Eloise was too dumbfounded to speak but the reply came from behind her. “You seem awfully suspicious of your savior's intentions. I assure you, Princess Laylin. Our King is a man of his word.” Mark began, with a wide, roguish grin. Displeased by the interruption, the Princess raised a brow at the boy who looked like he was hardly past his teens and was trying to be smart with her. “The King had been generous to spare your little witch from capital punishment.” And he rubbed it well on her face. There was a rush of emotion circling inside her as Eloise thanked the King profusely when it was she who had lost everything because of her maid's mistake. Her hands grew clammy but her grip on her dirty cloak tightened. Feeling her body grow colder every second, she had to grind her teeth to witness this scene. Could she ever say out loud, the treacherous snake their king was and what he did to her? Never! 'A man who sets a price for his generosity is no man at all,' Laylin bit her lip fr
‘Tell her Esmeralda’s daughter will bring her the head of her coven’s greatest enemy. The Beast King.’ Eloise sprung apart from her, her eyes wide with astonishment. The brutality that ensued on the Sarng Tribe about eighty years ago by the beasts, was still a fresh memory for witches. Witches weren't always despised or had to hide like this. The Sarang Tribe was a traveling tribe. Their current barrier city was once an open house of knowledge to all, a treasure for scholars. Though there was a certain dislike for each other, witches and Beasts lived with a mutual understanding but when the previous King took over he made a sport out of hunting witches. Thousands of witches fell victim to his campaign, he almost annihilated them and sold the orphaned children as slaves. Eloise's own mother was a victim. If the witches' elders hadn't sacrificed themselves to build that Barrier, they would have perished and their knowledge dispersed. “Princess!” She shrieked, catching the eyes of
When the news of the little witch's death had finally spread, Scarlet felt hot searing anger flood her body at the absurdity. It was a game, a fishy game. Laylin was truly a gem, after all, that bitch! She scoffed, barely able to keep her balance as she staggered to stand. “She really was a whore! I must praise her for the daring feat.” She gritted her teeth as her servants cowered in front of her. Her anger was mostly because her pawn, she had perfect plans in monopolizing power in the inner court, rolled to her brother this skillfully. 'Laylin... I was right! The King really was enamored by her beauty and now I was left to rub her empty hands.' She bit her lips with a force her skin tore, 'I shouldn't have been so impatient to discard her! She was supposed to be my ace!' Everyone had assumed she was confined to the investigation when the King had taken in the witch but how the tables had turned... “Ha! She flipped the whole game just by spreading her legs like a low life. How
Setting his eyes back on Laylin in the mirror he could only grin. She was half-laying on the settee with the throw-back blanket and reading a book while conveniently ignoring his presence. Sprawled lazily, she resembled an arrogant temptress disregarding her mortal admirers. He wondered how she could so indifferently keep him at the tip of her toes when even the previous King never dared to look down on him. His chosen bride had grown a spine. She was a very clever woman and was good at reading people. Since he had lost his reason in her embrace, she knew he was enamored with her. The Ehanian Princess knew how to use his favor well. True blue blood, indeed He had come back after his conference where he announced her newly found authority. He had expected her to be fuming, instead she was still lazing around in bed, barely dressed. His smirk widened as memories from a while ago flooded his mind. “Get off me!” After their coupling had ended, the passion and yearning that was almos
“Vindictive Schemes?” He chuckled humorlessly, “These schemes are the reason you are alive.” Her childishness got on his nerves. Naturally, she should be on her husband's side, especially when Scarlet was the worst kind of ally one could have. “And I’m grateful but I would prefer no more favors from these political moves.” She shut the book and looked up at him, “You need to understand, we aren’t in love. You are a dictator in my life and this glamorous position doesn’t change that. No sane woman will ever find a man, who used her vulnerability to cage her, reliable.” Saying her piece, she stood up. “To answer your question, I would want something from you, when you will consider me anything but a territory you needed to mark.” His brow hiked up. Relatively, he was surprised, this calm no-nonsense persona of hers was new to him. She sounded like an experienced politician. He didn’t know she had such a resolve. Or where such hatred stemmed from. Laylin pushed down her emotions. S
“So you will be taking care of me now?” The young women nodded, bobbling their heads. “On whose command?” It was in the evening when she was introduced to her new busty servants. Halo and Sami. The Twin girls were hardly past their twenties but looked awfully smart for their years. “By His Majesty’s order, Your Highness.” Saying so she bowed again. Laylin just stared at them, lost for words. They were both beauties in a mature sense. They looked like anything but 'Help'. She had learned from her time in Ehanian court that a woman with a husband or fiance must never keep another pretty woman around her. It’s like giving your promiscuous spouse easy prey. Most concubines of lecherous men are usually from their wife's staff after all… Was he trying to grow his harem? Somehow the thought of him with another woman like he was with her, pricked her heart. Then she remembered Scarlet's servants. Each one was a beauty to topple nations. Maybe it was trend here. With a sigh, she went
All the ladies kept their silence, intimidated by the King's presence but their eyes waited for the confrontation eagerly. To them, a new fertile mistress who was in the King's bed regularly was a threat. Only the marked beast's spouse could give birth to strong, healthy children. Rakhbar had polygamy and there were rare instances where a child was born out of an unmarked wife. The Children are weak but lycan-born. Any heir of the King can be the next King in the absence of the Queen's heir. Besides, who's to say, this foxy woman won't seduce the King to mark her?! Ambrose hummed, still fingering Laylin’s hair. All envious stares were stuck on his fingers in her hair. “A juvenile prisoner died during investigation, do you expect me to resurrect her?” He raised a brow finally looking at her. “Lady Sayon refused visitors. Unverified claims can’t help to proceed investigation beside she recently took back her claim but that’s not what you are getting at. I’ll be generous, speak your
The King’s command had hit her like a bulldozer. The raid was scheduled for the next day. She paced, back and forth, biting her thumb. The strategy was perfect to placate nobles and eradicate any moles in the Palace but she couldn’t be investigated! She had heard they drew patterns with kohl that react to a witch’s blood. Then another thought hit her. Agatha! If Agatha was discovered to be a witch, then even the King won’t be able to save her! Just when her anxiety had almost taken the best of her brain, a commotion in front of her room caught her attention. “Let me through! The Princess is expecting me…! Princess Laylin!” The woman strode forward but Halo and Sami were quick to grab her, throwing her against the wall. “Madam! You are overstepping your limit! I suggest you walk back before I ask these good Sirs, here to-” “Sami!” Laylin called out to her, interrupting her mid-speech. She gave a subtle nod to release the older woman. Reluctantly, they did but glared at the intrud