Freya's POV "Release them," I calmly commanded the pale skinned guard that was permanently stationed at the entrance to the servant quarters in Beta Darius's wing of the castle. He looked up at me and his pale face turned as white as a leper, his hands tremoring like they were a mass of quivering jelly. I gave him my sweetest smile, "You remember me, don't you, pup?" His sword clattered to the rough ground as he fell flat on his face immediately, begging me to take his life. "I have committed high treason against her Royal highness. Kill me for I don't deserve to draw another breath." Oh, please, not another fear-forced appeal to be killed. I've had my fill of that to last a generation. I wondered for a moment if he said this because he meant it, or because of Krayne's tall, imposing form behind me. I rolled my eyes, unimpressed. The utmost least he could do was spare me all that shit stinking nonsense. It stank to the high heavens. I sighed, bored. "Just get up and release t
Freya's POVThe realization hit me like a ton of bricks. 'Oh my God,' I gasped, covering my mouth as I staggered backwards a bit.I sucked in a sharp breath and whispered, 'Oh Zane…"It all made much more sense now.For some reason, his eyes gleamed with amusement. "Freya?" He started to speak."No. No. Wait," I raised a finger to stop him. I needed to think.I paced about as I came at an utter loss while struggling to piece all the information together.My head felt full but my stomach, unfortunately, wasn't."So you're telling me that there's – ugh - I'm hungry. Isn't it time for breakfast yet?"My stomach rumbled at the sound of breakfast."Your highness?" A voice called out gently from the other side of the ornately carved double doors, unmistakably Odella's."Breakfast is ready, your highness. Shall I ask for it to be served at the table or shall you have it in your chambers?""We will have our breakfast in bed," I announced loud enough for her to hear me. Maybe a little too loud
Alexia's POVPlaying double agent was like cooking a meal for both the king and his servants in the same pot.The food must be sumptuous enough to please the king's discerning palate, yet not so savory that it would taste too good for the servants.If not, the servants would begin to expect and even feel entitled to a dish that was only fit for royalty.Every ingredient, every spice, had to be carefully considered.One wrong move, and the entire dish could be ruined….and the cook might be beheaded.I was the cook.This was constantly on edge, my stomach churning with anxiety so gripping I couldn't breathe sometimes.I was fully aware of what I got myself into and I knew that if I made one mistake, I could lose everything, including my life.But I had to keep going. I was neither friend or foe. Just the cook.I had to cook the perfect meal.For the king.And for his servants.I had to carefully balance the flavors, ensuring that each bite was a delicate dance between opulence and auste
Freya's POV"How does it feel?" I found it quite funny that I was actually curious.To see me.To be you right now.To be the one being beaten and bruised like a common slave.To see me seeing you like this.To be broken on the inside.To long for death desperately.I wasn't sure which strange mix of emotions mingled in my chest as I looked at the battered face of the man the Beta that the Moon Mother made the horrible mistake of giving me as a father.Satisfaction, tiredness, sadness, pity, fear?Maybe.Whatever it was, peace was definitely not a part of these feelings. I realized this with a frustration I didn't think I had the strength to feel. It was almost comical.But most of all, I felt a dull, pulsing rage spreading sharp shards of ice through my veins.Jaws clenched, I let my eyes roam the black, bare walls of this dungeon I didn't know till today that it existed.My feet itched to run away from here but I sat on the chair in front of him instead."Fancy seeing you here, Beta
Beta Darius's POVIf the guards and royal attendees found it strange that their Lycan king's right hand and second-in-command with his sister were scurrying about like greased pigs on a scorching hot day into the throne room a few minutes to midnight, no one dared to show it.There was nothing that could be done about that. It was either this humiliation or brutal death.As evidenced from the barely concealed laughter from my lesser subjects, it was clear that we picked humiliation.Death wasn't an option. At least not yet.Not until the "Lycan King of Adivaine" was dead and left with no one to bury his body. Then I might consider dying after I've ruled Adivaine to my satisfaction.Alexia huffed and panted, "I'm just playing along with this, Darius. Later, you must tell me what made you think that there is another Freya that was created to kill us."I chortled mirthlessly. She always seemed to forget that I was a Lycan.I also had dark magic.The muscled guards at the entrance to the
Freya's POV"I'm not fucking perfect, Maria! Stop this madness this instant.""You are so dead, Jasper." A female snarled like a wounded beast.There was a cacophony of noises in the room. Plates clanged and crashed along with furniture while some baby's cry assaulted my ears from somewhere in the background.Little pups buzzed around like flies with paper kites in their hands.This place was nothing short of a madhouse."What the fuck is –" I ducked just in time as a broken chair leg soared through the air like a missile, inches from my face. I stared at it in wide-eyed shock as it whizzed past my head and crashed into the wall behind me."What the actual fuck is going on here?" I screamed uselessly into the air as my voice was drowned out by the ear splitting noise coming from…from everywhere."Freya--ahem. I mean, my queen!" The kindly old healer bowed her already bent back deeply upon seeing me."No no. Stand up. That's my first command to you as your queen. You'll hurt your waist
Alpha Zane's POV I sensed her before I saw her. The sound of her heels, the soft rustle of fabric against skin, the discreet smell of her cinnamon perfume mixed with her familiar, heady scent serenading the room so strongly that my body moved of its own accord and turned around to face her. Moonlight spilled through the drawn curtains and splashed liquid silver across her pale skin. She looked like a goddess. She let out a soft laugh, "I knew I'd find you here." My voice was low. Devious. "I knew you would come here." We weren't in my personal chambers. We were in her own chambers. She had slipped a sly hint yesterday night that we should continue what we started back in her own chambers after we were very frustratingly interrupted by Odelia knocking the door urgently that my presence was immediately needed in – of all the fucking places in the damned castle – the kitchen. "We will do this on my own terms next time." She breathed into my ear before I regretfully unwound her arm
Alpha Zane's POV "Get me a full list of their names," I half-groaned, half-declared, exhaustion from the day's activities getting to me. My messenger scurried off to get that done. A throbbing headache clamped down on my forehead, pounding away like a hammer as it blurred the edges of my vision. This matter of uncovering the witch who sealed that death threat package was taking its toll on me and as much as I tried not to show it, I was cracking beneath the surface. I called a servant standing wait at the foot of my throne. "Send for my queen." He nodded sharply, "Yes, your highness." and scampered off. Freya was my only beacon of light in the darkness, my solace. Without her, the abyss within me yawned open, its maw hungering for my soul. Her presence was a balm that thawed my frozen heart, infusing it with warmth and some semblance of happiness. Even when she was not near, I clung hopelessly to the simple memory of her smile and how her eyes crinkled when she was excited, h