Chapter: 25. The AmbushMAEVE'S POVWe had just made it to the meeting point when I noticed Kaida and Gretchen were nowhere to be found."They must be on their way," I said, looking for a place to sit and wait for them."Think the others successfully got them?" Nyla asked, settling down on one of the moss-covered stones to catch her breath."They better have. We didn't go through all that just to assemble an incomplete key. And I trust them both—Kaida and Gretchen wouldn't come back here empty-handed." I tried to keep my voice light, but the truth was I was worried.The sound of footsteps crushing the ground made us look up to find Kaida and Dalia coming through, looking like they dug their way out of a pit. Kaida's hair was tangled with leaves and dirt, and Dalia had scratches all over her arms."What the hell happened to you guys? Also, please tell me you got it," I called out as they approached.Kaida held up a silver key piece, grinning. "Got it. Though we had to outsmart some very annoying Pokers to get
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-08-01
Chapter: 24. S'then River GRETCHEN'S POV The S'then River looked peaceful from where they both stood, but Kai and Gretchen knew better than to trust its appearance. The Gerins in it were ready to drown you in there for just daring to breathe wrong in their direction. "Okay, so this should be easy. Now all we have to do is offer it up to them, right?" I asked Kai. "Yes, but still we have to be careful even though we have what they want," he replied, fidgeting with his shirt. "Careful? I had to listen to my dad talk my ear off to get this. It better be worth it," I said back. As he was about to say something to me, two Gerins had emerged from the water. They had blue-green skin which glistened in the sunlight. They were beautiful in an otherworldly way, with flowing hair that seemed to move like water even in the still air, and eyes like deep pools that reflected everything and revealed nothing. "The pearl is acceptable," the taller one had said, her voice calm. "But the bargain requires the seeker to ret
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-08-01
Chapter: 23. The Cunning Forest IIKAIDA'S POVI felt like an ass. Here I was, yelling at her for being impulsive, when really she was just trying to prove she wasn't worthless."You're not useless," I said quietly."Yes, I am. You just said—" She tried arguing back while the tears still poured out silently. "I said you were impulsive. There's a difference." I scooted closer to her in the dirt. "Look, I'm not good at this whole... emotional support thing. But you're not stupid, Dalia. Naive, maybe. Sheltered. But not stupid."She sniffled. "That's not exactly a glowing endorsement.""I'm not done. You want to know what I see when I look at you? I see someone who's been protected her whole life but still chose to come to this deadly academy. I see someone brave enough to jump into a pit for a piece of metal, even if it was a terrible idea. I see someone who cares enough about her cousin to team up with people she barely knows.""Really?""Really. You just need to learn to think before you act. Channel that bravery into
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-08-01
Chapter: 22. The Cunning Forest IKAIDA'S POV "This is too easy," I muttered, staring at the Dyrium key piece sitting innocently in the middle of the forest. Just laying there on a bed of grass, gleaming in all its silver glory. No guards, no obvious traps, no magical barriers. Just a key piece waiting to be picked up. Yeah, right. "What do you mean too easy?" Dalia asked, already taking a step toward it. "Maybe we just got lucky for once." I grabbed her arm before she could go any further. "Dalia, stop. Think about this. See the other locations have deadly water spirits and a crazy mage who traps people in dreams. You really think we are just lucky to get the keys without a single problem?, this is obviously a trap." She hesitated, but I could see the impatience in her eyes. "Well, maybe this one is supposed to be easier? Like the goddess finally smiling down on us with some luck?" "It looks easy but I promise there's a catch." I said, trying to warn her off. The Cunning Forest was aptly named, apparently.
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-08-01
Chapter: 21. Mad Mage IIMAEVE'S POV "What's wrong, sweetheart? You look like you've seen a ghost," my mom said, rushing to me with concern etched on her face. And then my father walked in, he was alive and whole, and grinning at me like he used to when I was small. "Happy early birthday, little star. Your mother's making your favorite." I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. They were here. They were alive and whole and smiling at me like the last few years had never happened. Like I hadn't been slaving away in Grimwell. I hadn't been branded a traitor's daughter. Hadn't been living carefully so I didn't get kicked out by my aunt. She was smiling like none of those things had happened at all... and I was losing my mind. "I thought we could have a little celebration," she continued, going back to pull out a pan of sweet cake from the oven. "Just the three of us, like old times." "But you're..." I started, then stopped. Did it matter? Did it truly? They were here. My parents were here and they loved me a
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-08-01
Chapter: 20. Mad Mage IMAEVE'S POV "We are so screwed," Nyla muttered as we approached the crooked cottage that looked like it might collapse if you breathed on it wrong.The Mad Mage's cottage sat in a clearing surrounded by twisted trees that seemed to lean away from it, like even they knew something was off. Smoke was coming from the chimney in an unnatural way."Remember the plan," I whispered, adjusting the rough men's clothes I had borrowed from the guards back at the palace before we set off. It was a crazy plan, but the only one I could think of when we were unfortunate enough to be the ones coming here. The fabric of the clothes made my skin itch a bit, but I could bear it for a couple of minutes."You get the key from her potion basket while I keep her distracted," I said to Nyla."And if she realizes you're not actually her dead lover?" Nyla replied shakily, her eyes trembling."Then we run like hell and hope she's too crazy to follow us far." I gave her a look that could be described as the opp
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-08-01
The Comeback of a Star
“You have no idea what you’re asking for, do you?” he said.
I felt a slight sting of offence. “And what was that supposed to mean?”
He took a step closer, his face dangerously close to mine. I could feel the air shift. His presence filled the room. His hand moved to my cheek, stroking it lightly.
“I have a good feeling this isn’t your thing because you look like a doe in a den of wolves.” His voice dropped to a quiet, low rumble, making my stomach flip with excitement.
Ayra had been the perfect wife—loyal, accomplished, and willing to sacrifice everything for the man she loved. But when he betrayed her with the one person she despised most, she didn't beg or cry. Instead, she slammed the divorce papers in his face and walked away.
A reckless one-night stand with this dangerously charming stranger seems like freedom until she discovers his true identity.
As Ayra fights to rebuild her life, a figure from her forgotten past reappears, threatening to change everything.
She’s not just leaving her old life behind, she’s determined to create a better one.
Lire
Chapter: 21. A Stalker and A FanAYRAI was speechless as Liam took my hand and led me away from Chris. We walked outside where his car was waiting, sleek and black like everything else in his world.The moment the door shut behind us, I whirled around to face him."Wait, what do you mean 'thanks for the heads up'?" Then I turned to glare at Raven, who was sitting in the backseat trying to blend into the leather. "You called him here? How did you even get his contact?"Before Raven could defend herself, Liam cut in smoothly."I told her to keep me updated if any problems came up. You don't expect me to let you leave for another country without knowing where you are or if you're safe, do you, Cupcake?" He said it like it was the most reasonable thing in the world.I shot Raven another death glare. "So you've decided to help this stalker with his activities?""Stalker?" Raven scoffed. "Girl, you brought the man to a major event. I wouldn't call him a stalker. Your fans think he's hot and are wondering if he's some newl
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-06-12
Chapter: 20. Airport Ambush AYRARaven burst through the door grinning from ear to ear but still clearly ready to leave."Ayra, we need to move! Like, yesterday!" She was practically bouncing on her feet, travel suitcase in one hand, garment bag in the other. "I want to catch our flight and still have time for photos with your fans. They've been camping out at the airport since dawn."Liam acknowledged her with a polite nod but didn't say a word, simply disappearing back into the room."Your boy toy's not much of a talker, is he?" Raven whispered conspiratorially."He has his moments," I said, following him inside.I found Liam in his walk-in closet, rifling through clothes."Here." He handed me an oversized hoodie and shorts. "These never fit me properly, so they should look good on you."I held up the clothes, surprised by how soft the fabric was. It was a Balmain hoodie and Calvin Klein jeans, they were quality but comfortable enough to sleep in."My fans are going to think this is some cool styling choice,"
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-06-08
Chapter: 19. Morning Confessions AYRAI woke up disoriented, sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows. For a moment, I couldn't remember where I was and then it all came flooding back. Liam's house…the chase…and his blood.I must have been more exhausted than I'd realized. All I remembered from the previous night was taking a shower, picking up some book that was probably just there for decoration, and then... nothing. I crashed hard.Raven must have called me a dozen times by now.I reached for my phone on the nightstand, expecting to see a screen full of missed calls and increasingly frantic texts. But there was nothing. No notifications at all.That was weird. I hadn't told her I wasn't coming home, and she'd definitely want to know what happened at the event, especially with the dress disaster.As if summoned by my thoughts, my phone started ringing. Raven's name flashed across the screen.I smirked. "As expected.""Well, well," Raven's voice was coy, practically purring through the speaker. "How was your n
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-06-07
Chapter: 18. Blood and BandagesAYRALiam's private residence was nothing like I'd expected. It was modern architecture with very clean lines but strangely impersonal. Like a very expensive hotel suite rather than a home.But as he came around to open my door, all thoughts of interior design fled my mind.There was blood seeping through his white shirt."Liam!" I gasped, pointing at the spreading crimson stain on his right lower abdomen. "You're bleeding!"He glanced down and cursed under his breath, clearly more annoyed that I'd noticed than concerned about the actual wound."It's okay, Cupcake. I'm good."But I wasn't listening. My hands were already moving to his shirt buttons, panic making my fingers clumsy."This isn't okay! How did you—" I stopped short when I saw the bandages underneath his dress shirt. Professional medical tape and gauze, already soaked through. "Liam, what the hell is this?"For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. His jaw worked like he was fighting some internal battle.Then he said: "
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-06-06
Chapter: 17. Danger and DelightAYRARina came over with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, Callum trailing behind her like an expensive accessory. The cameras ate it up—two stunning women in identical dresses, about to embrace for what would undoubtedly become tomorrow's most talked-about photo."Ayra, darling," Rina purred, pulling me into a hug that looked affectionate to the outside world. But as she pressed close, her voice dropped to a venomous whisper only I could hear."You do that dress no justice whatsoever. The Lilies board will be able to tell who the real deal is and who's just an imposter claiming what she's not." Her nails dug slightly into my back. "And it's definitely not you."I smiled brighter for the cameras, my voice equally sweet as I whispered back, "We'll see about that, won't we?"Meanwhile, Callum had positioned himself next to Liam, his posture screaming intimidation tactics."You must be the Yaldon," Callum said, his voice carrying that entitled drawl only billionaire heirs possessed. "I
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-06-05
Chapter: 16. Red Carpet RivalriesAYRA The nervousness hit me heavily as I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror. The elegant cyan dress hugged my curves perfectly, the color making my skin glow under the light. My stylist had pulled my hair up in a clean, sophisticated updo, secured with sleek hair sticks that added an edgy sharpness to the look. "You look like a goddess," Raven said, adjusting the final details of my jewelry. "Seriously, Ayra. This look is going to break the internet." But I wasn't nervous about how I looked. I was nervous about “him”. "Aryrians have been going insane since the news broke," Raven continued, scrolling through her phone. "They're already making edits with you and the Lilies logo. This one deal could open every door we've been trying to break down." I nodded absently, my mind elsewhere. Liam had said he'd pick me up. The man who'd walked away from me with that devastating promise. The man who made my pulse race with just a look. What was I thinking, asking him to be my
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-06-05
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