We rode swiftly through the woods, leaving my father behind—disappointed that he had failed to make me stay."Are you sure you want to come with me?" Lucian had asked before we left. "Your life will be in danger."I had already made up my mind. I would rather live in danger than feel like a dead person. But that wasn’t the only reason I refused to stay—I wanted to be with Lucian.Now, as we slowed down, Lucian turned to me. "Feeling alright?""Yes, I’m fine. I think I’m getting used to it," I replied, feeling slightly exhilarated from the ride. "Where are we going?""To Gatrish," he said.I stiffened. Gatrish—a kingdom known for its wars, slavery, and prostitution. Its king was infamous, a cruel man with an insatiable thirst for blood and an even greater appetite for women. It was said he took a new wife and concubine every day, that liquor, parties, and debauchery were as much a part of his routine as breathing."Are you sure it’s a good idea to go there?" I asked, wary."I know thei
Klara kept glancing Lucian's way as we ate our breakfast, while the King and Lucian spoke informally with each other, which surprised me. The King was willing to help Lucian as they were already speaking of how to win this war. I only feared he would ask for something in exchange. Something bad."You should stay here until the King dies, then we will take action," the King said. As if waiting for someone's death was a daily occurrence. "Rasmus? can you stop acting like a King at least until we eat our breakfast?" Klara asked.Rasmus, Klara, Astrid: their names sounded northern. "Of course" Rasmus smiled at his sister. "We have a party tonight. I hope you can attend after you have rested," he then said to me and Lucian. "Of course" Lucian replied. "Astrid, why don't you take them to a nice room. I am sure they would like to rest."I was so tired, but as I laid on the bed next to Lucian all I could do was ask questions. "You seem to know Rasmus pretty well," I began. "Yes," was a
I laid in the bathtub filled with hot water, thinking about what the guards had said about me. I shouldn’t have slapped Lucian in front of his men. It was disrespectful, and still he hadn’t got angry with me. He was asleep when I came back to the room, so I asked a maid to prepare a hot bath for me. The hot water was soothing, relaxing my tense muscles until it felt like a massage and in a moment it made fall into a deep sleep.I woke up shifting in the bed. The soft satin sheets rubbed against my skin and I realized I was not wearing much. I quickly sat up on the bed and lifted the sheet up. I was only wearing a towel, my shoulders, legs and thighs were bare. It took me a moment to remember that I was taking a bath earlier and fell asleep and now I was here. How?A sound made me look to my left. Lucian was sitting in a chair, a glass of wine in his hands as he studied me with those extraordinary eyes. He was the only one who could have brought me here, which meant that he had seen me
“I don’t believe these things.” I said as I noticed Lucian dancing with Klara, and I completely forgot what the king just told me. She blushed as she said something to him and blinked with her long lashes seductively.The King chuckled, “you’re pretty possessive about your husband.”I wasn’t listening to him anymore because Klara was leading Lucian somewhere secluded outside of the hall.“I need to speak with my husband. Will you excuse me, Your Majesty?” I said.He gave me a knowing smile and dropped my hand. I rushed through the dancing crowd and proceeded out of the hall. Where did she take him? Looking through the halls, I couldn’t find him and even if I did, what would I do? Men had the privilege of taking other women if they desired to. I hated this unfairness.“My lady, are you lost?” said a maid who noticed that I was walking through the halls looking for something.Yes, I was lost; I didn’t know where to go or what to do.“I can show you the way…” she offered, and then gestur
I panicked. How could I have fallen asleep when Lucian was ill? I quickly placed my hand on Lucian forehead who was still sleeping. No fever. What had made him so ill last night? He seemed fine just before we kissed. The kiss.His hand on my back, around my waist, in my hair, pressing body to his, the heat, the tingling sensation. I brought my hand up to my lips. His lips had been so soft yet so firm, moving against mine till I was breathless. He tasted like spices; hot burning your tongue, yet you came back for more. More... Yes, I wanted more.I had been willing to give myself to him last night, but slowly his kiss had become sloppy. His arms trembled before his entire body shook. Fear showed in his beautiful eyes, struggle on his face and sweat beads on his forehead. I had seen him like that once before, when we were in the woods, when our lips had touched.Something told me it had to do with the kiss, but why? Someone knocked on the door. Who could it be this early in the mornin
Beautiful women clad in silk flowed into the room and began to move in rhythm with the music. Lucian watched as the curvy women in front of him swayed with their hips seductively to get the males' attention. Rasmus who was sitting next to him seemed to enjoy the view while sipping his wine."I like that red-haired one. Which one catches your attention?" Rasmus asked.Lucian's eyes swept over the women twirling around each other wearing almost nothing. Yes, they were beautiful, exotic, but none of them enticed him."Hard to decide? You can take two if you want." Rasmus said in amusement when Lucian didn't reply.Maybe he should. It has been a long time since he took a woman to bed, and that might be the reason his demon was out of control. Taking a woman might calm his demon down a bit so that he could finally be with Hazel."I'll take the blonde" Lucian finally decided. Rasmus gave him a knowing smile.*********** Looking out the window, I watched as the clear blue summer sky transfo
Sitting in front of the mirror, a maid combed my hair.“Your hair is so beautiful,” she smiled.Yeah but unfortunately I wasn’t a blonde and my husband seemed to like blondes.“Thank you” I smiled back.“My Lady, do you want this dress or this one?” she said holding up two new dresses once she was done with my hair.“None of them. Pick me a really beautiful dress.” I ordered. I would make Lucian regret what he did. Iwould make him sleepless as he made me. I even wanted to make him cry because even though I didn’twant to admit to myself, I cried alittle last night.Oh, how I needed Lydia and Ylva now.The maid picked me a peach-colored dress which suited my hair and skin color perfectly.I put some paint on my lips and some perfume, then I let my hair down as I looked at myself in the mirror.Now he would want me, but I wouldn’t give in so easily.Lastly, I put my shoes on and strode out of the room. As I walked through the long hall, I started to lose my confidence. What if he didn
I stood there and watched while Lucian examined Klara's arm. I was sure she did it on purpose."I am alright." She said blinking with her long lashes, something I noticed she does often in Lucian's presence."Are you sure." He asked looking at her wound again. He probably felt guilty but she was the one that wanted to fight and she was doing all this on purpose. She was doing it to get close to him.Why do I always have to fight for him? I was tired of it.Not wanting to see any of it anymore I decided to leave.I was hurt, angry, tired. Should I have stayed with my parents? Did I make a mistake by coming here with Lucian? Tears began to fill my eyes and not wanting anyone to see me cry I walked faster through the halls. When I got around the corner I bumped into someone and stumbled backwards."I am sorry My Lady, I didn't see you coming." Oliver said startled."It's alright" I said trying to walk past him as I didn't want him to notice that I was crying. But he did."Are you alright
Yawning I rubbed my eyes as I woke up. Strangely I slept well after such a long time. Could it be because Lucian was sleeping next to me? I looked over at Lucian and found myself admiring his beauty and wondering how someone can look as sinfully beautiful as he did. As usual I could only admire his beauty while his hypnotizing eyes were closed and again my fingers itched to touch him. No, I wouldn't make the mistake of touching him again while he was asleep. I had embarrassed myself enough last time. 'Only his hair. I would only touch his hair I convinced myself and slowly brought my fingers to touch his hair when he frowned. Was he waking up? His frowned got deeper and he mumbled something looking disturbed. Was he having a nightmare?"Lucian?" I said carefully and tapped his shoulder but he didn't wake up."Who are you?" he hissed in his sleep."Lucian! Lucian! Wake up!" I said shaking him slightly.His eyes shot open and he looked around confused."Lucian?""How?" he asked panting
His highness is going to marry Klara?" He asked surprised. I guess he didn't know about that."Yes. The king wants him to marry his sister in exchange for help.""Oh…but how can I help you?" he asked.I wasn't sure how either but I wanted to stop this."Your highness I just want to tell you that if you stop this we could all die.""I know" I said quickly. "I want to stop this without us dying, that's why I need your help."I hoped he could come up with something."There is only one way to stop this. It is to change Klaras mind about the marriage."I knew that was the safest way but I knew it wouldn't be easy because Klara would do anything to get Lucian."How can we change her mind?""That...we will have to think about." He said thoughtful."What about other allies? Is there someone else who can help his highness?" I asked."No. You know prince Lucian has a reputation." He said. I knew what he meant.Speaking of reputation, I still had to figure out what Lucian was. He couldn't be the
Lucian paced back and forth in the room as he waited for Hazel. He needed to speak to her today, be honest with her and tell her about the situation with Klara. That would be the right thing to do he thought.The smell of food interrupted his thought. He couldn’t remember the last time he enjoyed food or s.e.x.No wonder his demon was hungry to come out.A few maids came in with the breakfast and started serving. Now and then they would look his way and blush. He was used to maids ogling at him but this time something was off.“Your Highness the breakfast is ready.” A maid informed looking down as her cheeks turned red.Really what was wrong with these maids?“Yes, you may leave.”They bowed and left giggling. Lucian continued with his pacing not giving a thought to why the behaved like that until Hazel came into the room. She was wearing a simple light pink gown and her reddish-brown hair was still wet from the bath. Oh, how he wanted to run his fingers through her hair.He quickly p
“Excuse me?” Lucian said unsure of what Rasmus meant. Why would a king want his sister to become a second wife when she was a princess.“You know that my sister Klara likes you. I would of course like her to get married to someone who isn’t already married, but I know she won’t accept someone else than you.”“Did she tell you that?”“No, but I know my sister.” Rasmus said. Lucian sighed. He already had enough problems on his plate and know he had to deal with yet another problem.“I have a meeting to attend, think about what I said carefully.” He said looking displeased himself before he left Lucian to stand alone there.“Your highness, as your personal adviser I suggest you take princess Klara as your second wife.” Lincoln said who had been listening to their conversation.“You need a friend at the moment not another enemy. Besides taking her as your wife will help you even when you become a King, I am sure her highness will understand. ”Lucian wasn’t sure about that. Hazel was alre
Ouch, my stomach hurt. This time not because I was hungry but because I had eaten too much. I felt as if my stomach was going to explode. Lucian was sitting in front of me and seemed to be thinking about something, ignoring him I stuffed the rest of the food into my mouth. He probably thought I was eating unlady like but you know what? I didn’t care anymore. Since I wasn’t enough for him I planned on getting fat, maybe then I would be enough.Someone knocked on the door.“My lord, my Lady, princess Klara is here to meet you?” a maid called from outside. I panicked. Why was she here? I didn’t want her to see me like this. I looked at Lucian who still had a calm face.“Tell her to come in?” he said.“What no, wait?” I said standing up but the door already started to open so I hurried and hid behind the dressing screen. Lucian gave me a questioning look but then turned his gaze toward Klara who had just entered the room.“What brings you here?” I peeked from behind the dressing screen.“
When I woke up I decided to take a bath. Lucian was sleeping next to me looking clean and fresh and here I was all dirty.I prepared a bath myself and rubbed the dirt off my skin and hair till I was satisfied then I grabbed a towel and wrapped myself in it. Walking out and into the room, grabbed a simple gown and slid into it then I dried my hair with the towel. Even though I was all clean I still felt dirty.My stomach growled. I was hungry since I didn’t eat lunch and it was nearly sunset. I wanted to go down and look for something to eat but looking at my reflection I couldn’t bring myself to walk outside the room. The bruises on my face and arms looked terrible and they still hurt. Thinking back of what happened made me sick. I was nearly r.a.p.ed, I would have been if Lucian hadn’t come in time looking like the Devil.I went back to bed and studied Lucian while asleep. I didn’t know what I was Looking for but I was looking for something. My eyes traveled to his fingers, no sharp
Anger boiled inside him upon seeing Hazel’s bruised face. He wanted to go back and burn the bastards all over again and enjoy their screams of pain. He had been so scared and worried when he discovered that Hazel went outside the castle. If she hadn’t put as much perfume as she did today he would never have been able to follow her scent and find her.Never had he let his demon take over completely before, but seeing Hazel get hurt today made his vision red with anger. He would have burned the whole place if Hazel hadn’t been there, but he was regretful. Regretful because he had shown the beast he was, the devil he was to Hazel. He hadn’t want her to see that side of him but now she did and when she recovers and remembers clearly what happened today she would fear him forever.Leaving hazel to sleep Lucian made his way to the gatehouse while clenching his fists to suppress the rage he felt. Walking into the guardroom the guards moved out of his way as they sensed his anger.Oliver laid
The man began untying my hands and feet.“Hold her down for me!” he barked.Two other men seized my arms and forced me to the cold floor. I screamed and struggled frantically. I would rather die than let them violate me.“Please, stop! Help me!” I cried out. Every time I screamed, the man slapped me across the face. This time, I didn’t even feel the pain—only raw, consuming fear.He tore my dress open, and I screamed so loudly it felt like my throat was bleeding from the strain of crying and shouting.God, please help me. Someone, please!Then I heard a loud crashing noise—and suddenly, the weight on top of me disappeared. The hands pinning me down were gone, and the men quickly jumped up, pulling out daggers from their pockets.“Who are you?” one of them asked in a trembling voice. I turned my head to see who had come—but instead saw the man who had just assaulted me lying lifeless in a pool of blood. He wasn’t moving. Was he… dead?Yes. His throat had been slashed open with what loo
I stood there and watched while Lucian examined Klara's arm. I was sure she did it on purpose."I am alright." She said blinking with her long lashes, something I noticed she does often in Lucian's presence."Are you sure." He asked looking at her wound again. He probably felt guilty but she was the one that wanted to fight and she was doing all this on purpose. She was doing it to get close to him.Why do I always have to fight for him? I was tired of it.Not wanting to see any of it anymore I decided to leave.I was hurt, angry, tired. Should I have stayed with my parents? Did I make a mistake by coming here with Lucian? Tears began to fill my eyes and not wanting anyone to see me cry I walked faster through the halls. When I got around the corner I bumped into someone and stumbled backwards."I am sorry My Lady, I didn't see you coming." Oliver said startled."It's alright" I said trying to walk past him as I didn't want him to notice that I was crying. But he did."Are you alright