MasukEvander’s POV
I had spent over an hour getting ready this morning. Choosing the suit, making sure every detail was perfect, and shaving off the beard I had worn for years.
Lucien's POV Alice glared at me. "I am going to become Evander's second wife one day," she said. "I still need Princess Liora's help to make that happen."I looked at her for a moment, sure I had misheard."Say that again.""You heard me," she shrugged, and there was a confiden
Lucien's POV The answer was yes. I understood completely. I had understood completely for longer than I wanted to admit, and understanding had not been enough to make me do the right thing at the right moment. That was the torment of being the kind of man I was. Clear enough to see the damage. Not strong enough, at the crucial moments, to stop causing it.I picked up the IOU from the desk one more time and looked at Astrid's signature then I went to her room.
Lucien's POV I had been staring at the same report for twenty minutes without reading a single word of it.That was where I was when the knock came. Sitting behind my desk in a study that had not felt like mine for longer than I could honestly account for, pretending to work, pretending the house around me was not in the state it was in."Come in," I said.
Ravena's POV When the gate was closing, I heard the scrape of something on the ground half a second before I realized what it was.Suddenly Celeste was in front of me.She had moved without thinking and threw herself sideways before the rock had even left Astrid's hand. And the rock hit her square across the cheekbone with a sound that turned my stomach. She let out a short, sharp sound and staggered, her hand flying to her face."Seize her," I immediately ordered, and my voice came out in a register I didn't entirely recognize. The kind of voice that doesn't need to be raised to be obeyed. "Bring her inside. Now."The guards moved before I even finished speaking.Astrid had not run. She was still standing in the road, her arm extended from the throw, her expression shifting through several things very quickly. Boldness first. Then the realization of what she had just done. Then, as the guards reached her and she felt their grip close around her arms and understood that I was not sen
Ravena's POV "You did not care enough to find out," I spat. "That is the same thing."I let that sit for a moment before I crouched down in front of her so we were at the same level, and I looked her directly in the face."And on top of everything," I whispered, "you let your jealousy consume you. For years. Constantly targeting me. Constantly pushing at me over Lucien, as though that man was the center of everythi
Ravena's POV Astrid opened her mouth to argue, but I didn't let her.My hand suddenly connected with her shoulder and I shoved her hard. She went down to the floor with a sharp sound that rang through the receiving room like a statement.The maidservants standing by the walls froze in place.
Ravena's POVBefore Evander could respond, I chimed in. “Of course not. He specifically requested to speak with just me.”“But we…” Rhea started, but I gestured for her to stop.“Just… go and rest. We’ve had a really long day.”I sensed their curious stares and their silent questions, and when our
Lucien's POVThe marble steps leading up to the palace felt colder than the morning. Astrid, clad in a white cloak, walked by my side with her chin held high and her eyes sharp.As we passed through the bronze doors and entered the throne hall, we saw guards stationed along the walls and the King s
Lucien's POVThe chandeliers in the grand hall burned bright, but the light felt cold on my skin. Dressed in a black tailcoat with a tight collar, I stared at the white flowers that lined the aisle.It had been two weeks since Ravena left. I had hoped anger would toughen me, yet all I felt was a du
Ravena's POVBefore I could answer, the flap of the tent was pushed open.Evander stepped in with his usual unreadable face, arms crossed like he owned the air we breathed. His broad frame filled the space as if the tent had suddenly shrunk just to make room for his presence. His eyes scanned the s







