Novels by Saraphina F

Varyn's POVThe cell smelled like wet stone and old blood. I sat on the narrow bench built into the wall and counted the cracks in the ceiling. Forty-three. I'd counted them seventeen times since they threw me in here three days ago. The iron bars were thick. Ronan thought he had caged me and I was finished.He was wrong.I heard footsteps in the corridor outside. Slow and hesitant. The kind of walk that belonged to someone who didn't want to be here. I smiled and leaned back against the cold stone wall.The guard appeared first. Young and nervous. He fumbled with the keys in his belt. Behind him stood Elder Matthias. The old man's face was gray."Five minutes," the guard said. "Council orders."Matthias nodded. The guard unlocked my cell door but didn't open it but they had to allow one visitor per week. Council law. Even for traitors.I'd chosen my visitor carefully."Hello, Matthias." I kept my voice light. Friendly. "Thank you for coming."He stepped inside. The door clanged shut

Dorian’s PovThe cell was quiet after Ronan left. I sat on the cold stone floor and listened to his footsteps fade away. My brother. The Alpha. The man I tried to kill.I pulled against the chains on my wrists. They didn't move. The metal was cold and bit into my skin. I deserved this. I knew I deserved worse. But sitting there in the dark, I realized something that made my chest ache. I didn't want to die hating him. I didn't want my last memory of Ronan to be the lie I just told.The truth was simple, and it was eating me alive. There was no weapon. No failsafe. No countdown. I made it all up because I was a coward. Because even facing execution, I still wanted leverage. Still wanted to feel like I had some control.But control was what got me here in the first place.I heard footsteps again. Heavier this time. I looked up and saw Ronan standing at the bars. He came back. His face looked different now. Older. More tired. Like he aged ten years in ten minutes."There is no weapon, is

Aria’s PovI smiled at the ambassador from the Northern Clans. My face hurt from smiling. My cheeks felt like stone carved into the shape of happiness. The ambassador bowed low, and said how honored he was to meet the Rogue Queen. I nodded gracefully, playing the role Raven expected of me."The honor is mine," I said. My voice was smooth. Calm. Cold.Raven stood beside his throne, watching me with those calculating blue eyes. He didn't touch me. He never did in public anymore. Not since I refused his bond again. We ruled together, but separately. King and queen in title only. The court whispered about it. They wondered why their powerful alpha hadn't forced me into submission. What they didn't know was that he had insurance. A way to control me if I ever went too far.The amulet hung around his neck, tucked beneath his shirt. I could see the faint outline of it pressing against the fabric.I hated that he had it. I hated that he held that power over me.The ambassador spoke about trad

Ronan’s PovThe dungeon smelled like blood and wet stone. I stood at the top of the stairs, my hand gripping the iron railing so hard my knuckles turned white. Below me, torches flickered against the walls, casting shadows that looked like ghosts. I didn't want to go down there. I didn't want to see him. But I had no choice.My brother was a traitor.The Elders had been shouting at me for three days. Execute them. Kill them both. Make an example. They said it over and over until the words became noise in my head. Elder Marlow slammed his fist on the table this morning and said if I didn't act, the pack would see me as weak. Elder Sarah said my mercy would be my downfall. Even Garvin, my most loyal beta, looked at me with doubt in his eyes.But Elara said something different. She came to my chambers last night, her face pale and tired. She sat across from me and spoke in a voice so quiet I had to lean forward to hear. "If you kill your own brother, Ronan, you'll carry that curse for th

Laura’s PovI stood in front of the mirror in Garrett's chambers, staring at the golden chain around my neck. It was heavy. Cold. The symbol of a Luna, his Luna. My fingers trembled as I touched it. This wasn't supposed to be my life. I was supposed to be home, safe behind Crescent Moon's walls, learning how to be strong. Instead, I was here, wearing the mark of a man I didn't love, pretending to be someone I wasn't.Garrett had left an hour ago for patrol. He kissed my forehead before he went, his lips dry and cold against my skin. I didn't pull away. I smiled. I played the part. The moment the door closed behind him, I let the smile fall. My chest felt tight, like someone was squeezing my lungs. I couldn't breathe deep anymore. Not here. Not in this place where every shadow watched me and every word I spoke could be my last.I walked to the window and looked out at the camp. Wolves moved below like ants, some training, some talking, some sharpening weapons. Raven's army. They were p

Laura's POVI couldn't breathe.Garrett's ultimatum echoed in my mind as dawn crept through my window. “Until morning”, he'd said. “Give me your answer when the sun rises.”The sun was rising now.I sat on the edge of my bed, hands trembling, trying to find some path forward that didn't end in blood and betrayal. Accept Garrett's offer and potentially enable the chain of events leading to Raven killing Aria. Refuse him and trigger my own death.No good choices. Just varying degrees of catastrophe.A knock at my door made me jump. Three sharp raps, perfectly spaced.Garrett."Laura?" His voice carried through the wood, calm and pleasant. "May I come in?""Come in," I managed, hating how weak my voice sounded.He stepped inside, looking well-rested, confident. "You look terrible. Didn't sleep?""Would you?" The words came out sharper than intended. "If you'd seen what I saw?""I suppose not." He moved to the window. "But lack of sleep won't change your situation. You still need to give