Nerezza's Point of ViewI hadn't been this vulnerable to anyone before. Maybe Priamos but most of my memories of him were locked away. Stored somewhere I never wanted to open. But opening up to Amadeus felt natural. Easy. His comforting hand was on my back. The kisses he would place on my forehead as the water turned cold.Neither of us wanted this to end. This moment could carry on for the rest of eternity and I would remain happy. Because I had never felt this safe with anyone. Not even Priamos. The thought of him leaving ripped open my heart. But I was still confined to my chambers. Denied any visitors.Especially my mate.Reluctantly, I pulled away from him. His eyes followed my face downward. Curved over my collar bones. Ran down the length of my ample chest. Settled just below them, where my heart was. As if he could see it breaking.I had no idea how long I had been in his embrace. Long enough that the water had run cold. Bubbles had disappeared. His brows furrowed when I scoot
Nerezza's Point of ViewThere was no time to dry off. Or to even get dressed. Both of us were spent. Tired from both baring our history to fucking like animals in the cold bath. At least we had bathed again. Washed each other clean until our skin felt raw.Amadeus had gotten out first. Dried off and handed me a towel. I barely covered myself before heading into my room. He followed on silent feet. Watched me move and discard the towel on the floor. Dipping into bed, I let the cotton soak me up. Warm my insides. A sigh of satisfaction clawed free from my throat. Amadeus stood at the end of the bed. Kept his eyes locked on me until I raised myself on my elbows and glared at him. "Are you going to stand there the entire night?" I asked, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. When my body gave way to weariness, I became grumpy. Disgruntled. Same could be said for when I was hungry. Amadeus chuckled instead of taking the brutal tone to heart."I just wanted to get another long look
Alastair's Point of View It was well past sunrise and there was no sign of Amadeus. Trouble had a way of catching up to my twin but this was ridiculous. At least he could have called. Set my mind at ease to where he was. But no. Instead, he made me wait in the foyer, legs crossed and the clock ticking away. For all I knew, they could have discovered him. Locked him up somewhere and I would never see him again. Nerezza could be thrown in there with him. No. At least if something happened to her, Phaedra would contact me. Tell me about what had happened and make sure that I came to her rescue. Or so I hoped. Sighing, I scrubbed my face with a hand. Let the dread of the day settle into my bones. This wasn't what I had envisioned for my life. Not even remotely. But it was my life now. There was no persuading Nerezza to choose another path. So, I had to sit in silence and worry until someone made their presence known. Another minute ticked by and I heard the gate open. Excitement jabbe
Nerezza's Point of ViewReginald had sent an entire team to dress me up for our lunch. According to one of the maids, she had overheard from another maid that Reginald was taking me out for lunch. To some fancy restaurant somewhere in the city center. They had gushed about it profusely. How a lowly commoner now held all the attention of the king. How there might still be hope for them. When I turned my back, another maid would scold them. Tell them how I was the exception. About how beautiful I was and that was why the king had wanted me among all others.w I pretended not to listen. Or to get offended by the statements. All they had ever known was this life. As I had once only known my simple life as well. So much more happened around them that they weren't aware of. I was glad they still had that level of innocence. Had someone to fight their battles for them.Somewhere in my heart, I knew I wanted the same. Had relished Amadeus coming here because I imagined him fighting Reginaldf
Priamos' Point of ViewI was halfway around the world, following a lead I had gotten. Years later, the rumors still ran like wildfire. Of a gang that stole children. Sold them on the black market to families who couldn't make their own. Nothing especially sinister happened to the children. Most were bought by wealthy people. It enraged me all the more. Some nurses were in on it. Received money for procuring the best offspring. Once she had stolen a child, she would vanish into the night. Change her name. Start somewhere else. The cycle went on and on.My leads had dried up in the first few months. People were tight-lipped. Wouldn't give away the people who helped them to survive. Gave them money for whatever reason. Money that they had gotten from families buying kids. All of it was sickening. I was in some human country now. With mountain ranges on all sides. No electricity. Running water was also only meant for the wealthier families here. The village was small but I had found a h
Prince Reginald's Point of ViewThis was the part of being the prince that I detested the most. Mountains of paperwork. Meetings to be held that were of no great concern. Late nights filling in forms and setting forth new motions for the upcoming week. Nothing to write home about. Not that home life was any more interesting than this.Where was the action? The war and human misery? Where were the people bowing at your feet, begging for mercy? This was not what I had had in mind when I agreed to take over from father sooner rather than later. Although, the bugger was somehow beating the odds. I'd have to make a mental note of it to tell the doc to add extra of that poison from now on. His inclining health was a problem.Just as I set down my first mug of coffee for the morning, Beatrice stormed in. Her hair was a mess. Robe falling around her, untied. Which was highly immoral. But her face looked worse than normal. Her too-large eyes were now in slits. Nose scrunched up in distaste. I
Nerezza's Point of ViewSomehow they found me in my old home. All three of them. None of them knew what to say to me when they entered. But I barely acknowledged their presence. Dug the palms of my heels into the carpet I had walked over the last time my parents had been alive. Having them here almost felt like we were disturbing my parents. That they were sleeping upstairs and the moment they noticed boys with me, I would never hear the end of it.No one had bought the house. For obvious reasons. The walls were cracked. Windows shattered. The sink was stolen from the cupboard. It was all in ruin. Most of our possessions were still inside. Crumbling with age. Still smelt faintly of my mother. Her perfume a painful reminder of what I had endured the last few years.Old family photos hung on the walls. As if someone had drawn a line at tearing down the personal touches. But the rest was a nightmare. Feces, both of a person and animal, lay scattered about. Needles for drug addicts. The c
Priamos' Point of ViewThe cold bit into my skin. Pumped ice through my veins. Blackness had somehow seeped in right after I turned. Well, was forced to turn by Nerezza's palpable fear. Something was wrong. Missing. I needed to get to her. Get out of this frozen landscape. She was alone in this world and from that incapacitating feeling, I knew she needed me.Even though the freezing cold surrounded me, there was a warmth at my side. I turned to look at my left flank. Noticed the tiny head still draped over me. Puffs of air took form around the nostrils. Shallow but there. The fawn from earlier.I angled my head upward and noticed the frozen blood from the mother just above me. The sun was slowly creeping back over the horizon. Made the ice and snow glitter around me. It did nothing to curb the cold. Or even make a dent in it. Exhaling, I tried to sit up but the fawn stirred and I stopped. Spooking it would result in a large headache for me.I had to get back. But I couldn't leave hi