Priamos' Point of ViewBeing back in Makatza, I was reminded why I had hated it so much to begin with. There were cars everywhere, hooting and accelerating until their exhausts made loud noises. People screaming at each other in the streets. Children playing pranks on the elderly. It was too busy. Too loud. Not an inch of this place had a quiet space. A place to rest and unwind.I had no idea why I hadn't lost my mind all those years ago. Or maybe I had an idea as to why. Because I had to look after Farren. Drown out the rest of the city as I focussed on my sister. On my work. Money had come in slowly at the beginning. Then, as I crawled up the ladder, it started flowing in.Then, when Farren went to the hostel to live on campus, I found Nerezza soon after. She also kept me grounded. Made the buzzing around me sound softer. Made the watery streetlights look like fireflies instead. Brightened up an otherwise dull world. So I had kept my sanity by providing for everyone around me. Focus
Nerezza's Point of View Thanking my lucky stars that Phaedra was nowhere in sight, I stepped into the apartment. My blood was singing in my ears. I could feel my heart hammer against the inside of my chest, begging to be let out instead of caged here. Stepping forward, I stopped a moment. Looked around, taking it all in. This would be the last time I was here. The last opportunity I had to bask in the glow this life had offered me. The maids had cleaned for the day, that much was evident. Our kitchen sparkled, the smokey quartz sparkling in the countertops. All the crystal wine glasses hung from their perch. I let my eyes trail to the living room. To the couch I had declared as mine when we had just moved in. It always caught the last rays of sunshine right before the sun sank below the horizon. There was a breeze playing with the curtains. A lone figure stood out there on the balcony. Watched the gardens beneath. Her hair refracted the moon's light, letting the rainbow play in her
Priamos' Point of View We had crossed the city in an hour or so. Going from walking to hiking, it took longer than I had thought it would. But we ended up on the west side of the city. Where lawns were manicured like a rich lady's hand. Fountains gurgling water. It was the type of place I would have liked to raise Conan. From the looks of it, Nerezza had thought the same thing. There were more people jogging this late at night than there were cars on the road. The weird looks from earlier had left their faces as well. Here, it seemed, it was normal to carry around your pet in such a way. Bambi was awake for the entire trip. His head swiveled in every direction. Took in every movement he could see. Some people would approach us. Rub his head and coo about how adorable he was. He seemed to like this. Adore the attention. Especially from women who were considered beautiful. When this happens, I would roll my eyes at them. Take a step back and ask for directions to the house. Eagerl
Nerezza's Point of ViewAll I could hear was my rapid beating heart. Smell the fear clinging to my skin. This was the start of a new journey. One I had no idea where it lead. The only thing I needed to know was that my soul would be lighter after this goodbye. That I had paid homage to the man who had brought me this far at least.There was once a time when he had loved me. And I had loved him. Now the time had come for me to move on. Become someone else again. A version of myself that was happier than before. Gone was the plan I had for my life. Gone was the idea that I might one day sit on the throne.None of those things were nessacray. But saying goodbye was. Because for all his faults, he had been good to me in his own ways. Yes, he knew where Conan was and I was going to get that answer from him yet. But all the other things weren't as tainted as I had once thought.Our memories together. Farren in the garden, picking flowers to bring me whilst Reginald lay with his head in my l
Amadeus' Point of ViewI fucked up. Alastair was livid beyond comprehension. I had kept yet another thing from him. Concealed it because Nerezza had made me promise. Now it came back to bite me in the ass. As it always does.Would I do it again if I needed to help her? Absolutely! Would I regret it afterward? Hell fucking no. His anger was better than her being hurt again. Especially after dick-face abandoned her. Although, now my twin wanted almost nothing to do with me. It was a harsh reality of being this close to someone. Of being born together. Soon enough, the sun would rise and Nerezza would explain this to everyone. Tell them about what Priamos had done. Not that he had made any effort to explain himself either. The man was mute. Only speaking to his fawn in hushed tones when the thing became unruly.He had slept in a spare bedroom. Woke up two hours before dawn only to find the three of us already waiting for our mate. The disdain on his face was enough to knock a lesser man
Nerezza's Point of ViewI woke up to the smell of mildew. Musty. A stench I had come to know only in my previous life. Not here. Never in the palace. Everything was always so clean. Pristine and neat. As if just one speck of dust could send the entire empire into ruin. So, waking up to that pungent smell was strange, to say the least. Then came the aches in my body. My back was stiff. Pounding hard against my spine. Every muscle groaned as I sat up. Forced my eyes open. For a moment, I had no idea where I was. There was barely any light and it took my eyes a second or two to adjust to the dimness.The walls were of deepest red brick. The floor was made of cement. There were bars to my left. A makeshift toilet in front of me. The rest of the air smelt stale. No one had been here in a while. Or they cleaned this place so thoroughly that no scents would linger. Which was highly unlikely.Sorting through my memories, I remembered the night before. How Reginald had died, blood spurting ev
Lysander's Point of ViewOur worst fear had come true. Nerezza had been thrown in jail. Our newcomers had told us everything. How they were sent to kill Reginald and how Nerezza had taken the fall for it. According to them, they were too shocked to take her with them. Finding their mate was one thing but realizing she had more than one was a whole other ballgame. So, they had fled into the night. Left our unconscious mate there to be thrown to the wolves. She would no doubt be hanged for her crimes against the royals. Put to death in front of spectators. They would cry. In outrage or in sorrow was still to be determined.I could see our other newcomer struggle against himself. Veins popped out from his neck as he looked at Zaven and Kallik. His eyes morphed into anger. Farren wasn't the same, either. There was a smallness to her now. As if she had collapsed in on herself. Bags beneath her eyes. Red-rimmed. Had she been crying about Nerezza or the lost father figure? We would never
Priamos' Point of ViewFarren was beyond angry. And so was I. What the prince had said on the screen wasn't even close to the truth. Nerezza had done nothing wrong. Instead, he had ordered the demise of his father. Spurred by greed and power, he killed his own flesh and blood. I didn't know the entire story beyond that. What had happened in the past was something only Farren could tell me. Which wasn't an option now. She was brooding as we drove on. Angry and silent. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she looked out the window. Glared at anyone who passed us by and recognized her. All of them would wave. Or bow their heads. Another mystery I couldn't piece together.Being in the dark felt blinding. I didn't know what to expect. What to even think. It was obvious where we were going but what I didn't know was how Farren and Nerezza had ended up there in the first place. Being away from civilization for so long was now the worst mistake of my life.Sparing a glance to my left, I n