LOGINKimberly’s POV Nothing could have prepared me for what she did. She was on me like she was Ted to lie on top of me. And the impact of the way she came into me was me hitting my back on the very hard wall, and my head, and it made my whole body rattle down to the bone. “Hey! W…. What are you d,,, doing?” I forced it out of my mouth. She was breathing very heavily against me, and her face was in my neck. Then suddenly, I felt something sharp on my neck. Was that her teeth? “Hey, don’t you fucking bite me!” I shouted, and I heard her snort. It was like she was not even here anymore, and with all of the strength that I had pent up, I pushed her away from me. “What the fuck?!” I shouted as soon as she was away from me. My eyes were wide as I looked at her. She staggered on her feet. Then she looked at me with a very different expression, and she smiled, and everything went still in that very moment. It felt like I was transported back to that night in the club. What I was l
Eirlys POV:The entire village knew we were leaving. No one said it out loud, but I could feel it in everything they did. I saw it in the lingering smiles that lasted a little longer than usual, in the extra loaves of warm bread left quietly at my doorstep, and in the bundles of herbs people pressed into my hands with soft words like, "Just in case you need them on the journey, dear." This place had been my home for more than fivelong years. It had seen me through the hardest days of my life. The thought of leaving made my chest ache with a deep, heavy sadness that I could not quite shake off. I stood outside my cottage just after sunrise, tying bundles of dried lavender together with careful fingers. The familiar scent filled the air around me, comforting and bittersweet at the same time. Familiar footsteps stopped beside me. I did not need to look up to know who it was. "You have organized those herbs three times already," Kaelor said gently, his voice warm with quiet amu
Kaelor POV:The village had never felt so small. Or so peaceful. That alone made me suspicious. Peace was something I had learned to distrust over the years. On the battlefield, silence usually meant someone was waiting in the shadows, ready to strike when you least expected it. Still... Watching Eirlys laugh with Mrs. Elowen outside the cottage almost convinced me that perhaps the world really could stop hurting for a little while. The sound of her laughter floated through the warm morning air like a gentle melody I could listen to forever. She looked so alive, so full of quiet joy, as she helped the older woman hang herbs to dry in the sun. Auren raced across the yard, his little wooden sword raised high over his head. His feet kicked up small clouds of dust with every excited step. "I am Prince Dragon!" he shouted, his voice bright and full of pure confidence. Marcus sighed dramatically, but there was a fond smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "For the last t
Kaelor POV:The little flower had survived the night.It shouldn't have meant so much, but it did. After sunrise, the first thing I did was walk over to Eirlys's herb garden. There it stood, exactly where we had planted it together, its tiny white petals already turning toward the morning light like it was reaching for something better.A small smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it."Your Highness."Marcus stepped up beside me, carrying two practice swords. He had that knowing look on his face."I knew I would find you here.""You have become predictable too," I said."I learned from the best," he replied with a grin. He followed my gaze to the little flower. "So... is this what princes do now?""What?""Guard flowers," Marcus said, trying not to laugh."I'm guarding Hope," I told him simply.He paused, then shook his head. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?""You did." He handed me one of the wooden swords, its grip worn smooth from years of use. "The soldiers are al
Eirlys POV:The morning after the archive letter felt strangely lighter. Not because the old pain had disappeared completely, but because it finally had a name. Someone had done this to us. Someone had taken those years from us on purpose.I stepped into my small herb garden as the first warm rays of sunlight touched the mountain air. The lavender needed trimming, and the mint had spread too far again, its fresh green leaves reaching out boldly. Nature did not care about broken hearts or lost letters. It simply kept growing, steady and patient, reminding me that life continued even when everything else felt frozen."You are smiling this morning," a familiar voice said from behind me.I turned around. Kaelor leaned casually against the garden gate, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing strong, capable hands that had seen both battle and gentle care. The sunlight caught in his silver eyes, making them shine with quiet warmth."You have started sneaking up on people," I teased
Lady Seraphine Vale POV: The first letter arrived before sunrise. The second came just after breakfast. By noon, there were five more. I read every single report myself, slowly and carefully, turning each page as if the words might change if I rushed them.It was not that I distrusted the royal intelligence office. I simply no longer trusted fate. Not after everything that had happened."The Crown Prince remains in the border village." Again. "He continues to postpone his return." Again. "The child has become attached to the Alpha Warlord." Again. I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers against my temples, trying to ease the steady throb building there. No. Not attached. Family. The word echoed painfully inside my head, refusing to leave no matter how hard I tried to push it away.A soft knock interrupted my thoughts."My Lady?""Come in," I called, keeping my voice steady.My younger sister, Selene Vale, stepped inside carrying a basket of fresh flowers. She was twenty-t







