MasukFINNIAN My brother’s scheme worked.Perfectly.I didn’t return to the palace until the night dragged its claws across the sky. The moon was cold and distant, like she was laughing at me. I had been sent to deliver that stupid letter and ended up staying at King James’s pack for hours longer than planned. He even offered to let me rest there for the night, but I refused. I was too angry. Too restless.I just wanted distance from him, from her, from everything.The ride back was long and heavy, and the air reeked of iron before I even made it through the border. Two wolves attacked me in the forest, they were rogues, maybe spies. I didn’t care who they were. I ripped them apart before they could even land a second strike. Their blood stained my hands and arms, dripping down to my sword until the blade was no longer silver.When I finally reached my chamber, I threw my weapon aside and stood there breathing hard, my chest rising and falling with rage that refused to die. I could stil
FINNIAN I was summoned by my brother the next morning.I frowned, wondering what the hell he wanted from me again. I thought he already had everything... his throne, his power, and the woman he wouldn’t stop flaunting in my face.The guards outside his chamber bowed when I stepped in. The air smelled of burnt cedar and something soft… familiar. My eyes moved around the room before landing on the empty side of the bed. No sign of her. For a brief, stupid second, I thought maybe she hadn’t slept here.But I was wrong.The bathroom door opened, and there she was, wrapped in nothing but a towel, water still glistening on her skin like she’d been carved from temptation itself. Isolde.Her gaze caught mine. She didn’t look away.Something inside me shifted, it was sharp, wrong, and hungry.Her lips parted slightly, and that was when I felt it, the dark aura pressing against my neck like a blade. My brother’s aura. Rowan’s.“I called you, Finnian. Not her,” his voice was cold, steady, too
FINNIAN My breath shortened, dragging rough against my throat, like claws raking from the inside. My chest rose and fell too fast, each inhale sharper than the last.I didn’t think Isolde’s eyes could widen more than they already had but gods, they did. Her lashes trembled. Her lips parted like she was about to choke on a scream she couldn’t release. She became nervous and shaken. My heart throbbed at the sight, and I hated myself for letting Rowan put her through this.Elsa’s head tilted, a sly grin twitching on her mouth as she looked between me and Rowan. She coughed, impatient. “Your Highness...”Rowan’s jaw flexed before he smiled, cruel as always. “He thought he could get hold of a married woman simply because he could not find his mate.” He lifted Isolde’s hand again and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, slow and deliberate.My fingers curled so hard the tips ached.“Oh my…” Luna gasped, her voice dripping with pity. “Such a terrible fate. The Moon Goddess should at least look t
FINNIANDamn this sickness.The weakness in my bones mocked me. My chest burned with every step, and still, I forced my way through the corridors, hating the taste of iron on my tongue. By the time I reached the palace, Rowan had already dragged Isolde into her former chamber. He didn’t even wait for me.And she… she didn’t even resist him?Had she forgotten it wasn’t safe for her to be alone with him? Or had she stopped caring about my warnings?I crushed the letter in my hand, my veins tightening around it until the parchment nearly tore. The words echoed in my head like a curse... Isolde’s parents were coming. They will arrive soon. They wanted to see their daughters.Perfect timing. Perfect to rip my insides open.The door creaked, and Daze slipped into my chamber. His boots scuffed against the stone floor as though he were sneaking, and it grated on my already frayed nerves.“Is everything ready?” My voice came out like a low growl.He nodded, his eyes darting across the room li
DAZE“Daze, I said leave my chamber now! I don’t ever want to see you again!” Felda’s voice thundered, sharp enough to slice through stone.I swallowed hard. My throat burned, but my pride wouldn’t let me argue. I knew her. She’d want revenge... silent, sharp, and I wouldn’t know where or how it would land. But if I walked away now, she’d chew on her anger until it turned into something worse.So, I did the opposite.Before she could blink, I scooped her up in my arms.Her nails dug into my chest. “What the hell are you doing?! Put me down now!”I didn’t. My grip only tightened. Her wriggling body against mine sent a storm into my veins. I carried her straight toward the bathroom, toward the scent of rose water still clinging in the air.“Daze! I swear I’ll...”It was too late. I dropped her straight into the tub, water splashing over the edges.She gasped, sputtering, wet strands of hair plastering to her cheeks. “Are you insane?!” Her voice cracked with fury.I didn’t answer. I turn
DAZEShe tore herself from my grip, her eyes flashing like knives.“Really? Is this a challenge?” Her voice dripped with venom. “How about I hurt her too, since you threatened me!” Her teeth clenched as she spat the words out.My hands curled into fists. I raked one over my black hair, pulling hard enough that it hurt. I knew what she was capable of. The last thing I wanted was for her to even look in Arianna’s direction, let alone touch her.The storm in my chest fought to break free, but I shoved it back. I forced my eyes on her. She stood there with her arms folded across her chest, half her dress sliding away so that her breasts pushed up defiantly.Damn her. She was making me furious yet all I wanted to do was grab her. What sort of woman twisted rage and hunger together in a man’s body?“Leave her,” I said at last. My voice came out calmer than I felt. “I won’t do anything to you. I’m sorry for threatening you.”She smiled, a slow, knowing curl of her lips. “Now, that’s the boy







