LOGINThe morning sun had barely begun to filter through the narrow stone window of Estrella’s room when a soft, hesitant knock echoed against her door.
Estrella was already awake. In truth, she hadn't slept a single wink. Every time she had closed her eyes during the long, agonizing night, she felt the burning heat of Asher’s mouth against hers, the taste of his blood lingering on her tongue, and the terrifying, sweet ache deep
They ran and ran into the deep heart of the ancient forest. Beneath the dark canopy of pines, through the pouring rain and under the silver glow of the moonlight breaking through the storm clouds, the two wolves moved as one.Estrella’s chestnut wolf was in absolute ecstasy. The sheer, intoxicating freedom of sprinting side-by-side with the massive gray Alpha made her heart soar in a way she hadn't experienced in years. Every stride through the wet grass, every splash of mud, and every soft brush of their fur fired a surge of pure, unadulterated joy through her soul. All the heavy burdens of her duty, her pride, her anger, and her constant, exhausting resistance to King Asher vanished into the storm. For those fleeting moments in the wild, she wasn't a rigid Royal Knight, and he wasn't her king. They were simply two wolves, bound by the storm and a fierce, undeniable pull.When their paw
The morning sun had barely begun to filter through the narrow stone window of Estrella’s room when a soft, hesitant knock echoed against her door.Estrella was already awake. In truth, she hadn't slept a single wink. Every time she had closed her eyes during the long, agonizing night, she felt the burning heat of Asher’s mouth against hers, the taste of his blood lingering on her tongue, and the terrifying, sweet ache deep in her core.She pulled open the door to find a young palace maid holding a freshly laundered tunic and a folded parchment. The girl bowed nervously, avoiding direct eye contact with the notoriously fierce female knight."My Lord... I mean, Knight Estrella," the maid stammered, holding out the parchment. "A direct message from King Asher. He ordered me to tell you that you are to meet him at the royal stables tonight. You will be
"You-"Estrella’s breathy, furious voice was instantly drowned out by a loud, heavy knock against the oak paneling outside.BANG. BANG. BANG.The sharp, urgent sound shattered the suffocating, high-voltage atmosphere in the bedchamber like a rock thrown through glass."Your Highness!" Captain Griat’s deep, muffled baritone echoed through the thick wood of the door. "Apologies for the midnight intrusion, My Lord. Scout reports just arrived from the southern border outposts. We have suspicious pack movements near the perimeter line. Your presence is required in the tactical war study immediately."The spell snapped.Asher didn't jump or look startled. He slowly stepped back, his massive chest rising a
The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.Estrella’s heart pounded violently against her ribs, the rhythm so loud it echoed in her ears. Her eyes remained wide, frozen in sheer disbelief as King Asher’s raw, unfiltered confession hung in the quiet, candlelit air of the bedchamber.Made me fall even harder.The words echoed in her mind, sending a chaotic surge of heat and confusion straight through her veins. But as the initial shock wore off, a bitter, defensive wall slammed down inside her chest."You're lying," Estrella spat out, her voice cracking slightly before she hardened it into a blade of pure denial. She forced a harsh, mocking laugh, though her chest heaved with rapid, shallow breaths. "This is just another one of your sick games, isn't
The heavy click of the iron lock echoed through the grand bedchamber like a strike of lightning in a silent sky.Estrella’s heart skipped a sharp, violent beat. Instinct took over before her mind could fully process the terror of the situation; her right hand snapped instantly to the hilt of her dagger, her knuckles turning white against the polished leather. Her breath hitched in her throat, her pulse hammering wildly against her ribs as she spun around on her heel to face him."Why did you lock the door?" she demanded, her voice dropping into a sharp, lethal blade of sound that cut through the warm, candlelit silence.Asher didn't flinch. He didn't even look startled by her hostile stance. He simply leaned back against the solid oak wood of the door, his golden eyes glowing with a lazy, infuriating calm as he adjusted the cuffs of his dark tunic.
The steam rising from the copper tub filled the small bathhouse in the lower quarters with the soothing scents of lavender and crushed eucalyptus. Estrella leaned her head back against the rim, letting the scalding water soak into her overworked muscles.For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she had been granted a full, uninterrupted night of rest. Fortunately, Asher had not summoned her to stand outside his bedchamber last night. Whether out of rare mercy or pure luck, he had stayed within his quarters, giving her the precious hours she desperately needed to recover from the brutal duel, the endless coronation ceremonies, and the agonizing high council meeting.Stepping out of the water, she dried off and pulled on her armor, a tight, flexible suit of dark leather and reinforced woven cloth designed for high mobility in the dark. She deftl
Dominic dismounted the beast in one fluid, predatory movement. His massive hand wrapped around her arm, tugging her down with him. The moment her bare, bruised soles made contact with the freezing cobblestones of the courtyard, Rosalie's knees turned into compl
The thick, copper taste of Dominic Varkov’s blood coated Rosalie’s tongue, a metallic brand that felt like a permanent iron shackle around her soul. The ancient incantations chanted by the trembling High Priest still echoed in the freezing night air, vibrating
The silence of the clearing was deafening. Thousands of eyes were pinned on Rosalie Ashford, but she only had eyes for Prince Cassian. There was so much pain in her teary eyes as she pleaded with her eyes, but he didn't offer her a single glance.The silver threads of the mate bond were still puls
Rosalie stood in the center of her cramped attic. Her eyes were fixed on the broken mirror in front of her. She has freshly showered, and her skin glows.Stepping out of her ragged clothing, she stared at the beautiful dress she had stitched out of torn dresses of Carolina.Rosalie put on the dress







