LOGINNicholas’s POV “What are you talking about?” Hazel asked, her voice sharp with confusion. “What did I do?” I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The mind-link from Marco had hit me like a freight train, flooding my head with information that made my blood run cold. Her warriors had caught rogues trying to sneak into the palace. Rogues who were part of a bigger plot cooked up by those damned elders. And she had known. She had handled the whole thing on her own without saying a single word to me. How the hell did she know all this was going to happen? The question burned in my chest as I grabbed her hand, my fingers wrapping tightly around hers. “Come with me,” I said, my voice rough. Before she could protest, I pulled her through the crowd. People stared, whispers following us like shadows, but I didn’t care. The music and lights of the ballroom faded behind us as we rushed out into the cool night air. My heart pounded hard, a mix of anger, shock, and something deeper that I didn’t want
Hazel's Pov The elder's words hung in the air like a thunderclap. "The wine!...The wine was poisoned!"Gasps ripped through the ballroom, sharp and collective, like the entire hall had sucked in one horrified breath. Faces turned, eyes wide with shock, locking onto Elder Watson as he knelt there, trembling on the marble floor."What the fuck did you just say?" Nicholas growled, his voice a low, lethal rumble that sliced through the chaos. He took a threatening step forward, his massive frame towering over the cowering elder like a storm cloud ready to unleash hell. The air crackled with his fury—I could feel it radiating off him, hot and dangerous.Elder Watson shrank back, his body folding in on itself, eyes glued to the floor as if staring at Nicholas might turn him to stone. “The wine...there was poison in it," he whispered, his voice trembling so badly it barely carried. But it did. Oh, it did.The whispers exploded into a frenzy, buzzing like angry bees all around us. "Oh my
Hazel’s POVSomething wasn’t right.I stood there staring at Elder Watson as he lowered the empty wine glass, his throat working as he swallowed the last drop. My heart hammered against my ribs. How could he have drunk the wine if it was poisoned? I had expected him to panic, to make a run for it, or at least try to talk his way out so I could expose him in front of everyone. But he just smiled, calm and collected, like he had nothing to hide.His calm demeanor sent a chill through me. The way light from the grand chandeliers danced across his face, making his smile look almost eerie. I could feel the weight of every eye in the ballroom on us, the air thick with anticipation and unspoken questions.“I’ve drank it as the queen requested,” he said smoothly, bowing his head slightly.I narrowed my eyes, suspicion crawling up my spine like ice. Something was definitely wrong. Dimitri wouldn’t lie about the poison. He had specifically told me about this. Unless…The realization hit me har
Hazel’s POVI stood in front of the tall mirror, turning slowly from side to side. The red dress Nicholas had given me looked incredible. It hugged every curve like a second skin, the deep crimson fabric shimmering under the light. The daring neckline showed just enough to feel bold, and the high slit revealed a flash of leg with every small movement. It was elegant and beautiful. It made me feel powerful, sexy, and completely in control.I picked up the diamond necklace, the stones sparkling like stars. I was about to fasten it around my neck when I heard a soft cough behind me.“Lemme help you with that.”Nicholas’s voice was low and smooth. He stepped up close, so close I could feel the heat coming off his body. He took the necklace from my fingers, his touch lingering. His hands brushed the back of my neck as he fastened the clasp. When he was done, he didn’t step back. Instead, he leaned in and pressed a slow, warm kiss to the side of my neck.A shiver ran straight down my spine.
Hazel’s POV“I’m sorry…” Nicholas breathed, voice rough and unsteady. “I’m so sorry—not for kissing you, of course. I can never be sorry for kissing you. I just…fuck, what am I saying…”He slapped a hand on his forehead, looking genuinely frustrated with himself. His chest was still heaving, eyes blown wide and dark, like he was fighting every instinct to pounce on me again.“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” he said, voice lower now, almost gentle. “I just got carried away.”In that moment he looked so hot I couldn’t help but bite my lip.His gaze dropped to my mouth immediately.I felt a shiver race down my spine. And there was this spot between my legs I didn't want to mention, that was responding to him in more ways than I cared to admit.He cleared his throat and stood up quickly, putting some space between us.I sat up and adjusted my dress, noticing the way his eyes lingered on the swell of my breasts before he forced them away.He disappeared into the walk-in closet for
Hazel’s POV“And why should I go with you?” I asked, my voice coming out sharper than I intended.The atmosphere between us thickened instantly, the air growing heavy and charged. We stared at each other—blue eyes locked on brown—neither of us willing to look away first. The tension felt alive, crackling like electricity just before a storm.Nicholas didn’t answer with words.Instead, he brought my hand to his lips again, but this time it was different. Slower. More deliberate. His tongue darted out and licked a slow, wet line across my knuckles. A shiver ran straight down my spine, hot and unexpected.He whispered, voice dropping low and rough, “Maybe because I’m hot.”I raised an eyebrow, trying to look unimpressed even though my pulse was racing.He didn’t stop.“Or maybe because I’m your husband.”I made a face that clearly said “seriously?”He smirked, then started kissing up my hand—soft, open-mouthed kisses that left a trail of heat on my skin. I wanted to stop him. I should ha
Nicholas’s POVI sat on the edge of the bed in my bedroom, elbow on my knees, head bowed like a man waiting for execution.The room was dim, lit only by the moonlight coming through the window, casting long shadows that danced across the stone walls like ghosts mocking me. My mind kept ringing wit
Hazel’s POVBehind me, Nicholas’s voice cut through the air like a thunderclap. “Hazel, what is going on here?”I didn’t turn right away. I let the moment sink in, savoring the way his words hung there, laced with shock and fury. The chants died down just enough for silence to creep in, thick and
Hazel’s POV“Nicholas, please, don’t stop,” I whispered, my voice breaking on his name.His mouth closed over my nipple, hot and wet, sucking hard enough to make my back arch off the bed. A sharp jolt of pleasure shot straight between my legs. He swirled his tongue around the tight peak, teasing, t
Nicholas’s POV“This is not a laughing matter, Marco.” I snapped at my beta.Marco leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, that stupid grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as if the whole damn world wasn't crumbling around us. As if the woman I loved hadn't just declared war on me in front o







