Ragnar paced furiously in his throne room. His three elders were seated, Ryan was present as well. And all four of them combined were telling him a bunch of bullshit. "My Lord," Beta Ryan spoke with measured concern, "what I'm simply trying to say is that we should consider the possibility that the prophecy is unfolding before us." The first elder — Elder Jorred spoke up, "Exactly, my King. The appearance of the golden wolf with the mark of the moon—Astrid's wolf—aligns with what the prophetess foretold."Ragnar, however, dismissed the notion with a vehement wave of his hand. "Bullshit! That mark could mean anything and you all know that. Do you think the gods would be callous to make my enemy my Savior? How does that sound to you?" Beta Ryan persisted, "I understand your point, my Lord. But the are signs — the red fog returned the moment Astrid shifted. That cannot be mere coincidence."Elder Kobben nodded in affirmation, "Perhaps the gods are trying to communicate with us throu
Ragnar shot her a glare. "Don't push your luck, Astrid." He replied, turning around and resuming walking to his throne. She smirked, keeping pace with him. "Or what? You'll throw me back in that suffocating room?" He rolled his eyes, quickening his pace. Astrid caught up with him again. "I'll say it again and again. I know you never had the guts to kill me," she remarked.He halted, facing her with a challenging expression. "Excuse me?"How dare she repeat it? He wanted to kill her, in the same merciless manner she had killed Francia. He wanted revenge, he wanted to see her dead, to see blood oozing out of her, he wanted her gone.But then, she was right to ask…why didn't he do it?He clenched his fists, retorting, "I don't owe you an explanation."She folded her arms, her eyes narrowing at him. But deep down, she enjoyed the way her words were bringing out a reaction from him. "Afraid you'll reveal some deep, dark secret? Or perhaps a soft spot for the rogue you once called an enem
CHAPTER NINETEEN "Well, if you don't have anything else to say, Lilith, then you can leave." He replied. He needed some time to himself to work and to organize his thoughts — they were all over the place. He needed a smoke, definitely. "One more thing, my Lord." Lilith began, "It's about the plague the Prophetess had talked about. Beta Ryan had told me about it." Ragnar arched a brow, "Plague? She didn't say anything about it being a plague. And I see, Ryan has a sharp mouth now, doesn't he?" She quickly defended, "Not quite, I had actually overheard him talking about it. Not that he spilled the information to me." she said, "Also, just like you, my Lord, I also doubt the credibility of the prophecy — are you actually going to keep Astrid alive?" Jealous and annoying. When was she going to understand that both she and Astrid meant nothing to him? "Perhaps you didn't 'overhear' correctly, or didn't Ryan say that Astrid was the chosen wolf? I have to keep her around to avert whate
"Last I remembered, this palace belongs to me and I have the right to be anywhere I please." He retorted. "I just got out of the bathroom! I could've come out naked!" She shot back at him. He scoffed, "It's not something I haven't seen before, isn't that so, Astrid?" His words made her fume with anger and her face scrunched in a scowl. Yet, her cheeks were stained with a subtle red. Hold on, why was she getting flustered. Ragnar noticed it. His gaze lingered on her cheek and seeing how his words had affected her. Slowly, his gaze lowered from her face and her soaked hair as he took in her barely covered nakedness — the towel wasn't doing much. And then, her scent. Fuck. Why on earth was he still being tortured by it? What more must he do to tell the gods that he wasn't interested in this woman? Why did they keep taunting him? She cleared her throat, "Please leave. I want to get dressed." she stated with a stern look in her eyes. "You keep running into me nearly naked. It's cree
The carriage ride to the shop was awfully quiet. Ryan just sat there and Astrid sat beside him. He had wabted to make conversation with her but he was clueless on how to begin or what to say. He didn't want to set her off, so he just remained quiet. Astrid on the other, didn't feel the need to talk since she wasn't spoken to. She had caught Ryan peeking a glimpse at her a few times, but she pretended as though she didn't. It was her first time being out of the palace walls in two months and she appreciated the breath of fresh air, the sight of people other than the palace maids and guards and really just being out of the palace in general. The carriage came to stop in front of one of the shops and Astrid was knocked out of her thoughts. Looking ahead, she saw an array of clothing shops and people flocking in and out of them. "Shall we?" Ryan turned to look at her, offering his hand with a smile. He wanted her to hold his hand? Really? What was happening here? She looked at his o
The carriage ride to the shop was awfully quiet. Ryan just sat there and Astrid sat beside him. He had wabted to make conversation with her but he was clueless on how to begin or what to say. He didn't want to set her off, so he just remained quiet. Astrid on the other, didn't feel the need to talk since she wasn't spoken to. She had caught Ryan peeking a glimpse at her a few times, but she pretended as though she didn't. It was her first time being out of the palace walls in two months and she appreciated the breath of fresh air, the sight of people other than the palace maids and guards and really just being out of the palace in general. The carriage came to stop in front of one of the shops and Astrid was knocked out of her thoughts. Looking ahead, she saw an array of clothing shops and people flocking in and out of them. "Shall we?" Ryan turned to look at her, offering his hand with a smile. He wanted her to hold his hand? Really? What was happening here? She looked at his o
The carriage ride to the shop was awfully quiet. Ryan just sat there and Astrid sat beside him. He had wabted to make conversation with her but he was clueless on how to begin or what to say. He didn't want to set her off, so he just remained quiet. Astrid on the other, didn't feel the need to talk since she wasn't spoken to. She had caught Ryan peeking a glimpse at her a few times, but she pretended as though she didn't. It was her first time being out of the palace walls in two months and she appreciated the breath of fresh air, the sight of people other than the palace maids and guards and really just being out of the palace in general. The carriage came to stop in front of one of the shops and Astrid was knocked out of her thoughts. Looking ahead, she saw an array of clothing shops and people flocking in and out of them. "Shall we?" Ryan turned to look at her, offering his hand with a smile. He wanted her to hold his hand? Really? What was happening here? She looked at his o
Ryan was also thinking the same thing. The townspeople knew Astrid. They hated her. They expected her to be confined in chains since she wasn't going to be killed. What would they say when they see her with him? "Give me a moment." he said and let go of her hand. He walked down to a woman selling veils. Astrid watched as he purchased one from the woman and returned back to her. "So people wouldn't recognize you." He said to her as he returned. She nodded, sharing the same vein. "Can I help you put it on?" Again, she nodded and stepped closer to him. He gently put the veil on, covering her face but still making it comfortable enough for her. So she could breathe well and not feel choked up. As he adjusted the sides of the veil, tucking in her hair behind it, his hands gently brushed the corners of her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "There. No one will know it's you." He said as he finished and took a step back. "Thank you." She replied. "No problem, let us go in now." He