LOGINIvara's POV“Damn.” I groaned, my face scrunched up in pain.I had woken up with this strange pain at the back of my neck. At first, I thought it was the way I slept, but then it didn't seem like it. It felt more like I had hurt myself while sleeping or something had bitten me.Thankfully, Granny Jojo had already arranged the room and dropped a few basic amenities I would be needing. It looked like she had planned all of this ahead.I walked up to the mirror, trying to see what was at the back of my neck, but it was almost impossible.“I’ll just apply ointment,” I whispered, about to give up trying when I caught a glimpse of a slim black line at the back of my neck.I flinched, falling on my butt, my heartbeat accelerated. “What the hell was that?” I panted, trying to rub my neck, but it hurt too bad that I couldn't even touch it.The sight of that slim black line aroused my curiosity and I began searching for something that would help me see the back of my neck.I caught sight of ano
Xlynor's POVI sat behind the mahogany desk in my study, a thick cigar resting in the slim black holder between my fingers.I didn't like touching cigars directly. I preferred the distance.I flipped the pages of the book in my hands, my gaze focused as I scanned every line.“We've gone through over one hundred and fifty books from the library in just a few hours, but found nothing useful.” Zane groaned, breaking the silence as he picked up another book from the pile in my study.I took a slow drag, letting the smoke fill my lungs before releasing it in a controlled stream.“What does that imply?” I spoke calmly, eyes still on the page.“It's obvious that there's nothing about that mark at the back of her neck in our library and if there is… someone got to it before we did.”I took a deeper drag this time before lifting the cigar holder from my mouth.That day at Millea river, I had seen a strange tattoo at the back of that silver-haired neck; a wolf with a snake curled around it and
Ivara's POVMy legs moved before my brain did, but as if reading my mind, Granny Jojo grabbed me by my arm.“No, it's enough already.” She shook her head. “You're only going to make him mad.”“But they were innocent, they knew nothing about Eryndor's motive… they knew nothing at all.” My voice cracked as I spoke.Granny Jojo heaved a sigh. “I know. Now you see the reason Nyx is mad. Her brother is unconscious because he tried to help you. Eryndor and Xlynor’s feud worsened after you got here and now people are dying.”“But how could he be so heartless? They have families, dreams, and he just had to ruin it all because of his anger. He should've just punished me instead. It's all my fault, why them? Why?” I cried, falling into her arms.Now I understood why he was so chill and didn't bother punishing me. He knew this would hurt me more than any punishment he'd mete out. What type of monster was he?The guilt and hurt gnawed at my chest as if trying to rip it apart. Twenty-five men were
Ivara's POV“Get out! Get the fuck out!” A girl around my age—or maybe older—shoved me so hard that I stumbled back.She looked more like royalty and a bit familiar, but I couldn't tell exactly where I had seen that face.“Are you deaf? Get out before I do something we will all regret. I swore to kill you whenever I set my eyes on you. Don't push me!” She seethed, pointing at me.My brows creased in confusion. One second I was excited to see Granny Jojo and the next, I was being attacked by some girl who had opened the door.I hadn't done anything. I arrived at Granny Jojo’s quarters after toiling through the maze, starved, only to meet this green-eyed fury. Only a flicker of recognition in her eyes sparked her hostility.“I… I can't leave. I was ordered by Alpha to come here.” I spoke, my voice low.She laughed mockingly, clapping her hands. “I'd never thought a day would come when a mere slave would refuse my orders, let alone talk back to me.” Her eyes flickered between brownish yel
Ivara's POVI spun around, then fell to the floor in shock.Why did that sound a lot like Xlynor? Like he was behind me. And it sounded way too real. Was I beginning to get delusional? He wasn’t here, was he?The lights came on and my breath hitched. How did that happen? Did I mistakenly trigger something or was there someone here with me?I sure wasn't ready for any encounter with Xlynor. I turned around, my heart racing wildly as I scanned the hall with my eyes, but it was empty. Just me.“You’re truly getting delusional, Ivara. Phew.” I stood from the floor, holding my chest. “That devil's presence was starting to traumatize me.”As I stared around, I knew I shouldn’t be here. Every instinct I possessed screamed it at me, yet my feet kept moving.I crept through the now lit training hall, my heart racing with excitement and a dash of fear.Forbidden ground, my foot. Pfft. The fact it was forbidden made it even irresistible.I wasn’t breaking any rules, just wanted to know what it fe
Ivara's POVI couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even think, as I felt the cold tip of the sword press against my skin.“I'm really a maid, I swear. Why would I come to Alpha Xlynor's castle just to lie?” I rushed my words while cursing Xlynor inwardly.He made me come here without informing his men. Now, I had a freaking sword pressed against my neck. Real brilliance, indeed.The guard scoffed, and at that point I felt the sword press harder, this time hurting. I could swear he had drawn blood from me.“A maid, huh?” He chuckled. “We aren't dumb in Dark Hound. If you were a maid, then why go through the maze? There's the front entrance, which was originally the entrance to the castle, but you chose to go through the back.” He scoffed.I frowned. There was a back entrance and then the front one, but that devil made me use the harder one? Of course, he saved me just so he could continue with his torment. Bastard! I almost thought otherwise.“I…” I began speaking, but the guard cut me off.“More







