our numbers in swaths. I glance behind me but the king and the Whisperer are now gone from their perch, and then finally the harpies are released. Terrible terrible creatures that can ice the blood in your veins with a touch. Where they go, death follows, immortals shrivelling up and dying in numbers. And yet more of their army comes. There are about ten of the harpies and I’m surprised when one of them streams from the ground right i
CelineI feel it when Ismir dies, like a lance directly into my heart. I scream in pain and my attack falters. No. I look back, knowing I will not find him at he balcony he once occupied with his father and the Whisperer. My eyes meet his father’s and I wonder if he knows. My distraction costs me. Strong arms wrap around me from behind and I’m plastered hard against a male chest. “Stand back.” He orders the creatures, keeping them in front of us and me as a shield between them. They angle and pace, the front liners reluctant to attack and skewer me. “What do you think you are doing?” I grit out, trying to break out of his grip but he’s too strong. “You’re coming back with me.” He says, shuffling back. I burst into laughter, a little hysterical. “Are you daft as fuck? You want to leap through the barrier to freedom? The both of us will die before our next breath.”“I passed through the barrier to get here.” He says, his voice resolved. “By some freak accident. You will not be so
EmmaHe has grown so much in three days alone, this baby that has become my last surviving shield.“Dan!” I snap, heading to the balcony. “Yes, Emma.” She says from where she balances precariously on the ledge, not even bothering to look up. I thought the female stuck to my side because she had grown a soft side for me, as I have worked hard to lower her guard. I should have known better, she is an omega herself, an emotional fortress. Since the end of the three days that we raised Alaric, she has completely withdrawn, not even bothering to stand for any other person but the little brat. ”You said the three days were all we needed to ensure his survival.”“Yes. Your boy is stronger than a horse.” She says, raising her face to the sun. “Mama!” The culprit comes toddling out, holding chubby little hands out to me with a grin. I stare at him, my face going sour. “So why the hell does he still follow me around everywhere?!” I ask in dismay. I can’t look across a room without finding h
Neem“You found the source.” He says. His voice is cold and the way he is looking at me scares me. I affect a light tone. “Prince Ismir-““I cannot allow you to live.” Chills race down my spine and I laugh awkwardly. “What are you talking about?” I say, my voice pleading. I always knew my inquisitiveness would land me in trouble one day. I cannot believe the day is finally here. “Why do you always have to go around snooping and putting yourself in situations you have no business being in?”“I’m sorry!” I say, taking a step forward. “I’m sorry okay? This will never happen again.”“You are right, it won’t.” He says and then he shifts. I scream and dive to the side as he leaps, coming up on my knee and watching him nearly crash into the crystals. He sidesteps them in a precarious move in the last second and spins around, furious. I’ve never seen him shift, and for good reason, I realise. That is no wolf, he looks like he belongs amongst the deformities on the front line. He is thre
NeemI burst into the library, unconcerned about the racket I’m making as I race through the shelves to the back. Maria is reading a book and doesn’t bother to put it down. “Ordinarily, you should be banned from coming into the library.” She says placidly. “Outside.” I say urgently. “They are engaged in a fight. Celine and-““I know.” She cuts me off, not taking her eyes off the book. I gape at her. “You do? Then how can you be so calm?”“I am calm. I would recommend some to you too. What concern is it of mine if two idiots want to kill each other?”She’s right, she doesn’t give a fuck. She has said it enough times and yet she was the first person I thought of when I needed help.“I need your help.” I say and she finally puts the book down and pins with a stare piercing enough to make me squirm. “I see you got your tongue back.”“I need your help.” I say again, refusing to be redirected. “No.” She says, making me gape again. “No? But you don’t even know what I want to ask.”“I d
Prince Ismir“How did he come through the barrier?” Father snarls, finally thrown off his feet by the unexpected happening. “I don’t know.” The Whisperer says, my first time hearing him utter those words. “It should be impossible.”Apparently not, if he’s right there. “What do you know about him?” I ask. There is something about him that has my hair standing on end. It is simply my most primitive instincts recognising a threat, a major one.“Nothing,” The Whisperer says. “But judging by his power and the fact that he entered the barrier unscathed, there are only a few people that come to mind. I believe that is her mate, the one commonly known as the demon wolf.”“What?” I say, startled out of the blue. Is that where the sense of familiarity comes from? Am I feeling her familiarity with him? “She does not look like she recognises him.” I say, tracing her location.“Not with the the amount of poison we had to pump into her system.” He says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t ev
LorFor the umpteenth time, I put a hand on the barrier and it goes straight through. My hand curls into a tight fist and I punch it hard. Nothing. It is just air. The demarcation that shows the island of Lyria, a slight shimmer in the air is quite obvious if you know what you are looking for. Otherwise, your eyes would probably skip right over it. We have besieged this perimeter for two days now and to my frustration, we have nothing to show for it. Not a soul has stepped out of it, and neither can we step inside either. If I didn’t have a strong gut feeling that she is behind that barrier, I would have believed that it is all a conjecture of my deranged mind.Maddilla comes to a stop beside me and peers into the barrier. It is not just Bloodbound pack but nearly every damn pack this side of the world out here. There are more than a hundred and fifty packs here, each one of them as eager and enthusiastic to pierce the barrier of the island as the next. I didn’t have much convincing