INICIAR SESIÓNKAEL'S POVEmptiness.That's it. That's the word.I've struggled to find a word for the feeling that's plagued me since Aylin walked out of my life. And it wasn't supposed to hurt. She was just a maid, feeding from the crumbs of my table, desperate for an elevation in status. Especially not when many like her had come before. Women who had thrown themselves at my feet, hoping to earn a place beside me, only to be discarded when I grew tired of them.Aylin was supposed to be no different.Yet, here I am, standing by the windows these days, not because of the burning unease that has refused to leave my chest, but because I want to be able to see her walk back into the palace.Yes. She might have thrown a fit the other night, but she will come back. She has no family here, no money of her own, and there's only so far she can get in the wilderness. Sooner or later, hunger will drive her back to the only place she has ever known as home.A complacent smile broke across my face at the thoug
Cersei's POV: Regalwolf Palace The silver-haired bitch is gone; Kael is in the palm of my hand; my coronation as queen is around the corner, and I'm finally on the path to redemption. It's all beginning to make sense again. With my status as the queen, I will save Blackcrest. Our old glory will return, and nations will fall to our feet again. I'm being a good father, upholding everything you taught me. "Did you say something, my lady?" I didn't realise how loud I'd whispered until I looked in the mirror and saw that the maid had stopped braiding my hair. Awkward. I blinked repeatedly, shifted in my seat and closed my eyes. The people here already dread me catching me talking to myself will only cement the rumours about me. But who was I to care? There won't have the voice to speak by the time we make slaves of all of them. "Bring the jewellery box over here.""But, Your Grace," the maid stood glued to one spot, fidgeting, "these jewels and the royal heirloom belong to Luna Aylin
Aylin's POV I hadn't expected another day to pass within those four walls. Morning sunlight filtered through the barred window. The room was quiet except for the distant sounds of hammers striking timber and people calling to one another outside. I sat on the edge of the bed, absentmindedly tracing the fresh bandages wrapped around my ankle. The fever had broken, whoever treated me knew exactly what they were doing. I rose carefully and crossed to the window. The colony was already alive. Men were repairing roofs while others hauled stones across the courtyard. Women stirred enormous pots over open fires as children ran back and forth carrying buckets far too heavy for their tiny hands. Not one of them looked like the bloodthirsty rogues I had been taught to fear. They looked tired, hungry and broken. An elderly man struggled to lift a bundle of wood onto his shoulder. Before he could lose his balance, Dorian appeared from nowhere and took the weight from him without a word
The Moon Goddess' POV: Mount Olympus"Mother, save me. I'm sorry I disobeyed. These people are wicked. Their hearts are full of evil. Bring me home. I promise to be a good daughter, better than I ever was."Every word reached me, every tear found me, yet I could do nothing.There was my daughter, the only fruit of my loins, down in a dungeon, restrained by cuffs and chains, made to eat dirt at its very best.Pain jabbed my heart as she dashed towards the door and began pounding on it."Let me out!" my daughter cried. "I am innocent!"I wanted to save her, send hail crashing upon the mouldy walls of that colony and burn it to the ground.But I couldn't.Since Aylin left, Olympus has become a graveyard. It has been two years now, yet no banquet, no celebration and no heavenly music could fill the hollow in my chest. I had only ever imagined loneliness, never the horrid taste of it.Aylin was the universe's gift to me, a reward for every sacrifice I had made. Yet now she was gone, stolen
Aylin's POVI didn't sleep. I couldn't.I managed to stand on my feet and lean against the railings, my breathing ragged and slow. The passageway was dark, but I kept my eyes fixed on the faint line of light seeping through the entrance. I was waiting for the giant man who would saunter in at any moment. I could already feel it, his firm hand around my throat like before, whisking me away to a place unknown."Mother, come get me," I cried, my eyes closed in deep meditation. "I can't do this alone."But there was no answer. Every connection I had to heaven had been severed. Not even a speck of lightning or rain answered my call.. I looked at the cold food on the floor my stomach growling with hunger. Maybe I should have eaten it. Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I slowly dozed off. But suddenly, the metal gate clanged open.I jolted awake, scrambling to my feet to find a tall figure standing in the centre of the cage.Dorian.His expression was unreadable, his lips pressed into
Dorian's POV I shouldn't be doing this. Every part of me is reluctant to go forth with the plan, especially my wolf who keeps purring and whining in discomfort. I couldn't even look her in the face, and that's unlike me. Or maybe it's because she already looks tired, broken and weak even though she hasn't been in the dungeon for long. So, who did that to her? What in the moon's name am I doing? I am supposed to be a protector, a leader and a revolutionist, not a fucking kidnapper. Heat was crawling under my skin, the damp passageway getting smaller with every breath I took. Suddenly I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn't stop to look. I didn't want to see anybody. "Dorian, hold up, can't you hear me calling?" The voice had already broken into my thoughts, and the sight of Vincent's face soured my mood. He was the last person I wanted to see. I made a turn and stopped at the door of my room but he had already run up to meet me. "Your grace," he panted. "What's happening







