Sienna‘s POVI can’t stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth as I point out the contradictions in Lila’s statements. I’m not holding back. Not anymore. “You said one thing, and now you’re saying something completely different. Which one is it, Lila?” I meet her gaze, my voice steady and firm, a
My wolf growls in the back of my mind. “You almost hurt her, but she slapped you right back! Haha, now it’s your turn to be upset!”I grimace, trying to ignore him. “Shut up. What do I have to be upset about?”But I know something is different. I’ve seen Siena get angry before, but never like this.
Siena's POVThe next day dawns crips and clear, the air buzzes with the fever of anticipation. Today marks the start of the first competition, and I can feel the weight of expectation pressing against my lip.I refuse to let it shake me.Standing before the full- length mirror, adjusting the deep em
Siena’s POVI don’t know how to react to Lila’s mark.My mind is a mess, tangled in rage so sharp I can taste it. My wolf surges forward, instincts clawing at me to bare my teeth, to shift right here and now, to rip her apart.This anger—it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt.Then, at the peak of my f
Siena’s POVThe air on the terrace is sharp and cool, a stark contrast to the suffocating heat of the ballroom.Raiden’s grip around my wrist still lingers like a phantom, even though he’s already let go. I stand several feet away from him, arms crossed tightly over my chest, trying to shield myself
Siena turns slowly, her movements deliberate, her expression carefully blank. But her eyes—they burn with something fierce, something raw, and it unsettles me in ways I don’t want to admit."What did I do?" she echoes, her voice quiet but sharp, like the edge of a blade. "Are you even going to ask w
Siena’s POVThe competition hall smells like sweat, metal, and a faint trace of pine drifting in from the open windows.It’s a chaotic symphony of sound: the clang of weapons being tested, the murmur of hushed strategies, and the occasional burst of laughter from cocky warriors who think they’ve alr
When she finally lowers it, the silence breaks into scattered applause. It’s not much, but it’s enough to remind the others that strength comes in many forms."Impressive," Lila says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "For someone her age, anyway."I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. E
(Raiden’s POV)The council chamber falls into stunned silence as Mia's carefully maintained composure fractures."You're suggesting I had something to do with this?" she asks, her voice pitched higher than normal. Her fingers nervously adjust her silver pendant."I'm not suggesting anything," I repl
“Raiden,” I greet softly, stepping aside to let him enter. His eyes scan my quarters instinctively, protective instincts clear despite his careful politeness.“I was making my patrol rounds,” he murmurs gently, eyes flickering briefly toward the evidence on my desk. “Are you alright?”His genuine co
(Siena’s POV)The delicate silver hairpin Raiden gifted me years ago lies on my desk, shifted ever so slightly from its usual position—a subtle yet unmistakable sign that someone has invaded my sanctuary.My breath catches sharply.I step closer, and my senses sharpen with acute awareness.Moonlight
(Raiden’s POV)The grainy security footage flickers ominously across the monitor, each shadowy movement like a knife twisting in my gut, whispering the name I've come to dread most—Lila.I lean closer, my eyes burning from hours spent staring at endless loops of surveillance.The cramped security ro
"Good idea," I manage, my voice steadier than I feel. "I'll speak with Tomas about positioning archers on the ridge above."Raiden turns his head slightly, his face now inches from mine. "Siena..."My pulse quickens softly, heart stumbling traitorously. "We should focus on the threat," I whisper, no
(Siena’s POV)Raiden’s plea from the cabin echoes relentlessly in my mind, threatening to fracture every wall I've painstakingly built around my heart.I pace restlessly across the elegant guest quarters, my fingers tugging nervously at the edges of my jacket, tension coiling sharply within my chest
My wolf surges forward, craving her closeness. "Siena, I—""Don't," she whispers, but she doesn't move away when I step closer. "Please don't say things you'll take back tomorrow.""I never should have taken them back the first time," I confess, my voice breaking as I reach for her hand. "I've misse
(Raiden’s POV)Thunder crashes violently overhead, shaking the cabin walls, as if nature itself demands I finally lay bare the secrets I've guarded far too long.The steady rhythm of rain pounds relentlessly against the roof, creating a constant, murmuring backdrop to the silence hanging between us.
The oak offers no comfort or wisdom. It offers only silence and the mocking permanence of symbols that now mean nothing at all.I brush my fingertips over the markings, memories flooding vividly through me.That day, I felt cautious hope despite our union's political nature.I'd believed, or at leas