The uprising killed the royal Cardinal family. The Cardinals were magic wielders and had ruled for over five hundred years with an iron fist. Eventually, the humans waged war against wielders and shifters. They overthrew the crown, branding all non-human beings as Unnaturals and leaving them to fend for themselves in a broken world. Ida has spent those last ten years since the uprising sold from one household to another, never able to repay her indenture. The situation, although not ideal, has offered her a second chance at life. A life in hiding was better than no life at all, and she did not wish to suffer the same fate as others of her kind. Sold into the services of Duke Kestrel, she meets a seductive yet mysterious Lord Alexander. Already in his thirties, Xander cares very little for his title and responsibilities. He should have been married years ago, but no woman appears to please him. Many assume he is simply difficult, but not all is what it seems. Xander carries the weight of being a shifter, unable to find his mate in this new kingdom. After a chance meeting between them, Ida becomes overwhelmed by Alexander's mixed signals. She dares not succumb to her inner feelings. Letting Xander in would mean opening up about what she truly is, and she is determined to keep her past hidden. Xander, however, has other plans. He intends to get his mate by whatever means necessary. When both their lives intertwine by fate, a new quest emerges fraught with danger as they encounter all walks of life trying to tear them apart. Can their love survive, or is there a more sinister plot afoot?
ดูเพิ่มเติมI heard the jingle of the keys before my bedroom door unlocked. This only meant that my workday was starting.
The hauntingly black figure of the head maid appeared in the still black shadows of early morning and threw a burnt piece of bread at my feet, which would serve as breakfast.
The maids’ and servants’ corners were in the north wing of High Hill Estate. The estate currently housed Duke Kestrel and his family. After the uprising, ten years prior, they were moved here to oversee governing the capital of Airedah—Seagull’s Bay.
I grabbed the bread quickly before rats could spot it and immediately ate it to satisfy the rumbling in my belly. I would later have any leftover scraps from the duke’s breakfast.
My day started around four in the morning, so this little piece of bread would have to carry me until then. I tried to savour it, but my hunger compelled me to shove it in my mouth and eat it promptly.
I snatched my black maid’s garment from the small wooden peg near my bed and pulled it over my head. I slid my toned arms in the sleeves and pulled down near the waist, smoothing any wrinkles over my stomach and chest. The lacing on the front was easy to tie and helped adjust the somewhat enormous dress on my frame.
I wasn’t petite, but I was not big enough to fit in it properly. However, they only gave me this garment when I was sold to this estate one year prior.
“Ida, hurry up!” called the head maid from the darkness of the hallway.
She had already freed most of the other servants and maids, and I could see their black silhouettes passing in front of my opened door. She was looking at me with her usual displeased look.
I was probably the most annoying one out of all the servants and maids she had to keep in check. It wasn’t my fault, though; I wasn’t born into this life of indentured servitude, and the system was unfortunately rigged. Once you neared the end of your indenture somewhere, they would sell you to another home, and you’d have to restart your contract with your new owner and work until you had repaid your value. It was a way to keep us as slaves.
I had lived this way for almost a decade now, and I had issues with being compliant. What could I say? Old habits died hard.
I pulled my white apron over my tousled hair and deftly tied it on my back.
While moving to the door, I slipped my feet into my thin leather work boots and hid my red hair in a bonnet. Although it was not uncommon to have red hair, it left people with unsettling feelings because all Cardinal descendants had red hair. Having fiery red hair in this new era was not something people would consider lucky.
The late King Cardinal and his predecessors, who reigned for well over five hundred years over Airedah, had all bright red heads in the paintings I had seen. The new king would have destroyed most of them now, though.
Since my hair was that unfortunate colour, I hid it as much as possible under any headwear. If I had to wear a cap, I used a mix of ground coffee and tinctures to colour my hair a dirty brown.
They had whipped me frequently in my past indentures just for having that colour. Anything remotely red was now forbidden—a painful reminder for anyone still loyal to the old crown.
I closed the door hurriedly behind me, shuffled between the others, and we went close to the kitchen quarters to learn about our work schedule for the day.
They assigned many maids to the scullery or kitchen, others, laundry or the main lobby. Since I was among the prettier maids, they usually sent me to the parlours or living quarters where lords and ladies lived—they always sent the nicer one with a pretty face and all their teeth to better blend with higher society.
“Ida and Maud, you two are tending the young lord’s floor today. No one else is available to do it,” the head maid disdainfully said. “He will be entertaining lady guests, so ensure everything is spotless and his guests are well received. I will send you some kitchen maids around teatime.”
I rolled my eyes. The young lord was probably inviting single ladies again, hoping to find a wife. I had heard that this was a common occurrence. After all, he was indeed a wealthy and very eligible bachelor.
Duke Kestrel’s son, Alexander, was a mystery. I hadn’t even met him, but I already feared him. Apparently, he was very intimidating. He didn’t like to have maids running around his quarters, and his floor was off-limits to us except on special occasions like this one.
I glanced at Maud and saw the same uneasiness in her eyes. Good. I was glad not to be the only one with this weird feeling inside my stomach. I had never worked on Lord Alexander’s floor, so I didn’t know what to expect. I knew Maud had worked there twice, so my uneasiness diminished a little, knowing I would follow her lead.
I moved to the front, where the head maid was, and took the key she held out. It was the master key for the young lord’s floor. I heard Maud scuffle behind me, grabbing other necessities we would need.
Before I could leave for the servant’s stairs, the head maid grabbed my wrist. “Do not enter the room with the carved wood door. That one is… off-limits, and if one of you goes inside, you will suffer the consequences.”
Her eyes lingered on me a bit too long, and I understood what they underlined.
I had to behave.
My curiosity last week earned me five lashes on my backside. I winced at the thought and nodded before heading to my destination.
I pushed the door to the fourth floor, and once Maud and I were out, I closed it neatly against the wall. The servant’s stairs entrance was behind an enormous painting and looked like the end of a corridor. It was seamless. If you didn’t know what to look for, you would think this part of the floor was a dead end.
Maud pointed in a direction, and I knew she silently told me to take care of that section.
We hurried and cleared the hearth, eventually lighting fires in all the main rooms. It was winter, and having friendly fires in the foyers would do wonders for all the lady folk who would gather here briefly.
I used to love sitting near my fireplace to read a good book. Faiths, it’s been ages since I have done anything remotely for myself and leisure. These last ten years have been hard on me.
The lord was nowhere to be found. He must have left early to start his busy day. I didn’t fancy a chance to meet with him—especially with the gossip I had heard about the man. Still, there was no need for us to linger here too long.
I set out to one of the main reception areas and determined this would do nicely for teatime. I started dusting and polishing the furniture.
I saw the carved wooden door that I could not open from the corner of my eye. It was stunning and looked to be a massive slab of hard oak. Just looking at it made me wonder how someone would push open such a door. It looked cumbersome.
To my surprise, the chamber door opened, and a tall half-naked man walked out. I hurriedly lowered my head and pressed my back to the wall, but not before I saw him smirk. He was only wearing his night trousers, and his torso was all on display.
I tried to hide the growing redness of my cheeks. Although it was not uncommon for the residents of this estate to walk as they pleased in their assigned areas, they usually kept themselves in the proper attire. They were shy, always afraid of what chatter could follow their indiscretions.
Once I heard another door open and close further away, I returned to fluffing the pillows and straightening the paintings.
I noticed the door from which the man had come out was still open, and my curiosity got the better of me. Technically, if I passed by and took a peek, I still respected the head maid’s warning. I would not open the door or go into the room.
“Loophole,” I snickered to myself. Good thing there was a painting that needed “straightening” right beside the door.
The hallway carpet muffled my steps, and I quickly went in front of the door to peer within.
It was pitch black, and the room did not have windows, which I found pretty odd. But the overall feeling that the room gave me was like a warning.
The hairs on my neck stood up when I smelled the metallic scent of blood, rust, and sweat.
The whip cracked in the air. I felt the leather strings touch my lower back, and as Shrike pulled, I could feel my skin lift and tear. Once the hooks were out, I was flung back near the post. I stopped breathing and tried to control the pain. I had not expected that. “The show is for my personal amusement, as well as to install fear in your mind. Fear in the body is no fun, but fear in the mind, now that is entertaining. Regarding the reasons why I am doing this… let’s just say it’s simply to pass the time until the king arrives, and then we get down to the nitty-gritty.” I felt the leather touch the inside of my ribs. Again, the skin pulled as the hooks receded. Shrike inflicted four more hits, but those had been higher on my back, where my skin was thicker. It pained me less than the previous ones, but I still had to muffle a cry. I started sweating from the pain and noticed that my feet and knees were slipping in the small pool of blood that was accumulating under me. At this rat
Xander POVAs Ida and Diana left the house, I felt a sudden urge to warn them again against attending the meeting. My Lycan and I had a bad feeling about the whole thing, especially since Ida’s scent was different. Although Diana had reassured us that everything was fine, something felt off about her. Over the past few weeks, we had noticed a significant change in her, and even Gideon had mentioned it to me. But we were both at a loss as to what it could be. I couldn’t believe that two prime shifters, like us, couldn’t tell what was wrong with Ida.Leo walked out of the house and looked at me with pleading eyes, hoping to join us. I ruffled his hair and smiled, but had to disappoint him and leave him behind.“Keep Nimu in the house and ensure everything is ready when we return. The horses must be fed properly if we are to leave in the evening.”Leo’s face turned bitter as he realized he wouldn’t join us. He was still young and had a lot to learn. I couldn’t take the risk of putting him
I closed my eyes and allowed my thoughts to focus on unlocking the memory orb. I sensed the magical energy emanating from the glass sphere and let my own energy flow into it, absorbing some of its power. I slowed my breathing, listening to the vibrations passing through my fingers and into my body. I imagined the orb as a small, delicate package, tied with multiple taut strings that protected its contents from being revealed.I whispered an unlocking incantation, trying to tug at the invisible strings within the orb. I felt my magic tugging at the strings, but they refused to budge. I tried again, chanting the incantation with more intent. I sensed the energy within the orb vibrating in response to my magic, but the strings still held fast.I decided to try a different approach. I would force the strings and break them. I summoned all the energy I could muster, feeling my body heat up and the orb becoming warm as well. I focused my power on the strings, envisioning them snapping under
I took out one of my fancier dresses to wear for my outing, and Xander’s voice echoed in my mind, reminding me of the potential dangers that lay ahead. “You both could walk into a trap,” he had warned me. I knew that leaving the house was a risk, but I needed to get out and find out the truth.As I slipped into the dress, I thought about how Xander had always been so protective of me. It was both comforting and frustrating at the same time. But I knew that in this case, he was right. I needed to be careful if I was going to venture out into the world.My hands were on the poster from the bed, and Diana was cinching up my corset. Each time she tightened a lacing, it constricted my chest and made me take a laboured breath.Why did they have to make those things so tight?Diana pulled on another set of strings, and I almost fainted from the tightness.“Oh, might have overdone it. Sorry, Ida. Let me loosen this a bit,” Diana mumbled as she saw my face pale.Xander, visibly frustrated, sat
After several days had passed without any response from Denis, we came to the conclusion that he had no intention of assisting us, and so we began to prepare to leave the city. Diana was extremely upset after learning that her brother was still alive but had not replied to her note. She was on the edge of a breakdown, and I could see the turmoil in her eyes.“Did he read the message you gave him?” Diana asked me repeatedly.We had already discussed this subject multiple times, and I had given her the same answer each time.“I’m not sure. All I know is that Denis took the note and put it in his front pocket. Can you please tell me what was on that piece of paper I gave him?”Diana continued folding our clothes, appearing deep in thought and keeping the note a secret from us. Her behaviour had caused quite a stir with Xander, who was afraid that Diana might betray us and sell us out to her brother. I understood Xander’s concerns, but I also understood why Diana was being secretive. The C
After Diana’s name left Denis’s lips, he rapidly collected himself and cleared his throat. “I’m so sorry. I mistook you for someone I knew long ago. Please forgive my misobservation. Allow me to help you. That was quite a tumble you almost had.” Denis gingerly got up and made his way to help Diana with the mess the fallen tray had left.“Please, let me take care of it, sir,” I interjected, stepping before Diana.Whatever had happened, Diana still seemed a little shaken by the event. She straightened and mumbled, “It’s fine,” then quickly gathered the broken porcelain.I didn’t think my friend almost fell; her path was clear, and Diana was an experienced maid with a steady footing. I thought she let the tray slip by sheer shock. Although the man and Diana appeared to recognize each other, they both acted as strangers. I thought it would be best to separate them before the guards became suspicious.I looked at Xander, who understood my hint and started asking the curator about the chest’
We had been stuck in the house for three long days without anyone coming to get us. Xander, who was usually patient, had become irritable from waiting for so long. Being Unnaturals, we were all too afraid to venture outside, except for Diana, who left to fetch food and supplies. She made sure to return as quickly as possible each time, not wanting to leave us alone for too long. The rest of us, Gideon, Nimu, Leo, Xander, and I, had chosen to stay inside the house, watching the world outside through the windows.The city we were in had strict laws against the colour red, so I dyed my hair brown to avoid drawing any unwanted attention to myself. It was especially important since we needed to go to the Arcane Library and didn’t want to risk being caught. I had brought some of my own clothes, but we had limited space, so I was grateful that Lady Lucia had left some of her dresses and petticoats during her last visit.I wanted to look presentable as the fiancée of a lord, so I wore my nicer
The day had dawned early, and we had eaten our breakfast quickly, eager to set out for Cardinal City. We had enough food packed to last us the rest of our journey, and we knew it was less than a day’s ride away. Our plan was to go directly to the Kestrel’s house, which they owned and used when summoned to court.As we set out, I felt a sense of foreboding as we approached my old home. The memories of Cardinal City, once beautiful and happy, were now tainted by the events of the uprising.Cardinal City sat atop a mountain. The steep rocky mountainsides protected it, and the only way in or out was through the thick, dark forest that lined it from the south. It reminded me of a peninsula, except air surrounded it, and the city was high above the clouds.It was technically a stronghold. The northern, eastern, and western sides of the city were fortified with walls that blended with the jagged rocks of the mountain. The natural rock walls descended toward the ocean, while the ramparts above
On the morning we left Starling Castle, we encountered Gideon and Leo on horseback while we reached the outskirts of Perch. Xander had predicted that we would meet them on our way out, and he was proven right. Gideon seemed anxious to see us so early in the morning, and his demeanour was tense. However, after Diana and Xander explained what had happened, Gideon’s mood also became sour.Despite the tension, I was thrilled to see little Leo again. He was a sweet and lively child, and his presence was a welcome distraction from the others’ brooding mood. He sat between Gideon’s legs, holding the horse’s mane. When he saw me, his eyes lit up, and I moved my horse closer to Gideon’s, inviting Leo to come and sit on my horse for a while. He happily obliged, and we rode together for a bit, chatting and laughing as we went.I wasn’t sure if they had used the forest path to leave the city of Maple, but I knew their horse must have been exhausted. Gideon had even brought back a small chest conta
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