The carriage dashed upon the sea of frozen trees. Though it was snowing outside, the carriage remained warm inside. My eyes were almost closed, preparing for a long slumber, but I forcefully tried to keep them open.Riftan was before me, eyeing the windows with a bored expression. Riftan looked aristocratic and princely. Those dark suits perfectly matched the male's tanned body and snow-coloured hair. Well, it is safe to say that whatever Riftan wears—whether rags or sacks—he triumphs over them and brings them to their best image. Any outfit would look good on him. He shifted his head to me and crossed his arms, "Nervous?" I shook my head and rolled my eyes. "What would I be nervous about? It's just a celebratory banquet, isn't it?""A celebratory banquet of all the influential Weres in this continent," he added. "It is not just a mere dinner. Many alphas, just like me, are going to be dining with us at the same table.""Well, that is not something I should be scared about. Afte
"It seems like you have caught the person that we wanted the most, Zen."Riftan resumed his meal while I froze. I could not even move my utensils to dine. Wariness won over me while locking my eyes on the Alpha, who spoke to me like I was a fish baited to land."It was only a coincidence that she had planned to make me one of her newest targets," Riftan replied. "But unfortunately, They captured her just as she reached the base. She was already weakened by snow and her illness."I grit my teeth at Riftan. How dare he talk about my illness in front of everyone else?"The infamous Little Red Riding Ho
RUBY VERMILLIONWhat's taking him so long?I had already finished my meal, and I still couldn't spot him anywhere. If I leave this place and escape, I swear that it would be his fault. I looked around me, trying to catch a glimpse of his silhouette in the surroundings. But all I see were Weres on their beautiful suits and dresses.Riftan is a tall man with unusual white hair, so spotting him would be easy. I just don't understand why I am not seeing him right now."Hey there," a woman whispered to me. I turned my head aside and realized she was one of the table's Lunas. I gently arched my head and bowed at her in respect.I can't make too funny movements. I must remain pleasant because if these Weres ever found me disrespectful, they would break my bones and feed on them."What's your name?" she asked. "My name is Stella.""It's Ruby," I responded to her and smiled. "Ruby... you have a very beautiful name. It befits you perfectly.""Thank you," I responded to her. "Yours too. It so
Riftan and I hurried back to the inn, our clothes drenched because of the snow. He opened the door and I stepped inside. I threw my shoes on the corner and aimed straight for the bathroom. Riftan was left in the bedroom, taking off his clothes and reaching out to a nearby dresser to get some spare clothes.I opened the bathroom door and peeked at him. Riftan's body was just out of this world. He had a perfect body shape. Lean chest, broad back, chiseled abdomen. His wet hair adding more to the beauty of hi
RUBY VERMILLIONRiftan and I walked toward the taverns, our steps echoing the tension between us. After last night’s strange encounter, we’ve been avoiding each other, unsure if that kiss was a dream or reality. The memory was too fuzzy.This morning, I found Riftan pacing the room, his restlessness stirring the floorboards. Irritated, I threw a pillow at him. He stopped, wide-eyed, scratched his nape, and then turned away, avoiding my gaze. I wasn’t sure if he was embarrassed, but I wasn’t taking the blame—it was his kiss on my forehead, after all.Riftan pointed to a busy, run-down shack. “Shall we eat here?”“Sure,” I mumbled.As soon as we stepped inside, the tavern fell silent. All eyes were on us, particularly on me. Riftan remained indifferent, but I could feel the weight of their stares, the whispers that followed us.“Isn’t she the assassin who killed our brethren?”“Why did Lord Dreyar let her into the camp?”Their words didn’t hurt me anymore. I’d been through enough.“Rift
I could see Riftan’s composure slipping, his hand twitching as he forced himself to eat. I stayed silent, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks."Haha, my bad, Riftan, I was just explaining why you wouldn’t let her drink.""That’s not the reason!" Riftan gritted his teeth. "At least… that’s not the reason.""Then what is it?" Dreyar provoked. "Why are you so adamant?""I-I think we should stop here," I whispered, feeling Riftan’s embarrassment. "It would be bad if he got mad at me."Dreyar chuckled, ignoring me. "Zen, let the woman make her own decisions. She follows her king."Dreyar’s words dripped with malice, and Riftan’s glare intensified,"Stop provoking me, Hector," he warned. "I don’t appreciate you mentioning his name.""Kinh Ydrian Hezel," Dreyar continued with a smirk, "The Great King of Hezel.""You know him?" I asked, curious."Everyone knows the Great King," Dreyar whispered, his eyes gleaming. "Watch me piss Zen off by saying his name over and over again."He cleared his th
Riftan lay on the couch, eyes heavy from the alcohol. I chuckled as his head hit the cushions with a soft thud. Poking him did nothing—he was out cold."Weakling," I muttered, amused. Who knew one mug of beer could knock him out so easily?As I stared at him, a dark thought crept into my mind. Kill him now.The voices in my head told me.I could end him, use the lamp to stab him... But then what? I'd be hunted before I even got back to the palace."No," I breathed, shaking my head. "It's not the time. Don't mess this up."Taking a deep breath, I crouched and lifted his arm over my shoulder, dragging him to the bed. He groaned in his sleep as I tucked him in."Let's get you to bed," I whispered, more to myself than him. He was out for the count. I had the whole day to myself, and an unsettling memory of Dreyar’s offer lingered in my mind. Evening came, and Riftan still hadn't stirred. I watched the golden clock tick away the hours, then sighed. Waiting for him to wake up wasn’t an opt
Run. I sprinted across the snow, trying to get back to the inn. I regretted my decision to meet with Sir Dreyar. Everything became much more worse!I could see the door from our room. I reach out to it and opened the door. I went inside and locked it behind me, and then took the time to breathe some air.'He was just toying with you. None of that matters now. Tomorrow will be your last day here in this place. Just stay close to Riftan and-'
RUBY VERMILLIONThe bed was warm. I could feel Riftan's warmth as his arms were wrapped around mine the entire time we slept. Wait what?I immediately rose up at sat on the bed. My sudden movement wakes the male. "R-Riftan?!""Ugh... what?""W-What did we...""We didn't do anything."The sunlight peered from behind the curtains, and we could hear the sound of cogs and wheels. I stared at Riftan. He was shirtless and had a huge wound on his lower torso. I
"Sir?!"I felt a cold hand grasp me. My eyes instantly opened as balls of sweat streamed down from my face.There was a woman before me, holding a mop on her other hand.My breathing became uneven, I gasp for air as I sat straight."You were having a nightmare, Sir." A nightmare.That's right.It was only a nightmare. It isn't real. Nothing is.
ZEN RIFTANMy body felt so heavy.I remember waking up in a vast flowerbed of daisies and dandelions. The warm sun gently bestowing me with its ethereal light. As my irises focused to grasp my surroundings, I slowly lifted my self up and probed around.I remember this place.Where was I exactly? What was I doing? How did I end up being there?All of those, I can remember.
Run. I sprinted across the snow, trying to get back to the inn. I regretted my decision to meet with Sir Dreyar. Everything became much more worse!I could see the door from our room. I reach out to it and opened the door. I went inside and locked it behind me, and then took the time to breathe some air.'He was just toying with you. None of that matters now. Tomorrow will be your last day here in this place. Just stay close to Riftan and-'
Riftan lay on the couch, eyes heavy from the alcohol. I chuckled as his head hit the cushions with a soft thud. Poking him did nothing—he was out cold."Weakling," I muttered, amused. Who knew one mug of beer could knock him out so easily?As I stared at him, a dark thought crept into my mind. Kill him now.The voices in my head told me.I could end him, use the lamp to stab him... But then what? I'd be hunted before I even got back to the palace."No," I breathed, shaking my head. "It's not the time. Don't mess this up."Taking a deep breath, I crouched and lifted his arm over my shoulder, dragging him to the bed. He groaned in his sleep as I tucked him in."Let's get you to bed," I whispered, more to myself than him. He was out for the count. I had the whole day to myself, and an unsettling memory of Dreyar’s offer lingered in my mind. Evening came, and Riftan still hadn't stirred. I watched the golden clock tick away the hours, then sighed. Waiting for him to wake up wasn’t an opt
I could see Riftan’s composure slipping, his hand twitching as he forced himself to eat. I stayed silent, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks."Haha, my bad, Riftan, I was just explaining why you wouldn’t let her drink.""That’s not the reason!" Riftan gritted his teeth. "At least… that’s not the reason.""Then what is it?" Dreyar provoked. "Why are you so adamant?""I-I think we should stop here," I whispered, feeling Riftan’s embarrassment. "It would be bad if he got mad at me."Dreyar chuckled, ignoring me. "Zen, let the woman make her own decisions. She follows her king."Dreyar’s words dripped with malice, and Riftan’s glare intensified,"Stop provoking me, Hector," he warned. "I don’t appreciate you mentioning his name.""Kinh Ydrian Hezel," Dreyar continued with a smirk, "The Great King of Hezel.""You know him?" I asked, curious."Everyone knows the Great King," Dreyar whispered, his eyes gleaming. "Watch me piss Zen off by saying his name over and over again."He cleared his th
RUBY VERMILLIONRiftan and I walked toward the taverns, our steps echoing the tension between us. After last night’s strange encounter, we’ve been avoiding each other, unsure if that kiss was a dream or reality. The memory was too fuzzy.This morning, I found Riftan pacing the room, his restlessness stirring the floorboards. Irritated, I threw a pillow at him. He stopped, wide-eyed, scratched his nape, and then turned away, avoiding my gaze. I wasn’t sure if he was embarrassed, but I wasn’t taking the blame—it was his kiss on my forehead, after all.Riftan pointed to a busy, run-down shack. “Shall we eat here?”“Sure,” I mumbled.As soon as we stepped inside, the tavern fell silent. All eyes were on us, particularly on me. Riftan remained indifferent, but I could feel the weight of their stares, the whispers that followed us.“Isn’t she the assassin who killed our brethren?”“Why did Lord Dreyar let her into the camp?”Their words didn’t hurt me anymore. I’d been through enough.“Rift
Riftan and I hurried back to the inn, our clothes drenched because of the snow. He opened the door and I stepped inside. I threw my shoes on the corner and aimed straight for the bathroom. Riftan was left in the bedroom, taking off his clothes and reaching out to a nearby dresser to get some spare clothes.I opened the bathroom door and peeked at him. Riftan's body was just out of this world. He had a perfect body shape. Lean chest, broad back, chiseled abdomen. His wet hair adding more to the beauty of hi
RUBY VERMILLIONWhat's taking him so long?I had already finished my meal, and I still couldn't spot him anywhere. If I leave this place and escape, I swear that it would be his fault. I looked around me, trying to catch a glimpse of his silhouette in the surroundings. But all I see were Weres on their beautiful suits and dresses.Riftan is a tall man with unusual white hair, so spotting him would be easy. I just don't understand why I am not seeing him right now."Hey there," a woman whispered to me. I turned my head aside and realized she was one of the table's Lunas. I gently arched my head and bowed at her in respect.I can't make too funny movements. I must remain pleasant because if these Weres ever found me disrespectful, they would break my bones and feed on them."What's your name?" she asked. "My name is Stella.""It's Ruby," I responded to her and smiled. "Ruby... you have a very beautiful name. It befits you perfectly.""Thank you," I responded to her. "Yours too. It so