I took a step back, biting my lips to quell the still-growing unease I felt when I looked inside the room, and a sound caught my attention. It was the creaking of a door at the far end of the hallway. I took that as my cue to leave and resume my work.
Following the sound, I peered under my bonnet, and I noticed Maud coming out of one of the guest rooms. She seemed surprised to see me and quickly dashed around the corner with a squeak, disappearing from sight. Her reaction puzzled me, but I was also on edge from being on this floor, especially after smelling whatever was behind the wooden door.
Suddenly, I felt a heat emanating from behind my back and heard a hot whisper close to my right ear, which took me by surprise. It was so sudden and unexpected that I jumped.
“You…” The voice was husky and also made me shiver in all the right places.
I spun around hastily, my heart racing as I came face to face with a half-naked man. At that moment, Maud’s sudden departure made sense to me. She had run away from him, not me.
The man’s eyes bore into mine, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. My instincts told me to back up against the wall for safety, but my hands couldn’t find it.
The man took a step closer, and I stumbled backwards, my arm outstretched behind me in a desperate attempt to find something to steady myself.
“Did you see anything interesting?” the man asked interestedly.
“No, my… lord?” I had said it more as a question than an answer. I didn’t know who this person was. It could be the young lord; however, it could also be a nobleman staying in the lord’s quarters while visiting. Maybe a close friend? I thought that this situation wouldn’t have been an issue for me if he had clothes on.
He chuckled, and I almost felt his laughter vibrate within me because of his nearness. “I am,” he said in a low voice.
Great, I was so embarrassed. Why couldn’t the floor just swallow me whole?
Lord Alexander placed his fingers under my chin and raised my head. They were warm but hard on my skin, and I felt tiny electrical discharges where they rested. The sparks made my insides feel like a soft pile of goo.
My eyes locked onto his face, but I lowered them quickly when I met his magnetic dark grey stare. It was as if the sky was about to unleash a thunderstorm in them.
My eyes darted back to his chest, and I noticed he was still shirtless. I felt my cheeks flush as I realized my head was at the height of his bare skin.
As he took another step closer, my heart started to race, and my mind rushed with thoughts of what would happen next. I also noticed that I had entered the forbidden room, and the head maid would be furious if she found out.
Lord Alexander’s voice broke the silence, and I struggled to meet his intense gaze. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to finally find you.”
I didn’t understand what he meant by that. I noticed him observing me, and I realized that I was trembling and covered in goosebumps.
“Do I frighten you that much?” he asked, his voice deep and somehow upset.
I hesitated before answering, not wanting to reveal my fear. Summoning all my courage, I met Lord Alexander’s gaze again. He was very tall with broad shoulders and a muscular build, which surprised me as I didn’t take him for someone who would have that kind of physique. Most noblemen were only paper pushers, and I didn’t take him for the physical sort. I also noticed his striking square jaw and rugged and unshaven look. It was undeniably attractive, and in my previous life, I might have tried to catch his eye if we had ever crossed paths.
He still held my face with his hand, and I instinctively stepped back. As I did, my arm brushed against something hard and cold, possibly made of metal. I shifted my position, and the sound of chains clinking echoed through the room.
What in Faith’s name was in here?
Nervously, I glanced back at Lord Alexander, and my breath caught in my throat as he leaned close to my face. I could feel his warm breath on my skin as he inhaled deeply through his nose. The intensity of the moment was almost too much to bear.
“Hmm,” he made a sound from his throat, almost like a purr. His brows knitted together as if he was deep in thought, and his grey eyes turned nearly pitch black. He let go of my chin and walked further into the mysterious room, passing by me.
I need to leave. Say something. Anything. “Milord, may I take my leave and finish the preparations before your guests arrive?” I couldn’t stand his presence anymore.
As he turned around, his shadow cast upon me, and his eyes looked like those of a cat in the dark—almost glowing.
“No need. I will no longer be entertaining visitors today. However, can you stay here a moment more? I want to confirm one last thing.”
I hesitated, not sure what he meant. But before I could say anything, he walked back to me and brushed his fingers along my cheek, sending fireworks sizzling across my skin.
“Stay perfectly still.”
I felt my heart race as I realized what he was asking. I tried to back away, but he caught me by the waist and pulled me toward him, his lips crashing onto mine.
It was a kiss that left me breathless, a kiss that made me forget about everything else. I knew that I was in trouble. Trouble that I couldn’t resist, trouble that I didn’t want to resist. I knew the head maid would have my hide from disobeying her words. For entering the restricted room. For somehow be kissing the young lord.
Faiths. What was wrong with me?
I could sense a powerful aura emanating from Lord Alexander that made me feel both vulnerable and exhilarated at the same time. I couldn’t deny that he had ignited something inside of me that I had never experienced before, and it scared me to my very core.
His kiss was almost bruisingly pleasant, yet something else was hidden in it. Something almost akin to longing and relief. I felt it as well. A sleeping feeling that was sudden jolted awake, making my body vibrate and instantly respond to Lord Alexander.
I didn’t understand any of it. I barely knew him, but there was this familiarity between us, like I had known him my whole life—which was utterly impossible.
I thought the feeling would sizzle out, but it stayed, even when he detached himself from me.
“Now, you may go, but don’t worry, I’ll soon find you again,” he whispered in my ear.
I looked up at him and thought I saw a hint of a grin on his face, but I couldn’t be sure. Eventually, he let me go, and I stumbled back, feeling unsteady on my feet.
I didn’t stick around to hear if he had anything else to say, but the memory of his touch and his words stayed with me long after he had disappeared from sight.
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’