INICIAR SESIÓNArce“Were you able to give the Alpha his refreshments?” Zenith asked as I returned to my seat beside him.“Y-yes.” I lowered myself onto the bench, keeping my attention on Yno as he stepped back into the pit.Something about him seemed amiss. His movements had lost some of their usual precision, and for a brief moment, he appeared unsteady before correcting himself. It was a subtle change, one the spectators might easily overlook, but I knew precisely what had caused it.The Everblue was taking effect.I ought to have been pleased. This was what I had agreed to, after all. I had poisoned his drink so that the challengers might stand a better chance of defeating him, and now the plan was unfolding exactly as intended.Yet, rather than anticipating his defeat, I found myself hoping the next challenger would be dispatched quickly.The first man entered the pit carrying a sword. He was leaner than Yno's previous opponents, but the confidence with which he handled his weapon suggested con
ArceThe crowd cheered as Yno brought down yet another challenger in the center of the pit.I leaned my head toward Zenith sitting beside me, though I kept my eyes on the pit where a man larger than Yno had just stepped in, something I would have thought impossible.“Tell me, what is the purpose of this Dueling, precisely? Is it merely an occasion for your Alpha to demonstrate his strength before the pack?”Zenith chuckled. “You are not entirely mistaken, Princess. However, the Dueling also determines whether an Alpha remains worthy of his position. Should a challenger prove stronger, the reigning Alpha must surrender his title. A leader who cannot defend his place has little right to retain it.”I turned to him, genuinely surprised. “Does this tradition exist in every pack? I understand that your kind has no single ruler, unlike us vampires, but you permit others to challenge their own leaders for their positions every year?”“Not every pack follows the same customs. Some preserve ol
ArceUnfortunately for me, Orpheus and Fallon proved remarkably uncooperative, choosing to disregard my explicit order and trailing behind me like a pair of oversized, obedient guard dogs.I stopped beside a row of wooden shops and turned to face them, folding my arms across my chest.“I believe I have already made it clear that I wish to be left alone.”Orpheus regarded me without the slightest change in expression. “Forgive us, Princess, but we cannot permit you to wander about unaccompanied, at least not while you are in the settlement.”I offered him a pleasant smile that I hoped would convey precisely how little I appreciated his answer.“You two have been breathing down my neck since early morning. What makes your promise of ‘while you are in the settlement’ remotely credible?”Neither man answered. They merely stood before me, silent and unmoving, as though I had asked them to solve some impossibly complicated riddle.I let out a quiet scoff and placed a hand on my hip. “Very w
ArceThe following morning, a knock sounded against my bedchamber door, prompting me to set my porcelain cup of tea upon its saucer.“Princess, Alpha Giovanni has arrived,” a maid announced from the hallway. “She has requested an audience with you.”My lips pressed into a thin line. I had made my position perfectly clear to the servant who visited me last night. I had no intention of cooperating with Alpha Giovanni, and I saw little reason to make an exception simply because she had decided to seek me out in person.I rose from my chair and opened the door, regarding the maid expectantly. “Where are Yno and Zenith?”“They are occupied in the settlement.”“Has something happened?”“Nothing serious, Princess. However, the traditional Dueling is scheduled to take place this evening.”“The Dueling?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.“Yes, Your Highness. It is an annual tradition in which the strongest male warriors may challenge the Alpha for dominance.”“I see.” I considered this for a mom
ArceIt was Zenith who escorted me back to the estate.Yno had remained in the valley, where his warriors were searching for the rogue vampire who had attacked Rhahar. According to the guards, the fugitive belonged to Alpha Giovanni, a leader known throughout the territories for keeping vampires as personal playthings.A rather repulsive habit, though hardly surprising given what I had heard of her.Why the pack tolerated such a woman within their borders was a question I had no intention of entertaining. Their affairs were of no concern to me.I pulled the thick blanket more securely around my shoulders as I stepped out of the carriage and entered the quiet mansion.“You should rest, Princess,” Zen said, turning toward the entrance. “I must return to the town at once. Should the Alpha require further assistance, I would prefer to be there.”“I understand. There is no need to concern yourself with me. I shall be perfectly fine here.”He gave a brief nod and was about to leave when I c
ArceYno’s hands settled firmly on my hips, drawing me closer until my dampness dragged right over the thick head of his length. Every slow grind made my clitoris throb with a desperate heat, and I gasped into his mouth as our tongues slid together in a messy, hungry kiss.His palms were warm against my cold skin as they moved up my back and along my ribs. I found his familiarity rather presumptuous, though I could hardly claim to be discouraging him.With one sharp tug, he tore open the front of my dress, splitting the fabric down the middle until it fell away completely.I was left in nothing but my thin undergarments.His mouth left mine to trail down my throat, each open-mouthed kiss sending sparks straight between my legs.My hand found his shaft, though my initial movements lacked confidence, he wrapped his fingers around mine and guided me—slow, twisting strokes from base to tip, his thumb pressing over the slit so the first sign of his arousal slicked my palm.The wet, squelch
ArceThat damn puppy was starting to bare his fangs. Very well. It was time for me to bite back. I had only been taken aback before, that was all.Father had ordered me to kill the Alpha discreetly, but that was impossible for now. The moment he dropped dead, all eyes would turn to me, the outsider
Arce I froze, eyes snapping toward him, my hands instinctively shooting up to grab both his shoulders. I shook him lightly, abandoning the carefully crafted mask of the untouchable princess for one raw second. “What do you mean required there?”The words clawed at my throat. We both knew what it m
ArceThe Alpha strode inside as though nothing had happened, as if that vile act had meant less than air to him. But to me? It was far from nothing. His scent still clung to me, thick and revolting, like a stain I couldn’t scrub off fast enough.And did he just call me little bird?I forced myself
Arce“I must apologize for the arrangement,” Orion said, his voice smoother than I expected. “Both the Alpha and Beta were occupied with urgent matters to prepare for your arrival.”“Preparing?” I repeated with a dry laugh. “That is what you call it? How utterly predictable. Breaking every traditio







