Deemi John 의 작품

A BEAUTIFUL CAGEI had grown up hearing stories about Silverfang. People said its towers reached the clouds and its halls were so wide that it could hold a village. I had always thought those stories were exaggerated. They weren't. The carriage rolled into a huge archway carved with wolves caught in mid-howl. Their stone eyes seemed to watch us as we went by, making me feel smaller than I ever had in my life.Kael helped me out of the carriage himself. His hand gently held mine, careful not to squeeze too hard. I avoided looking at him and rather stared at the pale stone steps that led to tall doors that could have been three men standing on each other's shoulders."This way," he pointed.I followed because I didn't know what else to do. My legs moved on their own while my mind was idly trapped in the memory of what had happened in the ballroom. I could still hear Selene naming a price for me as if I were a piece of silk.Inside the palace smelled of beeswax candles and fresh roses. M

THE BROTHER IN THE SHADOWSI lingered in the archway long after the carriage wheels got lost in the dark and rested my back against the cold stone wall as I listened to my heartbeat return to normal. The night air bore the smell of crushed grass and melted candle wax flowing out of the ballroom. My brother had a mate.I revisited the thought over and over again in my head. For eleven years, I had watched Kael alone at every ball, feast, and gathering where kings were expected to find their queens. During all those years, I had held on to the hope that he would rule forever without an heir to inherit his throne.However, that hope had a face now and her name was Aurelia."You look like a man who just lost a bet," a voice came from behind me.I didn't turn right away as I knew who it was. Corvin Ashe, a merchant's son who had learned that flattering me would cost me nothing and might earn him everything someday."I look like a man who is thinking." I faced him. "There is a difference."

THE GIRL THEY SOLDThe ballroom had gone so mute that I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears.Hundreds of wolves watched as my stepmother shamelessly bargained over my future, and no one, not one single person in that crowd, said a word to prevent her."Land along the eastern border," Selene was saying. "The Ashthorne holdings have suffered for years. We want lots of gold to clear our debts and sufficient supplies to last three winters.""Stop," I interrupted her. "Please, someone stop this."No one attempted to. My eyes searched the crowd until they found my father standing near the platform. My chest ached badly, I could barely breathe."Papa." I pleaded in the voice of a little girl instead of the grown woman I was. "Please… tell her to stop. Tell them I'm not for sale."He looked at me and I held onto hope that this time he'd rescue me, that he might finally be the father who protected me instead of the one who let Selene run our house into ruin. But then, he averted his gaze f

YOU BELONG TO METhe guards reacted before the sound of my slap had even faded.Two of them rushed to me. Their hands clamped tightly around my arms, hard enough to leave bruises, and dragged me backward. My heart pounded that I thought it would burst out of my chest."Seize her!" one guard barked, though his voice shook because even he couldn't believe what he had just witnessed."Stop.” The Lycan King's voice cut into the chaos. The guards halted instantly, although their hands were still locked around my arms, waiting for his next order. My chest heaved as I stared up at him, certain I was about to watch whatever mercy existing in this man vanish totally.Instead, he smiled. It wasn't kind or friendly. It was slow and thoughtful, the sort a wolf gives before deciding if its prey was more useful alive than dead. A faint red mark still showed on his cheek where I had slapped him. Yet he looked pleased. As if I had impressed him instead of insulting him."Let her go," he ordered.The

THE KING'S MATEThe ballroom was mixed with the heavy scent of perfume and ambition. It was the same every year, and I had grown tired of it.I stood on the raised platform at the far end of the hall, one hand resting on the hilt of the ceremonial sword at my hip and watched wolves dressed in expensive silk and shiny jewels parade past me, each one hoping to catch my attention. I didn't notice a single soul. I never did."You could at least pretend you're enjoying yourself," Roderic muttered beside me, folding his arms as he scanned the crowd out of habit rather than interest. He, my advisor, had been by my side through eleven Lycan Balls, and every year he gave me the same advice and every year, I also gave him the same answer."I'm not here to enjoy myself. I'm here because tradition demands it""It also demands that you find your mate, Your Majesty. At least look like you're trying.”I didn't answer. There was nothing left to say on the matter. For eleven years, I had been in this

SOLD BEFORE MIDNIGHT"I said I'm not going."My voice was calm, which surprised me almost as much as it seemed to surprised Selene.She walked into my room like it belonged to her. In many ways, it did now. Her eyes moved over my tear-stained face, then to my bare wrist where my bracelet had been. A small smile flashed across her lips before she quickly hid it."You're going," she said. "because this family doesn't survive on your feelings, Aurelia. It survives because of opportunities, and tonight is one I'm not letting you ruin just because some boy hurt your pride.""This isn't about Rowan.""Really?" She tilted her head. "Your eyes are swollen from crying. Forgive me if I don't believe that."Heat crawled up my neck. I hated that she was right and that she could read me so easily. "I don't want a mate. I don't want a king. I just want to be left alone.”Selene gave a cold and short laugh. "Left alone? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds coming from a girl with no title, no dowr