Diana Asher and I watched Lila storm off in a rage to the other wing of the house. I sighed and turned to face Asher. He pulled me closer to himself, and I sniffed his breath."Have you been drinking?"He shrugged. Our eyes locked, and I wondered why he was so calm about everything. I knew it was his way of handling situations, but after seeing the state of things outside, it was hard to believe he wasn't affected. I trusted Asher, knowing that he understood the weight of this crisis. I just wanted it all to be over."Are you okay?" he asked, rubbing my belly before pressing a kiss to my neck, right where he had marked me. A shiver ran through me, but pleasure was the last thing on my mind when everything around us was falling apart."Are you okay?" I asked him back, watching his face carefully. He smiled, took my hand, and led me to the balcony."I'm on house arrest," he said, as if it was some kind of joke."It's not funny," I muttered, pulling away slightly when he tried to hold m
Asher Darkness clung to me like a living thing, wrapping around my chest like an iron vice. My heart burned with hatred at the injustice of it all.Some of these foolish packmates—people I had protected and fought for—were now standing in the streets, cheering for the coup. They had claimed to be dissatisfied with my government, even though it had been the most peaceful reign in over a century.Eddie and his vagabond uncle had introduced crime, lawlessness, and corruption. They had brought gangs into the kingdom, allowing them to run wild, unchecked, turning my lands into their personal playground of chaos.And yet—the people cheered for them.The same people who had benefited from my leadership. The ones who had walked my streets in peace. The ones whose children had been safe under my rule.It made me sick.I mobilized military units, armed vehicles, and trusted men, making sure every key location was secured. But the opposition was growing. They had spent years planting their seed
Diana Vera drove in silence. She wasn’t the type to shy away from speaking her mind, but I could tell she felt guilty about what she had said earlier. Maybe she thought she had been too harsh and direct in telling me that I was a source of danger to her family. But in retrospect, there was nothing wrong with what she had said—she was right.I was about to become a mother. I loved Jaden and Josh as if they were my own, and the last thing I would ever want was to put them in harm’s way. I knew that the moment Eddie set his sights on me, he would kill me without a second thought.“Getting worked up over what you said is funny, you know,” I said lightly, smiling as I turned to look at her. The car bounced slightly as we navigated the dirt road, heading toward the highway.Vera exhaled a sigh, her eyes locked on the road ahead. “You don’t deserve this. To think you’re even pregnant… What if you hadn’t gotten through to anyone? You could have lost the baby. I don’t like that you’re all alo
DianaI paced around the house, bored and restless. I had cleaned the kitchen and rearranged the cushions on the couch, but none of it filled the emptiness that lingered inside me. The house felt like a beautiful cage.My fingers trailed along the edge of the windowsill at the front window, and I gazed out, hoping for some distraction. All I could see was the tall iron gate standing like a wall between me and the world outside. I sighed deeply, my breath fogging up the glass. I just wished Asher could come today. I missed him more than I could put into words. I missed the boys as well. Thinking about them gave me a bittersweet sensation.I wandered into the kitchen, opening the fridge door and staring at the shelves. Then I grabbed a glass of water to drink. The house felt too quiet. I wondered what was happening at the castle right now. Were the elders rallying behind Asher? Were there whispers in the halls about the coup and the traitors? I closed my eyes, picturing it all. Asher wo
Asher I stepped into the house feeling several pounds lighter, which was the effect of being with Diana. She had such a beautiful name, and even though Lila’s name was beautiful as well, perhaps it was their personalities that made Diana’s more radiant. In a good mood, I whistled quietly and ascended the stairs. The house was quiet, and I thought the kids were asleep until I heard the unmistakable sound of sobbing. My good mood evaporated instantly, and I quickened my pace toward the children’s corner.The nanny was trying to comfort Josh, who was clutching his stuffed toy with tears streaming down his face. When Josh spotted me, he ran to me, and I scooped him up. He buried his face in my chest, his sobs intensifying.“What’s wrong, son? Why are you crying?”His cries were muffled against my chest, leaving me to turn my gaze toward the nanny.“What happened?” I asked her.She hesitated, wringing her hands nervously. “The queen scolded him, Your Majesty.”“Scolded him? Why?”She shif
The metallic scrape of keys turning in my cell door revealed the female guard. She stepped inside without a word and pulled out a dark, hooded cloak, handing it to me. Her face remained indifferent."Turn around," she ordered.I obeyed and faced the wall as she helped me put on the cloak. She gave me gloves and ensured I was properly disguised."Follow my lead," she instructed, guiding me out of the cell.The dungeon was quiet, as most of its occupants were asleep. When we reached the exit, the guard signaled to someone outside. I heard the sound of a van’s engine idling, and soon the van door slid open. The female guard held me steady as I stepped up into the vehicle. My heart folded in my chest, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. The cloak draped over my shoulders felt suffocating, trapping the heat of my anxiety against my skin.I couldn’t trust anyone. Eddie had his followers everywhere. The guard driving must have noticed how I trembled because he assured me,"We’re on the k