LOGINThe shattered scream that escaped from Rosalie’s throat still echoed in the corners of the cavernous bedroom, bouncing off the heavy velvet drapes and the cold stone walls. She was pinned beneath him, her hands balled on his chest, her jade eyes wide and glassy with a sudden rush of overwhelming shock. The blunt, brutal reality of his entry had completely paralyzed her. Tears, hot and silent, welled over her eyelashes, tracking down her flushed cheeks and disapp
The rhythmic hum of voices in the council chamber gradually faded into a distant, hazy blur. For a long while, Estrella remained motionless on the dark velvet settee, her breathing slow and even, lost in a deep, dreamless sleep.When the High Council meeting finally adjourned, the elders gathered their ledgers and quietly filed out of the grand hall. Commander Garrett paused near the doorway, casting a lingering, concerned glance at his sleeping daughter, then at the young King. Asher offered the Commander a silent, reassuring nod, signaling that she was safe. Once the heavy doors clicked shut and the room emptied completely, silence settled over the sunlit chamber.Asher rose from his high-backed velvet chair. His footsteps were silent as he crossed the polished marble floor toward the corner settee.He lowered himself onto the cushion right beside her. Stripp
The faint, rosy hues of dawn began to seep through the tall arched windows of the royal corridor, bleeding soft pink and gold light onto the cold stone floor. The flickering wall torches were sputtering out, signaling the end of the long, silent night.Standing in her rigid, unwavering posture outside the King’s bedchamber, Estrella let out a long, silent breath. Her black-clad body ached. Her legs felt heavy as lead, and her eyes burned with dry exhaustion. Between driving herself to near-collapse during the morning’s duel, the endless hours of standing in heavy armor at the coronation ceremony, and now an entire night of enforced door duty, she was running on pure, stubborn willpower.All she wanted, all her soul craved in this moment, was a warm bath, a dark room, and some time of solid uninterrupted sleep.She uncrossed her arms, rolling her sho
The stone corridor leading to the royal wing was bathed in the quiet, amber flicker of wall torches. The palace had settled into a heavy hush, the distant echoes of late-night laughter fading into nothingness as the hour grew late.Standing dead center in front of the massive double doors of King Asher’s private bedchamber was Estrella.She wasn't in her heavy steel breastplate anymore. Having shed her ceremonial armor, she wore form-fitting black tights and a sleek, tight black tunic that clung to her hot athletic frame, accented by lightweight dark leather guards buckled over her forearms and shoulders. Her long chestnut hair was pulled back into a high, sleek, yet delightfully fluffy ponytail that brushed against her back. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her stance rigid, while her unique eyes stared daggers straight ahead at the carved oak paneling.
The heavy oak doors of the royal bedchamber clicked shut, locking in the flurry of servants bustling around the room with silk robes, polished armor plates, and ceremonial jewelry. Asher stood in the center of the spacious chamber, letting out a long, quiet exhale."Leave," he had told the head maid gently, waving a dismissive hand. "I can handle the rest myself."Once the maids had bowed and exited, the quiet settled over him. He walked into the adjoining bath chamber, where a massive stone tub steamed with warm, fragrant water. Sinking into the heat, Asher rested his head against the rim, closing his eyes for a few fleeting minutes. The phantom sensation of the morning’s sparring match still hummed in his muscle memory, the quick, lethal strike of Estrella’s boot, the sharp hiss of steel sliding against steel, and the unyielding, fierce blaze in her unique eyes. A faint, dark smi
"Never."The word hung in the humid morning air between them like a challenge forged in cold iron. Estrella’s chest rose and fell in shallow, rapid hitches, her heterochromatic eyes, one icy blue, one deep forest green, blazing with an unyielding, dangerous light. She didn't flinch away from the cold edge of his broadsword resting against her collarbone, nor did she recoil from the oppressive weight of his towering frame pinning her against the rough stone wall.Asher’s eyes darkened instantly. A violent, intoxicating surge of adrenaline rushed through his veins as his inner Alpha wolf clawed its way to the surface. For a split second, his golden irises flared into a blinding, radiant shade of molten gold, glowing with pure, predatory satisfaction.They were both clueless to the eyes that were fixed on them as all the warriors present in the trainin
15 years later...The morning sun filtered softly through the tall arched windows of the royal dining hall, painting the polished mahogany table in warm amber light. The palace was quiet, holding its breath before the grand festivities set to unfold at dusk.Asher stepped through the heavy double doors, his presence instantly dominating the vast room. At twenty-five years old, he had grown into a remarkably tall, athletic Alpha, standing even taller than his father and broad-shouldered enough to surpass his warriors in physical strength. His sharp, sculpted jawline, dark hair, and striking golden eyes gave him a gorgeously dangerous, regal allure that made him an imposing force throughout the realm.At the head of the table sat King Dominic. Though time had brushed his temples with silver and lined the corners of his eyes, the old Alpha King remained a powerful, revered presence. Beside him sat Queen Rosalie, her beauty softened by the gentle passage of years. A few silver strands gle
A wave of ice-cold dread clouded her very soul, freezing the blood in her veins. No... Her mind screamed as the realization hit her like a physical blow. Why did he want her dressed in the purest of silk
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







