❤️ Tharros Apology ❤️Nyxoria halted her sparring with Dika the moment she caught sight of Tharros approaching them from the corner of her eye. The guards who had gathered to watch the fight quickly returned to their posts, sensing the shift in the air."I will be around somewhere to give you two some privacy," Dika murmured, taking back her second sword from Nyxoria and sliding both into their sheaths.Nyxoria grinned and gave her a nod, watching as Dika strolled off."I sent someone to take her to the garden," Tharros' deep voice pulled Nyxoria's attention back to him. "At least that will keep her busy for a while."Before she could respond, Tharros did something that completely caught her off guard.He knelt down.Right there in front of her, on both knees, with his hands wrapped around hers.The murmurs around them grew louder as guards and castle staff stole glances at the sight of their Emperor kneeling before his bride."I know what you want to say," Tharros spoke first, his ga
❤️ His Tales ❤️"You have no right to let anyone who is not me, especially another man, to touch you," Vyrelen said, his tone firm as he locked eyes with Dika. Then, without warning, he reached for a handful of white roses from the garden and turned back to her.Dika frowned, eyeing the flowers in his hands suspiciously. "What are you doing?"Vyrelen lifted the roses slightly. "I want to put them in your hair since that's what you wanted."Dika scoffed, stepping back as he reached for her cornrows."So you can allow someone else to touch your hair, but not me?""Exactly.""You’re something else," Vyrelen muttered.Dika huffed, crossing her arms. "I was enjoying the view before you came out of nowhere and ruined it for me. So thank you very much, Mr. Poking-Nose. Thank you for chasing away that harmless guard away." She shoved at his chest with all her strength, but to her frustration, he didn’t even budge.Vyrelen merely smirked.Dika glared. "I told you—you're free to chase after any
❤️ His Tales (2) ❤️"Your mother is still alive?" Nyxoria asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. "How? I thought she was dead since no one ever talks about her."Tharros let out a heavy sigh. "She’s not dead… but she’s not here."Nyxoria’s curiosity deepened. "If she’s not in this castle, then where is she?" She asked."There are a lot of things I can’t say now, my beautiful Ria," Tharros said, his gaze steady. "But be rest assured, I will tell you when the time is right."Nyxoria frowned. "What’s there not to tell? If she’s alive, where is she? Why are you here alone? You told me about your father so easily, but you can’t tell me about your mother? Whatever it is, just tell me. Don’t hide it from me."Tharros’ jaw tightened. "I will tell you when it’s time," he said firmly. "By then, you will understand."Nyxoria opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off."Do you trust me?" he asked, his gaze piercing.She hesitated for a second but then nodded. "I trust you, Tharros.""Then d
❤️ Mary's Confession ❤️"Let's go," Nyxoria said, her voice firm.Without another word, they left the courtyard and entered the castle, following Vyrelen as he led the way to Mary’s room.When they reached the door, Vyrelen pushed it open and stepped inside first, followed by Tharros, Nyxoria, and Dika and he closed the door.Mary was seen fast asleep on her bed, her chest rising and falling peacefully.Tharros’ gaze darkened. "You can wake her up," he ordered.Vyrelen nodded and stepped closer, standing over Mary. He placed his palm over her face, dragging it down slowly before pulling his hand away.Almost instantly, Mary stirred. She coughed lightly before blinking her eyes open—only to freeze in place.She gasped, her face paling as she realized eight pairs of eyes were watching her in silence."Why is everyone here?" she asked, quickly sitting up. There was concern in her voice as she threw her blanket on her aside and rushed over to meet Nyxoria. She took Nyxoria’s hands in hers
❤️ Mary's Confession (2) ❤️Tharros stood up from where he was, his gaze dark and unreadable."Don’t make the Emperor repeat himself," Vyrelen warned coldly as he stepped on Mary’s already broken hand.Mary let out another sharp cry, her body trembling. "I swear, I don’t know anything about the leaves! I was just following orders! I am telling the truth!" she sobbed, her voice desperate. "I was told to put it in my Empress’s food." She added."Why?" Nyxoria asked, her voice thick with emotion. "Who told you to do it, Mary?"Mary’s lips were shaking as more tears rolled down her face. "Your uncle," she confessed in a choked whisper. "High King Vyr. He was the one who gave me the leaves. Every time it ran out, he would bring me more and remind me of what would happen if I didn’t obey him. I didn't want to die and I did as told."Nyxoria felt the ground shift beneath her. Her knees weakened, and she would have collapsed if not for Tharros’s strong hands wrapping firmly around her waist,
❤️ Shadows Of Desire ❤️They left Mary's room together, but as they walked, Dika suddenly stopped, making Nyxoria pause beside her. The sun was slowly setting, casting an orange glow over the castle walls. By now, the Arcane must have closed for the day."I have to go home," Dika said, her tone firm but reassuring. "But don’t worry, I’ll be at the High King’s palace tomorrow to support you." She added.Nyxoria's face lit up with a grateful smile. "Thank you for coming, Dika. It means a lot to me.""See you tomorrow then, Nyxoria." Dika replied with a smile, then bowed slightly to Tharros out of respect. Without sparing a glance at Vyrelen, she turned and left the castle."I will be back, my Emperor," Vyrelen said.Tharros barely acknowledged him, waving a dismissive hand. In the next instant, Vyrelen vanished into the shadows, leaving Nyxoria alone with Tharros once more."How are you feeling, Ria?" Tharros asked, but before she could respond, he lifted her into his arms. Immediately,
❤️ Oberon Challenge ❤️Tharros noticed the way Nyxoria was looking at him, so he put a little space between them on the bed. She wouldn’t understand the sick thoughts running through his mind—how much he truly enjoyed seeing her tears."How are you feeling now?" he asked, trying to shift the conversation."Nyxoria tilted her head slightly. "Do you like my tears that much?" she questioned.Before Tharros could respond, a knock at the door interrupted him.For once, he was grateful for Vyrelen’s timing. There was no way Nyxoria would understand if he tried to explain."Come in, Vyrelen," he called.Vyrelen stepped inside but remained near the door after closing it."Have you seen your wife off?" Tharros asked, rising to his feet. He walked past Vyrelen, motioning for him to follow him outside. Together, they made their way toward the closest balcony.As soon as they stepped outside, Vyrelen grinned. "Yes, my Emperor.""Good. Why are you here? Did the guards disrespect her?" Tharros aske
❤️ Lady Bana's Warning ❤️"You—" King Oberon started, but Vyrelen cut him off."I have told you what the Emperor wants me to tell you. Bring your fighter, and he will bring his. In two days, the fight will take place in Ashland, as you chose." Vyrelen gave a small bow, and before Oberon could say another word, the Nightweaver disappeared into his shadows.Oberon clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He walked over to the mirror hanging in the corner of his chamber, inspecting his throat where Vyrelen had gripped him. The skin was red, an infuriating reminder of how easily he had been caught off guard. His rage burned hotter as he remembered his fire not burning Vyrelen.Placing a hand over the mark, he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the redness had vanished.With a growl, he slammed his fist into the mirror, shattering the glass into many pieces.He then grinned as he remembered Tharros response to his message.Tharros had taken the bait. He is indeed a big fool.The As
❤️ Between Love and Escape ❤️Tharros Chamber:Nyxoria slowly woke up, feeling a strange warmth inside her chest, not just warmth, but strength. She felt stronger than she had the day before, like the wolf part of her had settled deeper inside, lending her more power, more energy. She turned her head and smiled softly when she saw Tharros still fast asleep beside her, his arm slung lazily over her waist.Carefully, she shifted, trying to slip out of bed, but the moment she moved, Tharros’ arm tightened, holding her in place.“Where are you going, love?” he murmured, his deep voice rough from sleep as he cracked one eye open to look at her.“Nowhere,” Nyxoria said with a small smile, brushing her fingers lightly across his arm. But before she could say anything else, the whole chamber suddenly vibrated under them. The walls trembled, the furniture rattled slightly, and then a loud noise echoed, something crashing, something breaking. Nyxoria stiffened. “Are we under attack?” she asked
❤️ Possession and Promise ❤️Dika’s heart slammed hard against her chest, each beat loud and shaky in her ears. She hadn’t expected this, hadn’t expected this talk to twist and turn into something so raw, so heated, so intense that she could barely breathe.She stood frozen, staring at him, unsure if she should move, unsure if she should speak.“I will never hurt you,” Vyrelen said softly, pulling her out of the whirlwind of her thoughts. His voice, low and rough, slid into her like a warm knife. “I told you I love you and that I will marry you. Do you really think a man out for revenge would go this far? Would go as far as wanting to bind you to him forever as his mate?”Dika’s throat tightened, her hands clenched slightly at her sides. She opened her mouth, her voice trembling. “I…I believe you, Vyrelen.”The breath Vyrelen let out was sharp and deep, like he’d been holding it for hours. Slowly, the wild, writhing shadows in the room began to sink back into his skin, pulling away fr
❤️ A Heart Torn in Two ❤️Dika didn’t sleep at all that night. She tossed and turned on her bed, her eyes wide open in the dark. Even though she had acted like her mother’s words didn’t bother her, deep down, they had hit her hard.She kept thinking and thinking, her mind spinning in circles. What was her mother’s story? Why had her mother looked so worried, her face tight with fear? Was it true? Was Vyrelen just playing with her, pretending to love her when, in reality, he didn’t care at all?The more Dika thought about it, the more restless she became.At one point, sometime in the middle of the night, she almost stood up to go back to the castle right then. But she forced herself to stay put. No, she would wait for morning. She needed her strength.When dawn finally came, she sat down and ate as much as she could. She ate until she was sure her body was full, because she knew that if there was even the smallest chance her mother was right, she would need every bit of energy she had
❤️ Before She Returns ❤️“What did she say to you?” Ora’s voice came softly, but Nyxoria could hear the eagerness hiding underneath. It was clear Ora was hungry to know what she and her wolf dragon beast was talking about.Nyxoria let out a slow breath. “I… I couldn’t really understand what she was saying,” she answered honestly. She didn’t want to lie about it, not now. The only thing that stuck in her mind was that Nevera had said she had made a wrong choice. But no matter how hard she tried to pull at the memory, it stayed hazy, slipping through her fingers like water. She knew it must be tied to that night, that night when her parents had brutally died. Something had happened, something important, and she was sure she had missed it.Nyxoria rose slowly to her feet, brushing dust from her clothes.“That’s how they are,” Ora said gently, stepping closer. “They speak in riddles and parables, and most times, their chosen ones don't understand. At least, not at first.” she added.Nyxor
❤️ Mark Of Obsidian ❤️"You can go," Queen Lynn said, waving her hand like she was brushing away something unimportant.Lady Bana gave a respectful bow and turned to leave, but she hadn’t taken more than a few steps when Queen Lynn’s voice floated after her, stopping her in her tracks."What about Daisy? Has her brain finally been reset?"Lady Bana paused, keeping her back turned for a second before slowly facing the Queen again with her head slightly bowed. "No, my Queen," she answered quietly.Queen Lynn clicked her tongue and shook her head, walking slowly to her bed like she was dragging the weight of memory with every step. "You do know that if Daisy hadn’t had a change of heart at the very last moment, you wouldn’t be where you are today, right?" she said with a strange kind of calm in her voice. "You would be serving under her, just like that obedient little Noah and that Fefe of a girl who always follows you around."Lady Bana's fingers curled into fists at her side, and her f
❤️ A Dance Upon Fate’s Blade ❤️Vampire Kingdom: Queen Aurora Chamber:Queen Aurora had been quiet all through the journey back to her palace. She had kept a calm face, not letting anyone know what was going on inside her. It was only when she finally stepped into the safety of her chamber and closed the heavy door behind her and removed her boots that she allowed the flood of thoughts to crash into her.She leaned her back against the door and closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in slowly. King Oberon was dead. No matter how many times she said it to herself, it still felt like a lie. Like maybe she was dreaming and would wake up any moment.First, it had been High King Laka and his wife, Queen Lynn. Now Oberon too. One after the other, they were falling.Aurora opened her eyes and began to slowly walk around her chamber, her bare feet making soft sounds on the cold floor.“What is happening?” she muttered under her breath. “Is it the sins of our past coming back for all of us?”
❤️ Cracked Shell, Shattered Truths ❤️“You don’t understand, Dika,” Queen Ashani said, her voice calm but serious, trying to make her daughter see reason. “I honestly thought you’d be smart enough to figure things out on your own, but now, now I’m starting to wonder if you’re even using your head at all.”Dika’s eyes narrowed, her chest rising and falling as she tried to keep her emotions steady. “Mother, whatever it is you’re trying to do right now, just stop it. Please. This thing you’re trying to plant in my heart, the doubt, the confusion, it won’t work. I won’t let you mess with what Vyrelen and I are beginning to have. If something happened between the two of you, that’s your business. I don’t want to know, I don’t need to know. Don’t drag me into it. Leave me out of your past mistakes.”Queen Ashani didn’t flinch. "What if it involves Nyxoria? Do you still think you will be her friend if she comes to know the truth?"That made Dika pause. Her heart skipped a beat. “What does Ny
❤️ Queen Ashani ❤️Queen Ashani Palace: Dika's RoomDika blinked a few times when she saw where they had ended up. It wasn’t the Emperor’s grand castle, it was her mother’s palace, and more specifically, her own chamber.She turned to Vyrelen, a bit confused. “Wait… I thought we were going straight to the Emperor’s castle. Why are we here?”Vyrelen raised an eyebrow, a small playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “And here I thought you’d get angry if I dragged you off to that huge castle, my chamber, instead of bringing you home. Aren’t you happy I’m finally thinking with my head, for once?”Dika rolled her eyes and pushed herself slightly away from him, realizing she’d been leaning on him without even noticing. She cleared her throat and looked around awkwardly.“Whatever. Thanks… for bringing me home,” she mumbled. "You can leave."Vyrelen just shrugged casually and leaned against the door like he owned the place. “I never said I was leaving.”She frowned. “What do you me
❤️ Daisy, the Unbroken ❤️An Unknown Place:The room was dim and cold, with barely enough light to see the stone walls. Daisy was still chained, slumped quietly in the corner like a broken doll someone had forgotten. The air smelled like dust and iron.Lady Bana appeared without warning, her dark dress swaying slightly as if it had caught the wind, even though there was none. She walked slowly, her presence filling the room like a heavy fog.Noah, who had been standing near the wall with folded arms, straightened quickly when he saw her. He hadn't expected her to come here.“My Lady,” he said, trying to hide the nerves in his voice. “Did Oberon win?”Lady Bana didn’t answer with words. She raised her hand slowly, like she was pressing something in the air, and in an instant, Noah’s hands flew to his throat. He began to choke, clawing at something invisible wrapped around his neck.“Does this look like my happy face to you?” she growled, her voice sharp and angry. Her teeth were clench