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
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
She would come out and show him the dress shr picked out and he would either agree or disagree on it. She loved his opinion on fashion and he was funny as well. It went on for nearly an hour — and they themselves had already lost track of time. She stepped out with outfit number…she had lost count. It was a blue gown that was knee–lengthed, flowing gracefully around her.Ryan looked up from inspecting a pair of shoes that he had wanted to suggest that she picked out. His eyes widened as he took in her features, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Her blonde hair complemented the dress and her blue eyes matched the shade of the dress. She was beautiful, so beautiful and looked even more gorgeous in clothes that weren't her usual rags. It felt wrong for him to be thinking about it, to be thinking about her. She was still very much an enemy to the kingdom and he shouldn't be harbouring these…feelings for her. "So?" she questioned, knocking him out of his thoughts. She did a twirl in th
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
SEVEN WEEKS LATERAstrid paced restlessly in her room, the worry etched across her face like a shadow refusing to dissipate. Three weeks had passed, and the strange fog hadn't returned. No wolf had died as well. Four weeks prior, the kingdom was in an upheaval — wolves were dying, and the fog was incessant. However, all had seemingly been well for the meantime. The prophetess had refused to come to the palace despite how many times Ryan had reached out to her. With the details of the prophecy unclear and the prophetess refusing to come, Astrid was confused. Perhaps if the prophecy was authentic, she mused, then perhaps she had already fulfilled her supposed role as the kingdom's savior during those tragic weeks.Maybe she was just here to 'calm' it down. And now that everything seemed calm, it raised a poignant question in her mind—did they still need her? Was her purpose fulfilled, or was there more? Astrid couldn't shake the fear that Ragnar might see no need or her anymore,
Ragnar stirred from his slumber and his eyes opened. He lifted himself from his position, proceeding to now sit atop of his bed. And then, he became aware of the disheveled state he was in – shirt undone, pants haphazardly clinging to his waist, and a loosely hanging belt. He sat up on the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes as if trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.And then, immediately, the memories of the previous night flooded back to him – Astrid.He had fucked her ruthlessly, in the ass. And that mustve hurt like crazy, but at that point, he didn't care. All he wanted was to feel her and climax. However, a strange sensation gnawed at him, a feeling he wasn't accustomed to – guilt.He pondered the unfamiliar emotion, perplexed by its existence. Guilt was a foreign visitor, one he rarely entertained. Especially not towards someone like Astrid.Ragnar had fucked Lilith multiple times, other women as well, yet he didn't hold even a hint of remorse. But for some reason, he felt
CHAPTER THIRTY–ONELilith adorned herself in a seductive gown as she made her way to the throne room — she was going to see Ragnar. They were supposed to spend the night together but he didn't send for her. She wasn't upset though, she figured he was just tired and slept off. After all, they had spent the whole day together.The thought ofn it broughyt a smile to her face. The red dress she was wearing was newly purchased, the fabric clung to her every curve, intended to capture Ragnar's attention. Upon entering, she saw him seated on his throne, nose buried in the heap of scrolls he had piled up. She stood before him and executed a courtly curtsy before him, and with a smile, she said,“Greetings, your Majesty.”Ragnar, however, looked up briefly from his scrolls, giving her a disinterested once-over. His response was a simple nod before he redirected his focus to the scrolls.What the hell? What was the meaning of that?Lilith's shock reverberated through her as she felt her practi
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONEThe three elders occupied their seats, watching with wary eyes as Ragnar paced the room furiously, while Ryan stood nearby. Ragnar's jaw tensed, his fists clenched as the surge of anger boiled within him. His face bore a scowl, his gaze laced with fury that laid rooted in the depths of his eyes. Every step he took echoed the storm raging within him.He fought to control himself and tried to suppress the rage, making it hard for anyone in the room to remain unaffected. He wanted to pick up every single thing — and person in that room and shatter them into pieces, but even that won’t be able to calm the anger that roared in him. Amidst the hard-as-rock tension that existed in the throne room, he cleared his throat, "Your Lordship, will you be visiting Lilith in the hospital? The doctor has informed me that she has come to be." "Never." Ragnar hissed, not even pausing his pace to give Ryan a glance. "But your Lordship—" Ryan began, only to be silenced by the vio