LOGINLeila’s point of viewI expected a feedback from the maid, but I got none. I was conscious of the fact that Kardor was in the same room as I am.“Can I see him?” I asked one of the women.“You are not allowed to see the groom till you are completely cleansed. That is to prevent bad luck.”The women kept moving around me, their skilled hands worked on my body like I was something sacred or something about to be sacrificed.My hair was being oiled and braided in intricate patterns I didn’t fully understand. Gold threads were woven into it, catching the light every time I moved my head. I felt warm and I could smell myself, whatever fragrance they put on me was really strong.“Lift your arm,” one of the women said. I obeyed without thinking.I had stopped questioning things hours ago, I just let them do their job, even though it felt strange.The woman began to trace something cold along my skin. I glanced down, she was marking my skin with symbols.“What does it mean?” I asked.The woma
Leila’s point of viewThe night before the ceremony felt different from every other night I have spent in here. I was pretty much nervous. I sat on the edge of my bed and looked at the door.The ceremony was tomorrow and that fact has been sitting in my chest since morning with the specific weight of something that was coming regardless of whether I was ready for it. I honestly don’t know how to feel about it, I wanted to be Kardor’s wife but I don’t know if I am actually ready for it.I was having cold feet, fear was part of it. Not the fear of Kardor but the fear of the tradition itself. There are still some things I don’t know about the traditions.A knock sounded on the door, I crossed to it and opened it.My mother.She was the last person I was expecting, I thought the women were here to prepare me for the rituals. But my mother was the one standing at the door. I stood in the doorway and could not speak.She stepped forward and put her arms around me.“You are here,” I whispere
Kardor’s point of viewThe day before the ceremony felt heavier than any battle I had ever prepared for. I stood in the balcony of my room, staring out into the stretch of the kingdom. The preparations for the rituals were going on. Everything was being put in place.Everything…. except my mind.Two days of torture.The long awaited day was near, but it felt like I had been holding my breath for years.Leila.That woman has no idea of what she has done to me.“You look like a man about to be executed, not married.”I didn’t turn.“Then you are not looking closely enough.” I replied, dryly.Zeth stepped beside me, leaning casually against the railing like he didn’t have any concern in this world.“Relax,” he said. “It’s finally over tomorrow.”I scoffed lightly. “Over?” I asked.“Yes, for you.” he smirked. “You finally get to deep your hands into the honey pot and have the pot all to yourself.”I shot him a look, unimpressed.“Honey pot? That is what you have reduced her to?” I asked.
Leila’s point of viewI didn’t know what unsettled me more, Kardor’s words or the way I believed every single one of them.I walked out of the training room slowly, my steps not as steady as I wanted them to be. My heart was still racing, my lips still tingled from the assault of his lips on mine, my body was still reacting to a touch that hadn’t even fully happened.Two days.Just two days.I pressed my fingers lightly against my lips as I kept walking.“This place is going to drive me insane.” I said out loud.“Only if you let it.”I froze.That voice, I turned slowly and for a minute, I just stared. He leaned casually against a pillar, arms crossed, watching me like he has been there for a while.Something about him felt familiar, not just his face or his eyes. And not the sharp line of his jaw.I took a step closer, studying him harder.“You…..” I started.He smirked. My breath caught.“You look like…..” I hesitated.“My father.”His face lit up. He smiled.“And me.” I whispered.
Kardor’s point of viewI did not sleep last night, because I couldn’t. I was turned on by the naked woman that slept in my arms but I couldn’t make love to her.My brain was still fuzzy with the lack of sex, my father would of course believe I finished up with one of the women in the harem, but I couldn’t bring myself to touch any other woman.I can still remember how her body reacted to mine when I held back, how she was so desperate for my touch. Restraint was becoming a problem for me.I expected her to go for what she wanted when she approached me few minutes ago, but she stalled and that made me realize she was scared of rejection. I wanted her to stop me, go ahead with the touch or do I have to give her a private class on what I meant by chasing.I stood by the window of the training room and focused my eyes on the men sparring, even though my attention was not with them.Zeth strolled in with Imran, one of the guards that took religion seriously in here.“You look terrible,” Ze
Leila’s point of viewI woke up frustrated, feeling wrong.Like something had been started and then cruelly abandoned halfway through, my body felt heavy, restless and my mind kept replaying everything from last night.Kardor’s voice. His touch. The way he looked at me like I already belonged to him. I pressed my thighs together and groaned into the pillow.I turned to his side, of course. He was already gone, the space still held the warmth of him which was also adding to my frustration.This was torture, not just physical but something deeper and more dangerous. Because now I knew, I was not only attracted to him but I wanted him. Not just his body, but him. And that realization sat in my chest.I walked into the bathroom and stared at my reflection in the mirror, there were a lot of bite marks splattered on my chest, my stomach, my inner thigh was red. I sighed as I stared at the marks that serves as a constant reminder of what happened last night. I began to get ready for the day.
Isabella's point of view There is something peculiar about the night air in the De’ Luca’s mansion, it always carried secrets. Today was different from every other day I’ve spent in this mansion, after the visit to the men’s quarters, it was like I had freedom to do whatever I wanted to do, this w
I turned around to face the person that had broken our moment, a tall man with a commanding presence stood behind us, he should be in his early thirties.“Tiano,” Diego called out.“Yes, boss.” He replied, giving me a small nod before he shifted his gaze to Diego.“Everyone is waiting at the courty
Isabella's POVHe was taking me to the other wing today, to see the side of the mansion I’ve never been too, a little part of me was nervous because I really don’t know what to expect. I was ready, fully prepared, I wandered out of my room when I got tired of waiting.If the left wing was this huge
Miguel was the first person I saw when I stepped into the dining room, he stood near the table arranging food into a tray. The sight of him alone made my breath hitch, he was the only familiar face in this unfamiliar world and the one reason I agreed to being part of all this was because of her.Mi







