Mag-log inElla stood behind Sarah and Mila as they waited for the King to call them in. His voice drifted out of the door, and the door slid open.Her heart thundered in her chest, and her fingers tightened around the tray as they walked inside.Through Sarah's shoulder, Ella saw Maxwell seated on a long seat, his elbow braced on his thigh.He looked at them as they approached."We are here with your evening meal, Your Majesty." Sarah was the one who said.Maxwell flicked his hand. "Set the table." And they did. Sarah took charge, laying the trays on the mahogany table, while Mila assisted a little.Ella tried not to look at him, but when Sarah rose from the table, she glanced at him.His eyes were on Sarah, then his eyes moved to her, and Ella quickly averted her eyes.She had to be careful. She knew he wasn't stupid, and any slight mistake on her part could destroy her plans tonight."Where is my tea?" Maxwell asked.Ella was still holding the tea tray, and Sarah stretched out her hands to t
Maxwell leaned back on the seat. He had just closed his eyes when the door opened, and his head guard walked in."Your Majesty." Maxwell grunted, but he didn't open his eyes."Minister Edward is here."Maxwell went still, and his eyes opened slowly. He stared up at the ornate roof."Let him come in."The head guard bowed, then went out to call on the minister.Minister Edward walked in a few seconds later.Maxwell was still staring up at the roof."Your Majesty." The Minister bowed his head."To what do I owe this visit?" Minister Edward walked in further, and he stood a few steps away from Maxwell."Your Majesty, my servant came to me with some absurd news." Minister Edward began, "He said that he heard some people talking about the healing."This time Maxwell looked at him. But his face was expressionless."They said that the healing doesn't last." Minister Edward added, but Maxwell still didn't say anything, and the minister stared at him."Your Majesty? Do you know about this?"
In a hut high above the mountainside, Adriana sat on the floorboard outside, the crickets chirping around her.She was gazing up at the moonless sky silently, while her fingers fumbled with the needle she was holding in her hand.One year has passed, and everything has changed.The realm has changed. The people have changed. She has changed.Well, except for one thing. Kallias.Adriana's face clouded, and she batted her eyes, trying to hold back the unshed tears.She looked down at the cloth she was trying to mend. The fabric was already worn out, and there were holes in it. Her needle wove through them, trying to patch them together.Adriana's fingers caressed the embroidery of a crest. The King's crest, and it was still good as new.She lifted the cloth to her face and breathed in deeply, inhaling the faint scent of him.Footsteps sounded behind her, and she resumed mending the cloth."Adriana."Adriana looked up at the older woman who was smiling softly at her."Sonya." Adriana r
Erica stirred and turned to the other side, then her eyes flew open. Her eyes met an unfamiliar wall, and she sat up immediately, but a sting in her forehead made her wince.She touched her temple and felt the slight cut there. It was definitely from that branch her head had struck last night.Last night. She stopped.She had ridden on that wolf as they ran away from the soldiers chasing after them.Erica glanced around her.Where was he, and where was she?Her answer came immediately when the door opened, and Marcus walked in.His eyes settled on her instantly, and when he saw she was awake, he strode towards her.She noticed that he wasn't wearing the clothes she had seen on him last night.Had he changed?Just as the thought came in, an image of a naked man putting on clothes flashed in her mind.She had regained consciousness briefly last night, and had seen him dressing.A flush colored her cheeks as Marcus came to her."Are you feeling unwell?" His voice halted her thoughts, and
"There you are." The soldier snarled at them, and Erica stepped back.Another soldier appeared, then another, until they were six."They outnumber us," Marcus said beside her; half of his body was covered in fur. "If you can't shift, then you have to ride on me." He whispered to Erica, and she glanced at him before looking back at the soldiers who were staring hard at them."Ride on you?" Her voice told him she didn't want to."That's the only way; if not, you would be caught.""Me?" The soldiers were already coming towards them, and they both stepped back again."Hey, what were you both doing with that poster?" One of the soldiers asked them."What business is that of yours?" Erica said gruffly.The soldier's expression turned dangerous."How dare you, filthy peasant, talk to me that way?" The soldier snarled, and Erica's heart jumped, but she kept up a brave front."I am still better than you.""Hey." Marcus tugged her arm. "Do you have a death wish? What are you doing?" "Trying to
Marcus stood on the streets of the realm, holding a handwritten map that he had constructed with the royal aide.With the guide of the map, he had gone to the place the royal aide had said he had seen Adriana. Marcus had sat down there in a corner and had waited for hours, but there had been no sign of Adriana or even anyone passing that place.Then he had wandered around, going to other places. If not for the map, he would have been lost. He barely came out of the Palace, and when he did, it was always with an escort to lead the way.Marcus looked down at the map again, and following the directions written there, he went into another street.He walked up the street, his eyes gazing around, looking for hints, but found none. He walked back down and, taking out a small charcoal, he marked the street on the map out.Most of the streets and directions written on the map had been marked. And only a few.He needed to do it fast. The first bell had rung not too long ago, and he knew the s
Footsteps echoed on the marble floor as people bustled around with trays of food, drinks, and flowers. The air was misty with the scent of the delicious food being prepared and mingling with the flowers hung on the walls.A woman with grey hair tied into a tight bun barked out orders and tapped her
Adriana's eyelids fluttered open and she opened her eyes slowly.The first thing she saw was the moon nestled between the clouds, its silver light shining down on her face. This was a beautiful night and on a normal day Adriana would have enjoyed gazing at it feeling at peace, but now peace was far
Alpha Raymond stared at his soon-to-be son-in-law like he had grown two heads.Xavier's lips quivered and he repeated the exact words he had spoken a moment ago.“Adriana is dead.”“How foolish of you to say that about my daughter!” Alpha Raymond snapped.“I didn't want to believe it as well, but i
Adriana held the wall for support, feeling like her world had come crashing down.She couldn't deny what she had heard within this door.Xavier was having an affair with her sister.The realization hit harder than their words and her despair turned into rage.How dare they?How dare he deceive her







