LOGINKANE
The hall was empty, save for the king, the queen, my half-brother and myself.
The silence stretched, thickening the air and suffocating me. If anyone knew the king, they would know he was a greedy man just as much as he was a wise king, and I might have just stepped into his plan and ruined it yet, he didn’t look the least bit angry. In fact, it seemed he sent the guests away simply because he was tired of the tedious affairs of the nobles. It wouldn’t be the
INARAI pretended I didn’t notice the way my heart fell when Kane walked out the room like we were complete strangers. Putting distance between us was the reason I left for a different palace, and this worked out for me.“Hello, I’m Inara Bloomwood.” I introduced myself to the stylist. Another man, that reminded me of the first boutique I went to when I first opened my eyes.“It’s an honor to meet you, lady Bloomwood.” He responded, bowing his head slightly. Ordinarily, shifters didn’t bow to humans. Even if the shifter was a rat, though, there was no rat shifter. But it was clear that humans were always below shifters, whether we had a title or not. The only reason he bowed to me was because I was now one of the imperial family.“What do you have for me tonight?” I asked, walking deeper into the room, but not without checking for Wraith. Our met eyes, something reassuring in his gaze. He was standing behind me, ever my shadow,
My breakfast was big. The head maid, Cressida went all out this time because I haven’t been home for a long time. Not like I could call this place home. The castle was a battle ground, a place for not just strength, but wit and stealth.Even before the ball, I stayed far away from the castle as much as possible. Anyone would call me a coward for fleeing when I had the chance, but that was my way of surviving and it never really mattered how I went about it.As far as I survived.Moreover, I wasn’t just roaming about. The empire was large and while I looked around, I had my own share of fun. I trusted no one in the castle, guards and maids alike. And though I knew most of them were spies, assassins or were there to get in my bed, I never really cared for them since I didn’t live in the castle anyway. But Cressida had been my nanny when I was born and had stuck with me since then, never meddling, or asking for anything other serving me.
KANEWraith wasn’t standing by the bedroom door when I returned to the castle. I realize that we needed one more guard to look after her at night when he couldn’t. But that was a thought for another day.I stared down at myself. My cock hard and throbbing with need, my back slick with sweat, my heart racing a bit faster than usual.I shouldn’t have taken the aphrodisiac.And I probably shouldn’t have returned here.But this was the only place I wanted to be. My skin crawled at the thought of sleeping alone in a lodging or in another woman’s arms when I could be here. And the aphrodisiac had made my body beyond hot, I needed release since Rebecca didn’t cut it.For a moment, I considered sleeping in a different room. I couldn’t take her even if I wanted to. The moment I stopped her from being claimed by the bear clan, I resigned myself to being patient. She was a stubborn one, and it was more fun pushing her to the edge till
KANEI let out a sigh, that was buried deep in my bones the moment I stepped out of the room. And for a moment I just stood there while Wraith stared holes into the side of my face. We haven’t spoken since I returned and I needed information on what has been going on, but my thoughts were too occupied with her.A part of me wished I could go back inside, while another wished I could just run away and never return.I haven’t had any proper sleep since the day of the banquet. It was no exaggeration to say that my life had changed in a matter of a few days. Two assassination attempts, a claim that despise me, a queen I do not want, and a throne I must fight for.Pain echoed at the corners of my head. This wasn’t the plan but none of them were beyond my expectations. The moment I stopped being the lecherous prince, I knew I would be a threat. It was all within expectation.All except one.Maybe, I shouldn’t have marked her.
Deep breath in, then out.Deep breath in, then out.Deep breath in, then….I slammed my hand down hard against the table. Then looked up at the mirror. My bond mark glowing slightly, resonating with the heat in my core.He was right.Kane was a bastard, but he was right.It was either going to be him or someone else. And there was no way he would let me fall into the hand of another shifter when he knew about my ability.He was also right when he said that I was his. Nothing would change that, no matter how angry or hurt I was.But that didn’t stop the emotions spilling from me. The urge to cry, salty at the back of my eyes. The need to yell, deep within my core.He had me exactly where he wanted me.But if he thought, I was just going to lay down and bear him pups, then he had another thing coming.I took another deep breath, finding calm in my resolve before turning to the door, pul
The rest of the day went by smoothly, with Mary helping me wash my hair and dress up before I had a bountiful breakfast.This time, I didn’t lock myself in the bedroom and decided to look around.Wraith was beside the door just as I expected him to be, even though he just recently became my bodyguard. It was strange, but it felt like he had always been by my side. Like he would always be there.Our eyes met and I couldn’t help the stupid smile that reached the corner of my lips. And for a second there, I thought his eyes had grown considerably softer.Kane’s quarters was a large castle, surrounded by other smaller castles. It was huge and was managed by a number of people. Maids and guards alike. Most of them stared, and some didn’t bother to give me the time of day, almost like I didn’t exist. I preferred it that way.In another lifetime, I would have been thrilled to find myself in such a beautiful castle, with such beautiful people







